The History Of Matt: Photos from my family

I was in Australia recently, and had a chance to look through family photos.

One set of photos I had a chance to scan were from my paternal grandparents and great-grandparents:

My father Andrew HALL (b 1954), his older sister Elizabeth (b. 1952) ; their parents John HALL (1920-1996) and Jean nee STANILAND (1917-2003) ; and Jean's parents William James STANILAND (1886 Glebe NSW - 1962 Gosford NSW) and Ruby Amelia 'Millie' nee EWER (1887 Wellington NSW - 1969 Ashfield NSW).

Jean was born at 12 Burns St Croydon NSW ('on the kitchen table') in 1917 and lived there almost her entire life till approximately 2000. When Jean had married and her parents retired, she purchased the house, and William (who was a plumber for NSW Railways) and Millie retired to a house in Woy Woy on the central NSW coast looking at the water - it was relatively isolated at the time. In Woy Woy, William went out on his boat every morning and was a devoted fisherman. The family also went on vacations to Forster further up the NSW coast.

The above facts are the context for the photos below, and a reference point for the names used.

Jean STANILAND, abt 1942 (aged 25). Nana worked at the General Post Office in Sydney (on Martin Place) as secretary to the Postmaster General prior to and during World War 2. Shortly after the war ended, my grandfather John HALL joined the PMG (now Australia Post) and they met there.

Jean STANILAND, 1945.

Jean STANILAND, "at the Hydro Majestic Medlow Bath in the Blue Mountains".

Jean HALL (nee STANILAND), "PORT MACQUARIE - 1951. Jean outside pub with Jew Fish caught off the breakwater."

Jack (John HALL) and his "V8 Model 'T' Ford" - abut 1945/46. Registration RB192. I believe the 'Model T' name may be inaccurate, and the car was simply a 'Model V8'. Any advice appreciated.

Jean and John HALL. They married in 1951 at St Therese, Ryde, and as Jean was Methodist (and John was Catholic), the marriage was not in the main church, and no family from either side attended the mass.

Jean and John HALL.

Jean and John HALL. While it can't be discerned on the scale shown, this photo is colorized. Impressively, the tip of the cigarette is colorized to glow red.

William Staniland and daughter Jean Hall at Woy Woy 1951.

William Staniland in his boat at Woy Woy 1951. At extreme left, Milliei is at wharf with rope.

Mille and William STANILAND with their grandchildren Andrew and Elizabeth HALL, taken about 1956.

Millie STANILAND and her daughter Jean HAL. This photo was taken at the marriage of Millie's niece Lorna BONES (b. 1931) to Mervyn Wolfe HUGHES at Ashfield NSW in 1950.

William and Ruby Ewer with son-in-law John Hall and grandchildren Andrew and Elizabeth and family friend Miriam BUCHANAN, taken about 1956. Miriam Moyse DENIS on Bay St Croydon NSW (around the corner from my father's home on Burns St). Dad believes that Miriam worked with Jean at the GPO during WW2. Miriam married later in life, to Charles Hardinge BUCHANAN in 1965. They lived in Bayview, and as a young boy I remember visiting her a few times - the dining room sideboard was covered in silverware, including various candlesticks and a coiled candle that captured my imagination.