Anzac Day

Hey! So this morning Dad and I went to Kings Park in Perth for the Dawn Service - apparently so did about 40,000 other people! It was a very nice ceremony and then we thought we would walk down and see the tree in honour of James Seage. For today they added an Australian flag and some flowers to each one. Here are some pics:

Liz x

Who's turned 88?

Who's turned 88?

…which means Neil would have turned 90 last week. God bless him. Mum starts asking what happened to him. God bless her.

A small gathering on Saturday night. Couldn't light the candles – matches and flame guns are banned in retirement homes (it seems).

This is what our bees are doing recently. God bless the bees.

Brendan

Harry and Vicki

Hi All,

I will be lucky to have Harry's video done in time for their five year anniversary but I have a blooper to share that features 'The Roffs'.

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This is what happens to naughty children

Banff, Alberta, Canada

Just had a wonderful spring break to Banff which is truly beautiful. Stayed in a flash hotel for bargain rates, and celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary (went to a nice bar and watched the ice hockey over a few cocktails)!!
Skiied a couple of days, and visited a frozen Lake Louise. Walked out into the middle wearing our snowshoes. Banff town is very quaint surrounded by snow capped peaks - any visitors???

On the balcony of Banff Springs hotel where Marilyn Munro had her photo taken in 1953

Snowshoeing on Lake Louise with the Fairmont Hotel in the background

A guided tour to the penthouse of the Rimrock Resort where we stayed at budget rates courtesy of a friend who is the head housekeeper

Outlaws in the trading post

Grant's new job

Due to a recent spike in the number of motorcycle magazine editors who have died from heart attacks, I'm now the new editor of 2Wheels magazine. 2Wheels was started in 1969, making it the second oldest motorcycle magazine in Australia. It's owned by Express Media Group which is based in Sydney but, thanks to modern communication technology, I'll be editing it from Melbourne. I'm busy at the moment converting the basement of the house into an office. So ends a very pleasant nine months outside the workforce but this will keep the wolves from the door for a few years to come and I'm probably going to enjoy it. The job entails a bit of domestic and overseas travel so it will increase my chances of catching up with family. Trip one is in May when a group of us are riding new Triumph off-roaders from Radelaide via the Flinders Ranges and Williams Creek to Uluru, which I've never seen before. Start buying the magazine from the July issue...

Kingofcousins Birthday

Happy Birthday Jake (14th). You share a birthday with Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Ritchie Blackmore from Deep Purple. On this day in history the other King released the movie "Girl Happy".

The rise of Samuel

Kate & Joe are proud to officially announce (stop using Facebook as a reliable source of information!) the arrival of their son, Samuel Alexandre Powers. He was born on 11/04/12 and weighed in at 8lb 5oz. Mum and bub are doing well, making a good recovery. This little guy has paddles for feet, so we're really looking forward to getting him in the pool for the Roff swimming competition!

Thanks also for all your well wishes.

-K8

The Demise of Sunline

Not the horse but the famous family golf set. The brothers all remember the Sunline sets of golf clubs Black and Eileen bought us when we were in High School. Light, no weight, rubbish clubs that served us for many years. Black drove Ash ( or was it Stu) and I to the opening day of K Mart in Newcastle at 8am on the way to school and it was like a feeding frenzy of old ducks pushing, crushing, running and barging...what chance did two little Marist brothers Hamilton boys in uniform stand....but we got two sets and played with them for years. In our family Zac was the last user of them but with the impending move to Perth they have had to be culled. Sad but true. A little bit of history now residind in the local SVDP shop.

Rock

Passing of Jan’s Sister

Rock and Jan sent through a note to announce the passing of Jan’s sister Robyn, aged 52, on Good Friday morning after a 13 year battle with cancer. Many of the older generation Roffs would remember Robyn from occasional family get togethers and visits. She was much loved by the Geraldton Roffs for her crazy nature and showering of gifts on the children and although we haven’t seen her for a while she will be greatly missed. The funeral will likely be in Dubbo in the next week. Jan herself is understandably sad but with her own health issues will not make it back. We will probably find a nice quiet church in Perth to reflect on Robyn’s life.

Rock

Annikas Birthday

Happy Birthday Annika.
You share a birthday with Mick Mars from Motley Crue. On this day in 1967 Jim Morrison was arrested by the FBI. With no photos of you to post, I have gone with Cindy Wilson from the B52's to celebrate your birthday. Happy Birthday!

FAMILY HISTORY

Kimi and visited Betty & Ken last night. Kimi takes up a meal every couple of weeks which breaks the routine for Dad which he enjoys. Kimi makes sure there are some leftovers too. Mum & Dad seem to spend their days unearthing photos from backs of draws. Grant lamented there are few shots of Neil Roff in uniform. Here is one which proves that he did wear a shirt and trousers through at least some of his military service.

He is promenading here with a Joan "somebody-or-other" whom he was 'seeing' at the time. Unfortunately Mum's recall is no longer as sharp as it once was. The back of the photo has The Leicagraph Co. Pty Ltd at 5 Strand Arcade, Sydney written on the back, so I expect it was a staged shot somewhere on George Street. There is a tram on the LHS and a sign saying 'NEWSREEL' behind Neil's head. Staged? Enlarge the photo…he's holding a pipe! But I am intrigued if it is pre or post war.

Another couple of shots that might have family interest for the diehard historians:

This shot represents 4 generations of Greens from which Mona (Neil & Betty's mother)(Mardi to her grandchildren) was derived. Nanny Green (Mona's mother) is at the front holding a newborn Tony Seage, so I guess the date is about March or April 1945 by the clothing. Betty on the left, Linda Green (married to Frank Green, Mona's elder brother) behind her, Mona at the back RHS and Thelma Green (married to Walter, Mona's younger brother) on the RHS. Location is in front of the front entry door of Carrington Hall at Coogee for those old enough to remember, and that is getting very old, on the RHS as you walked up the steps.

And finally:

An outing which includes Pop (Frank) and Nanny Green. Pop was a staunch mason, and doesn't he look it. I think it is the only photo I have ever seen of him. A young Mona (Mardi) Green is at the LHS (in the photo) of Pop with one of her many suitors, on this occasion a Mr Jack Toe. 'He worked on boats and things' was the explanation I have received to date. Others in the party included Mardi's friend Henri Biffin, seated in front of Pop. I suspect it might be Walter at the back leaning against the tree as he was the younger brother just there. Time? Anywhere between 1911 and 1915 guessing that Mona would have to be chaperoned, and between 16 and 20 years old. Location? Maybe Centennial Park as there is another shot of them posing in a boat.

I include this just to get you to consider fate, that you could have all been Toe's rather than Roff's. More praise to Jack Roff!

Brendan

 

Kate's Baby Shower!

So Kate had her baby shower at my place in Perth in early March :)
It was a Mad Hatter Tea Party theme and it went very well! There was plenty of food and Alice In Wonderland themed decorations. Here are some pics:








Liz x