A Special Museum Visit.

An auspicious day, not only Australia Day. A day to look up the
ancestors.

Although beginning with a soft grey drizzle, not terribly inspiring, a
decision was made, with the 'Clothes Encounters' exhibition at the
Powerhouse Museum, finishing in a number of days - a city visit.

Quite cool for a few days now, welcome relief from the endless heat
and humidity we have had recently. A train ride in, and then a stroll to
the museum, quite manageable under the current conditions.

My great Grandmother's wedding dress on display, as part of significant
era fashions in Australia's social history.

In fact, her dress is right at the beginning of the show, and includes text,
and photos of her and the groom, my Great Grandfather looking raffish
and quite a dandy, with his waistcoat and fobwatch. his hair seems to
have a mind of it's own, she looks a little startled.

Between them they had 10 children, one died, and one extra was adopted.
My maternal grandmother was the baby, the dress passed to her.

My mother owned it next, then the decision to give it to collector Anne
Schofield, textiles being very difficult to preserve, who donated it to the museum.

Since my teenage years, when I last saw it in the family, almost got to model it
for my photographer mother, then in books, and finally took my twin daughters
to view it in the basement of the museum.

Today again we meet - on display. Since my mother passed away in 2013, I
have inherited Hannah's wedding ring, rocking chair, more photos of her and
her offspring. Also the lovely artworks of one of her eldest children Elizabeth
Charlotte, who liked to be known as Charlotte.

Here is a first photo of the exhibition, more to come, this one of a tourist, called
Hannah too!