MELDER FAMILY – GOLDEN JUBILEE IN AUSTRALIA
By Victor Melder, January 30, 2016
The descendants of the Melder family – Randolph Joseph Churchill Melder & Phyllis Dagmar Bulner, celebrated the Golden Jubilee of their arrival in Australia, in December 1965,
with a gathering of the clan at Woodlands Park, Essendon, on Sunday, December 6, 2015.
The first two members of the family (the second and third), Tony & Hilton, arrived in Melbourne, Australia on board the SS Orsova, on September 23, 1965. On arrival they lived
with a paternal Aunt, Mrs Tera Phillips, at Thornbury. Both Tony & Hilton who were employed by the Ceylon Government Railway, obtained employment with the Victorian Railways.
They then rented a house at 219, Raleigh Street, Thornbury, in the vicinity of their Aunt’s house. This was in preparation for the arrival of our parents and other members of the family,
who arrived in Melbourne on December 17, 1965, on board the SS Himalaya. (Those who arrived at this time were: Dad, Mum, Kevin, Derrick, Sharlie, Gerard, Philomena, Geralyn
and Trudy).
The family lived at this residence until December 1966, when they moved to new accommodation at 499, Barry Road, Broadmeadows. Meanwhile the elder members of the family
were employed in Melbourne and travelled to work and back daily by either train or motor vehicle.
Dad, who had retired from the CGR, in December 1963, as a ‘Special Class Engine Driver’, aged 57 years, after 40 years of service, was now employed by the Victorian State Public
Service and like many members of the Burgher community in Melbourne at the time, worked at the Motor Registration Branch. Tony & Hilton, had by then also left the Victorian
Railways and were employed by the Victorian Public Service.
Derrick completed a Plumbing & Gas Fitters Course, being awarded the ‘Apprentice of the Year’, at the time. He worked for the Federal Government ‘Department of Housing
& Construction’. During his tenure with the said department, he led two teams in successive years to Antarctica, and was responsible for the construction of two power stations and other
facilities at Mawson and Davis Stations.
The four younger members of the family, finished their schooling at Upfield High School. The rail terminus on the line was Upfield, affectionately known as “Udukumbura” by the family,
for this is what the area looked like in the winter months.
Two other members of the family, Victor & Patrick (who were married), were still in Ceylon (Sri Lanka).
Patrick, his wife and daughter were the next to arrive in Melbourne. They too lived at Barry’s Road, Broadmeadows, for short time, until they rented suitable accommodation at Thornbury.
Finally, the eldest member of the family, Victor, his wife and two children arrived in Melbourne on March 13, 1968, flying into Essendon Airport. Victor too was employed by the CGR
as an Engine Driver. He resigned his position, whilst stationed at Galle. They too lived at Barry Road, Broadmeadows, until they rented accommodation at Thornbury.
Victor was employed by the Victorian State Public Service, beginning his 25-year career at the Fisheries & Wildlife Department, retiring in April 1993 from the Department of Conservation
& Environment. During his tenure in the State Public Service, he served at various times at the National Parks Service, Forrest Commission and Environment Protection Authority.
With the passage of time, all members of the family but one, were married and moved to their own accommodation, finally leaving Dad & Mum on their own. They both then moved to live
with a daughter, Philomena and family at Alfred Road, Essendon.
Dad passed away in December 1989, aged 83. Mum continued living with Philomena until she sold the property and moved elsewhere. Mum then continued to live with Derrick, the bachelor
in the family. It was on the same street, a few doors up. Mum passed away in December 2008, six months after celebrating her 90th birthday.
The Golden Jubilee celebrations were well attended (numbering about 30) by the children and grandchildren. One member of the family, Kevin and his daughter Hannah, flew in from Perth for the day
