Don and Greta Lovett’s ‘youngsters’, from left, Ian, Margaret (Seib) Bob, Donny, Graham, Judy (Pertzel), Colin and Peter were joined in a family photo by cousin Royce Lovett, third from the right, and, seated, aunts Nan Fiske and Betty Pritchett.By Kath Gannaway
IN 1920 William and Ellen Lovett spotted an advertisement in The Argus newspaper under “country properties”.
“Here are possibilities” it read “553 Acres. Acheron River frontage, some splendid country.”
The property was “Brocklesby” at Narbethong and enticed no doubt by a vision painted in the advertisement of a fine house, no droughts, no floods, great potato, onion, oats, rape and millet growing … and more, the Lovett’s moved from Camperdown to Narbethong.
Three of their five children, Donald, William and Jean made the trip with them and Elizabeth and Hannah were born at Narbethong.
Eighty-seven years later, on the weekend of 5 and 6 May, 180 descendants of Bill and Nell, as they were more fondly known, gathered at Narbethong for the first Lovett family reunion.
The Cherry Paddock at Laradock, the neighbouring property that was home to Don and Greta Lovett and their eight children, became a make-shift camping ground overnight.
Ian Lovett, one of Don and Greta’s eight children, said it was wonderful to see people who had come from all over Victoria and New South Wales enjoying the opportunity to reconnect with their Lovett family heritage.
“When you look around you can see why Bill and Nell fell in love with this place – Brocklesby – because of the serenity of the mountains and rivers around you,” Mr Lovett said as he welcomed family members on the Saturday.
The Lovett story, told in words and pictures over the weekend, included life on the farm, community involvement, William’s significant role in the construction of the Acheron Way in the early 1920s and the development of picnic spots and bush-walking tracks in the area, and Ellen’s contribution as a qualified nurse and midwife in the area.
The family sawmill originally built in the mid-1930s at Brocklesby and later moved to Laradock remained in operation until the early 1970s and provided work for a second generation of the family.
Mr Lovett said the reunion was a huge success which started with bagpipes in recognition of the family’s Scottish connections and included a tour of the original family home at Brocklesby which is no longer in the family.
Another gathering is already on the agenda for the same weekend next year.
