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Sat 29 Jan, 2005 02:30 am
Msolga...any suggestions?
My Uncle Jim emigrated to Australia. My Mum didn't really get on with her brother, so she never made efforts to write or anything. But we did get together as a family during their rare visits to the UK.
Jim married a woman called Peggy (Elizabeth?) who was a teacher. They had one adopted daughter Loise.
Apparently Jim was a lifelong drinker. In the 70's (78 I think) Peggy died and Jim returned to the UK. Loise stayed in Australia with her Aunty.
Although Mum and Jim did speak when he returned to the UK (I was living abroad at that time) they lost touch due to Jim's alcoholism. When I returned to the UK, I saw Jim only once in the town centre, he was drunk, looking like a tramp and haranging passers by. The group I was with made nasty comments about him (quite rightly)...I didn't dare say I was related to him. But I recognised him straight away...he kept shouting Louise to me across the street. I knew he thought I was his daughter! He obviously recognised me as someone familiar, but he was raving drunk, and of course my friends didn't know what was going on. I am still ashamed to this day that I denied any knowledge of him.
Nothing was heard of him again until two months ago when the Salvation Army Tracing service got in touch with my Mum to say that Jim was seriously ill (having had both legs amputated due to circulation/drink problems) had Alzeimers and was living in a Catholic care home.
I went to see him with Mum. It was really harrowing...he thought I was Louise, and I pretended I was in order to comfort him.
I really want to get in touch with Louise, and tell her the end is near for her Dad. But due to nature of Jim's health problems...I can't get any concrete information out of him. Her name is Loise Carroll, she lives (used to) in a place called Woomera? The Salvation Army has had no luck, and they are experts at this kind of thing...so what chance do I have?
Maybe Louise doesn't want to be found...maybe she had a miserable time with an alcoholic for a Dad! I believe she was very close to her Mum.
Thanks for taking the time to read this post.
Msolga, I value your comments and thoughts on this.
Sarah.
Sarah
That's a very sad situation for everyone .. You, your mother, your uncle & his daughter. <sigh>
I'll do a search of the Oz white pages online in Woomera & see if anything comes up. But often they require a street. Anyway, we'll see what comes up. Any idea of Louises middle name?
I'm also wondering if Australia House in London could be of any help in tracking her down for you if you explained the reasons for your need to find her. It's worth a try. She's bound to be on a electoral roll somewhere ..
I would definitely have a go, if I were you. You can't have any idea of how she'd react to your contacting her. She may want to know or may not want to know. But what she chooses to do is up to her.
I'd be more than happy to help in any way I can from this end. Just ask if you think if anything. Though Melbourne is a long way from Woomera!
You keep thinking & I'll think about it, too, Sarah It's a tough one! Good luck!
I wasn't sure if they was such a place as Woomera. I will contact The Salvation Army and see how far they got.
Thanks msolga, I appreciate it.
Sarah I'm posting what I came up with in the White pages to you via PM. Woomera is in South Australia
How's it going, Sarah? Making any ptogress?
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