John Flinn was born in Kilmore, Victoria in 1854; married Margaret Mary Cleary in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Grenfell on 11 October, 1887 and settled in the Grenfell District at ‘Bellevue’ in 1899.

John and Margaret Flinn had a family of 9 children, 3 boys and 6 girls and 27 grandchildren.  Of those 27 grandchildren 17 are still living and 11 attended the reunion many with some of their families.

Michael, the oldest of the family and Margaret (Mag) the second daughter did not marry and remained on the property for many years.

John (known as Tim) married Doris Thompson and Helen (known as Nell) married Roy Lynch all of whom lived in the district all their lives.

Mary, the oldest daughter married Harry Little, a School Master and moved to Berridale where 4 of their 5 children were born.   John, the oldest of the family is the only surviving member but was unfortunately unable to attend the reunion.   

George and Mac Little were well known residents of this district.  Jennie, Peter and Tony (family of June and George Little) were present along with David, son of Cecily and Mac Little.

Thomas Flinn, the third son enlisted in the First Battalion Cootamundra during the First World War seeing action in France.  Tom fought in the Battle of the Somme and was shot and gassed.  He told a story that they used to leave their singlets out in the frost to kill the lice.

Sometime after his return from the War he married Mary Doris Pound in Grenfell in 1936 and they had a family of 10 children all surviving with the exception of two boys, Michael and James.

Bridget Flinn married Thomas O’Meally and had 4 children. Kath Tomamichel now lives in Young, and Pat and Barbara O’Meally lived at Caragabal for many years and now live in Grenfell. 

Barbara Mary Flinn marred James Deasey from Young in 1923 at Grenfell and their family consisted of four girls and 1 boy.  James Deasey taught at Silverton, Nowendoc, Leacliff, Sandy Creek and Mirabooka then Cowan.

When John, their son won two meat trays in the raffle at the Railway Hotel another Patron recognised the Deasey name as a teacher who had taught her sister at Cowan.  Barbara, Jim, Margaret and Rita have died.  John, Mary and Dolores are their surviving children.

The youngest daughter Kathleen married Horace Smyth from Young and had a family of three children, 1 boy and 2 girls all of whom attended the reunion with some of their children.

Kathleen and Horrie Smyth had a business and lived in George Street, Grenfell for many years until they moved to Sydney in 1951.

A total of thirty of the family enjoyed the dinner at the Railway Hotel reminiscing and toasting those present and those no longer with us.

Family travelled from Sydney, Yamba, Tamworth, Singleton, Kendal, and the Central Coast. Pheasants Nest, Canberra, Young, Bimbi and many other places to be present at the reunion.

On Sunday a barbecue was arranged at the Caravan Park, with the meat trays won at the Hotel, which was most enjoyable but the wind and rain ended the party rather earlier than we would have liked.

Many thanks to the staff at the Railway, Criterion and Albion Hotels the Grenfell Motel and the Caravan Park for their friendly service.

LOCAL SONGWRITER: Independent Country Music Singer Charmaine Pout from Forbes has just released her 7th CD- “My Bushland Home”.

Robyn Murphy of Grenfell is delighted that a song “Neon Moonlight You and Me” written by her is featured on this CD.

Charmaine has previously recorded three of Robyn’s songs as well as “Cattle Camp Lady” a song they co-wrote. Well done Robyn and Charmaine.

IMPROMPTU DINNER: Howard Hunter was afforded an impromptu 60th birthday dinner on Friday with surprise visitors from Tasmania.

Howard and Marilyn Buttenshaw’s sister Lyn Ranson and niece Kaedi Blackberry travelled up from Launceston, Tasmania to surprise Howard for his special birthday.

As this was the only time Howard’s niece Rochelle Buttenshaw could be in Grenfell the impromptu dinner was organised for the Friday evening November 15 at Fettlers’ Restaurant.

Howard’s other niece Tahnee Lonard and her children Tully. Mila and Paiton were also present at Fettler’s for the celebrations.

Howard and Mary’s family joined them for a BBQ lunch on Saturday at 3 Campbell Street to celebrate this milestone.

No doubt the families had a great time catching up.

HAPPY 16TH: Simone Pulvirenti celebrated her sixteenth birthday with 16 family and friends with an informal BBQ at the Lion’s complex at the Grenfell Railway Station on Saturday evening November 16.

The evening was very successful, although the storm clouds and wind made the evening quite chilly.

As well as her friends, special guests were her mother Cheryl and grandmother Ruth Gardner.

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS: Hugh Moffitt was treated to a special dinner to celebrate his birthday on November 14.

Great friends Sue and Justyn Armstrong, Penny and Keith Starr and Lesley and Jim Marden joined Hugh to celebrate and catch up with following his recent trip to Tasmania.

Whilst in Tasmania Hugh caught up with former locals John and Denise Griffith who live near Launceston. The Griffiths wish to be remembered to all their friends in Grenfell.

Belinda Leibick and her father Allan both celebrated their birthday on Friday evening November 15.

Belinda was at work at the Railway Hotel when she was captured, blindfolded and taken off to a big surprise party organised by her family and friends. Later in the evening Allan was also captured and taken to the party. From all reports a great time was had by all.