Final reunion for Hayes family

AFTER more than fifty years, the Hayes family of Tooborac will be holding their final family reunion next month.

More than 200 family members, from all over Australia, are expected to attend the 10 March event.

“Sadly, these family reunions are ceasing as the majority of those organising the events are aging and younger members are not interested in continuing,” said descendent John Freesmith.

“We’ve been holding them every three or four years for nearly sixty years.”

Mr Freesmith is the great-great-grandson of Mark and Maria Hayes, who arrived at Tooborac in the early 1850s.

“Mark and Maria came to Victoria with their children George and Mary in 1851, from Leicestershire in England,” Mr Freesmith said.

“Within a year of their arrival, Mark gained employment as a groomsman at the McIvor Inn in Tooborac and Maria was employed as a cook.

“The family later moved to Graytown for a short time, then Wollert, before returning to Tooborac where they purchased 213 acres on the McIvor Creek.”

Mark Hayes quarried tons of stone from his property and built Leister House which still stands today.

“He grew grain, raised sheep, cattle and pigs, and also produced small quantities of wine from their vines,” said Mr Freestone.

“The family worked as a close-knit team on the farm and sold produce in outlets in Melbourne and Bendigo.

“Mark served on the school board and was a driving force behind the construction of the Methodist Church.

“He also served on the McIvor Shite Council for many years.

“His commitment to community influenced his descendants, as his son William also served as a councillor, followed by grandsons, great grandsons and a great-great-grandson.”

Friends of the Hayes family are welcome to attend the reunion, starting at 10am, in the Tooborac Hall.

Attendees are invited to bring a picnic lunch, and a plate to share for afternoon tea.