Jane also had a brother, William Thomas Fielding (1887-1905), who died in a shark attack in Redland Bay near Snipe Island. He was 18 years old. Inscribed in marble on a tall obelisk in the old cemetery are these words: "In loving memory of Willie, only son of William and Eliza Fielding, who was drowned in Redland Bay while attempting to save the lives of others." Before retiring to bed, my grandmother would sometimes say to Willie's photography, "Goodnight Willie."

A Mr. Belcher owned the house at Redland Bay, which became home for the White family for the next seventy years. This man incurred large debts to William Fielding for food bought at his store. William bought the house and eventually bought the farm on which it was situated.

In a news article published in 1932 when he was 80, William was described as a man who "has been accustomed to hard work all of his life, and is hale and hearty, in full possession of his faculties. He does not smoke or drink." He was active in the Salvation Army and would carry the flag at the head of the march. "Grandma Fielding was a dear, gracious lady," Mom writes. "She would come to our home, and I can see her now mending socks. On the way to school, we would drop in to see Grandma Fielding. She was always kind and would give us something to eat or a few pennies to spend." William Fielding died in 1941 at the age of 89. Eliza died in 1943 at the age of 90.

James came to Australia as a laborer and settled in North Pine in 1868. In that same year, James married Elizabeth Angelina Smith, a former English house servant. Elizabeth's father was from a wealthy English family and was a doctor, but was given a ticket of leave and a remittance to go to the colony, due to gambling. She died December 26, 1883, in childbirth with Ben. (Ben, who never married, was the last of the Logan siblings to die, in 1967.) My mother's dad was four-year-old at the time. Grandma White used to look at the photo of Angelina and say, "Now there's a lady." James had enough schooling to read and write, and became Session Clerk for the North Pine Presbyterian Church. James married again to Catherine Reid (1854-1937), and had six more children (Ina, Carrie, George, Jim, Albert, and Norman)-seventeen in all.

World War I took its toll on the family. Two of his sons Frederick and Albert were killed on June 10, 1918 in Gallipoli, Turkey, while Sergeant Fredrick was trying to save the life of his younger brother, Albert. They were buried near each other. (Grandfather Fielding would sometimes deliver remarks on April 25, Azac Day, in memory of Australia's brave sons who fell in World War I.) The family lived in the Pine Rivers district, and the Australian Paper Mills later acquired the property. The road leading to the APM factory is White's Road. James White and his wife Elizabeth Angelina are buried at the North Pine Cemetery in Lawnton. By 1989, James had 293 surviving descendants.

"When I was a young girl," Mom wrote, "several members of our family and mother were taken seriously ill. The doctors said that it was certain that my mother would die soon, so arrangements were made for the funeral. At the same time, the church met together and prayed earnestly for her. Previously, my mother had prayed that the Lord would spare her until her children came to years of understanding to make rightful and godly choices. The Lord heard her prayers. My Dad, a very godly and prayerful man, was standing by my mother's side as she came to consciousness. She said to him: 'I have heard the most beautiful singing and the sight was glorious and someone said these words: 'The eternal God is thy refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms.' (Deut. 33:27) From that moment onwards, my mother began to improve and to regain her strength. She outlived my father by almost thirty years."

Grandma White died in 1980, at the age of 96, while my mother was at her bedside. Grandmother was able to recognize Mom, but was not able to communicate except for a smile and a faint whisper of words. She asked, "Why have you come?" Mom had left Malaysia to be with grandmother and the rest of the family. "Mother, it has been a long time since I have seen you and I want to look after you." Grandma White smiled and was more than satisfied with her words. She gently slipped away five days later at about 2 a.m. on August 28. Mom write "my brother-in-law Raymond held one hand and I gently held the other until she left us for the heavenly home. That last night was a benediction and will be remembered with tenderness. The presence of the Lord filled the form with his tenderness and calm." Jane was buried next to her husband Frank, who died January 5, 1951 having lived a long, fulfilling life. There was a time of remembrance at the graveside, with the granite stone inscribed "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus." Then people started home, walking in the sunlight and gentle breeze of a summer day. The hours had been hours of reverence-and serenity. The last enemy is Death, but Death seems tangibly serene when it can be said of a woman: she ran the course, she kept the faith.

