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The patriarch of this group is Maurice \u2018Modge\u2019 Smith who was pleased to make the trip up from Melbourne, accompanied by his three children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.<\/p>\n
\u201cKeira was very influential in bringing us up to date with the history of my great-grandfather Joseph Benjamin,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the time of the gold rush in 1852, or there abouts, he and his partner were in the clocks and jewellery business, and I\u2019ve long felt that I wanted to come, visit, and see his shop.<\/p>\n
\u201cKeira wrote a very fine booklet about the history, and here I am to see it in the flesh. It\u2019s a remarkable feeling for someone of nearly 99 years of age. It\u2019s a great thrill.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s quite moving. I\u2019ve got to thank the Ballarat Historical Society, and Keira…\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
WHEN Keira Quinn Lockyer brought her grandchildren to Sovereign Hill in 2011, she spotted the Rees and Benjamin watch and clockmaker\u2019s shop. \u201cI had Benjamin ancestors, and lots of clockmaker ancestors, so I thought I\u2019d do some research,\u201d she said. \u201cI found out all about Abraham Rees, and Joseph Benjamin, and found out I was […]<\/p>\n