Australia 2009

In August 2009, the American and Irish Downey's headed to Australia for a series of reunion gatherings with the Australian cousins. Diana and Pete Downey headed in to Melbourne to spend a few days with Peter and Helen Downey. We learned Aussie rules football, toured Melbourne, and attended a great showing of Jersey Boys. We then headed to Peter and Helen's home country ...the old home town of Geelong, by the Post Office in Queenscliff where we would later have a magnificent "tasting dinner" at the Grand Hotel, and on to Peter and Helen's home in Point Lonsdale. It's exhilarating to step out the front door and be just a few steps from the sea and the lighthouse at the entrance to Port Phillip Bay and Melbourne Harbor.

We thank Peter and Helen for their friendship and for the hard work the planning that made all of our days in Australia truly memorable.

Diana's father and sister made a video from Pete and Diana's pictures, which we've divided into on-line segments below. Peter and Helen have created a video from the collective pictures of our whole group, which we hope to get out for distribution to our travelers.

We had lunch with Peter's brother, Desmond, and his wife, Marian at Barwon Heads. We would later meet Des's 2nd son Mark, and his family in our trip to Perth.

Peter and Des had grown up in Barwon Heads as we saw their old schoolhouse near our restaurant. Des sheepishly pointed across to the bridge, "That's where I smoked my first cigarette." Of course, Des would never admit that to his grandchildren.

Wine Country

After spending a couple of days in Sydney, the Des Moines and Irish travelers converged in the Ibis Hotel in Melbourne. Then it was off for a tour of the beautiful Yarra Valley and wine country.

Great Ocean Road

It was then off for a couple of days on the Great Ocean Road, along the South Sea on the way to the old Downey hometown of Koroit.

We stopped in Geelong to add Peter and Sharon Downey for our Great Ocean Road trip. He's now known as Peter "the Younger" or Peter "Geelong." He's kept us posted on Geelong's road to the Aussie Rule Football Championship.

The Twelve Apostles

Our first day on the Great Ocean Road ended with sunset at the Twelve Apostles. We stayed overnight in Port Campbell, and then would return for a closer look at the Apostles the next morning.

Koroit and a Gathering at Clare Downey's Home

After John Downey left for American in 1850, brother James headed to Australia, while younger brother Patrick stayed in Ballyfowloo, outside of Cashel. James settled on the farm in Koroit with wife, Margaret. Cousin Robert Kilmartin met us at Tower Hill, the old seaside cemetery, where James and Margaret are buried, for a shot of their direct descendents. For Peter the Younger, this was a first visit.

We then visited the original farm and a gathering at the Koroit home of Clare Downey. Brothers John, James, and Patrick would raise their families on the farms of Vail, Iowa; Koroit, along the South Australia coast; and back home in Ballyfowloo. We now honored James and Margaret in Koroit.

Melbourne Gathering

Terry and Jenny McCartney organized another family gathering in Melbourne. We met June Downey, and also met Peter & Helen's daughters, Felicity, Libby, and Veronica with their families.

On to Perth...

After a busy week, the traveling team would board a 1,700 mile flight to Perth for more exploration, and to meet more Downeys.

Caversham Wildlife Park

Emily Dols had taken the lead in setting up a full calendar as we set off on a day that would begin with see some Australian wildlife up close and personal, and finally another family gathering that evening.

Pinnacles Desert

The Pinnacles were formed through the calcification of an old forest adjoining the Indian Ocean, a truly fine work of nature.

Would you believe a "dune bus"?

I'm sure you've heard of dune buggies. But a dune bus? This was a really interesting feeling.

Then on to Dune Boarding

The Dune Bus broke out the dune boards. This was great fun for all. Joe Dols finally became the champion "dune surfer" in going down standing up.

Perth Downey Gathering

After a full day, it was time to party. Margaret McCartney Murphy organized a partying group of people, who gathered at Terry and Jacinta McCartney's beautiful home in Freemantle, southwest of Perth. As we interacted, we were finally able to decipher the relationships. The Perth branch was descended from James, "the younger," son of Patrick, and nephew of James of Koroit. Tina proudly claims them as her cousins from the Patrick Downey line. As with other gatherings, we were just Downey cousins who had discovered one another to become friends.

Valley of the Giants

We took a long day trip of about 500 miles round trip for a Tree-top Walk in the Valley of Giant tingle trees. It's quite a feeling to be 120 feet above the ground, with tree tops still towering above.

Kings Park Botanic Garden

We met cousin Tom Alford at our Perth gathering. Tom is a recognized expert in cataloguing the flora of Australia, has been the leader of the Friends of Kings Park Botanic Gardens since 1993, and is immediate past President. When Tom and wife, Beverly, offered a tour, we quickly accepted. The tour was delightful with Tom truly being an expert in the flora and fauna of Australia.

A successful Downey Downunder Reunion 2009, but it had to end.

After a couple of weeks of togetherness, the Downey Downunder Reunion 2009 had to end. It was special to the Americans, Irish, and all the Australian Downey that we met. As Helen Downey says, "Truly amazing and wonderful given the distance between us all and the time lapsed since the old folk departed Ireland." The Des Moines travelers had one more stop to Alice Springs in the exact center of the country, and a visit to Ayres Rock. They wanted to experience the real outback. The rest of us took our planes back to Melbourne, Ireland, and America.

To all who participated and planned a flawless set of events, we thank you for the friendships and memories that will last a lifetime.

Peter and Helen Downey have reported that they've done a DVD video in culling through the thousands of photos from multiple cameras. They have made the trip to Koroit to share with Clare. We will try to get this distributed in the next weeks.