Stories
Stories
This page brings together a range of memoirs and essays that illustrate particular episodes in the family's history. See also:
- Books – Self-published books - all available for purchase
- Research – Reports about research projects that facilitated the discovery of particular episodes in the family's history
Collected Stories
These are a few of the interesting stories from our history.
- An unfortunate family - UPDATED 2023 – The family of Mary Lahy experienced a Dickensian series of life's obstacles
- Townsville or hell!
- Bricks at dead of night – Grandfather Kessey played a key role in a fractious political incident
Croker Prize
In 2014 the Society of Australian Genealogists established the annual Croker Prize for Biography (named in memory of benefactors Colin and Loas Croker). The prize is awarded to the author of the best biographical essay submitted in accordance with whatever theme the judges choose for that year. Every financial member can submit one entry to the competition each year.
The following Croker Prize entries were written and submitted by James Michael Fleming. All relate to members of this family.
- 2022 - Frances Reed, pioneer of Bourke – about Frances Reed nee Heazle (1812-1895) who helped to forge a better life for her many descendants
- 2021 - Where the coolabahs grow – about William Isaac Kemp (1826-1897) who raised a family of sixteen in outback NSW
- 2020 - Showdown at the Blue Bell Inn – about Elizabeth Clarkson (1834-?), who left her husband and continues to elude researchers!
- 2019 - A Noble Harvest – about the influential Elizabeth Taylor (1831-1881) - Received a Highly Commended award
- 2018 - The Disappearing Boots – about the divorce of James Kessey (1858-1944) and Mary Jane Press (1867-1951)
- 2017 - Scrabbling in the dirt – about Mary Tobin (1818-1856), who suffered a tragic ending to a tough life
- 2016 - The Clan keeper – about Alice Clarkson Poulton (1860-1927), matriarch of the tight-knit Bowen clan
- 2015 - Looks like hopelessness – about Charles Fleming (1854-1928), who emigrated not once, but twice!
- 2014 - Criminal or Victim? – about John Kessey (c1836-1902), whose life was blighted by his upbringing
Bruce's stories
These autobiographical stories were written by Bruce Fleming (1929-2016).