Uncle Francis (Frank) White's favourite toy was an air rifle and enjoyed collecting stamps. Because his twin sister was Frances, he was called Brother. For him, a perfect day as a child was swimming at high tide. The house was filled with music with a radio. His mother would sometimes play the pedal-organ for family sing-alongs. The family's first car as a Model T Ford. Frank's first car trip was going for a family photo in Brisbane, and his first plane trip was a World War I Gypsy Moth Biplane. He liked cricket and football in school and did well in English and History, with Shakespeare his favorite author and Oliver Cromwell his favorite historical figure. During World War II, Frank went on to serve as an officer on the Burma Road. One day, he was booked to fly from Australia for a three-month service leave, but was bumped from the flight by another officer. Later, he heard newspaper boys shouting, "Plane down in ocean!" The plane on which Uncle Frank was to fly crashed into the sea that same afternoon.

"Our place overlooked the beautiful Redland Bay with a string of islands and beyond that was the Pacific Ocean. On a stormy night, we could hear the waves pounding on the shore. Each morning, the sun would rise from the horizon casting a sparkling, dazzling path upon the bay. I never ceased to be fascinated by the ever-changing scene due to the moods of the sky and water.

"The old home still stands as a reminder of days gone by. Other buildings and farmlands have been sold for development, but Frank White's home on the crest of the hill known as White's Hill remains. But now that our property of about thirty acres has been sold, we know of great changes that are going on, with grand mansions being erected on our playground of years gone by.

"Although I've celebrated Christmas for many years in other countries, memories are precious. So in thought I'll return to the 'old home' so indelibly etched in my mind. My parents demonstrated the simplicity and beauty of the day. Now in thought I would like you to join in with us for the Christmas season.

"We were eight children excited with the expectations of the day. During the week my mother with the little help that we gave decorated the dining room. My father, a day or so before Christmas would go into the bush with his workmen to cut down a tree, which we decorated. This was a busy time. We took pleasure in making gifts for one another. On Christmas Eve, after we went to bed, gifts seemed to come from nowhere surrounding the tree to our delight as we met around the tree on Christmas morning. "There was truly a happy and festive atmosphere. Led by my Dad, who had a good singing voice, we sang the well-known song, "O Come All Ye Faithful." Our dad would read the familiar Christmas story. And after a few words, we would take possession of our gifts. Then for the most part the younger members of the family were free for the day. I was number seven in line and would sit next to my mother at the table.

"While my mother and older sisters worked in the kitchen preparing the dinner. we would go to our own beach for a swim as our property ran down to the water's edge. Another tradition was to eat delicious watermelons as a snack mid-morning. Around 1 p.m., we all sat down to a sumptuous meal including the traditional plum pudding, and often the only reason we would take the plum pudding was hoping for some treasure that would appear. Sometimes, we would have an ice-cream cake. Remember, for us, it was summertime, not too far from the Tropic of Capricorn. I would be fascinated by greeting cards with pictures of snow and it wasn't until many years later and after our family had begun to disperse that I saw the white fluff for the first time. It was a very pleasant experience and I never cease to marvel at the wonders of God's handiwork.

"Later on in the afternoon, there was a height of excitement when our grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, and others were invited for High Tea. And what a time of happy togetherness that was! Many a time, we would be left standing until the older folk had finished tasting all the special tasty foods that my mother had prepared. Even today others remind me of the Napoleon cake, fruit tarts, the Christmas cake cooked to perfection, and the dainty sandwiches and other items of food. It was a grand day! "I cherish these precious memories and it seems but a little while when we were together. I remember with love and deep respect my father and mother who are now with the Lord. They taught us to love and obey God with whom they served. And so it is my desire to following the footsteps of those who have set a good pattern of living."