When Gordon Willis decided to pack up his life in Northern Ireland and bring his wife and young daughter to Australia, he was in for a culture shock.
With the gold rush under way and unlimited opportunities for new migrants in the great southern land, the draw was strong.
After months on the open ocean, they docked in Victoria and found themselves in a small township north of Melbourne, Kilmore.
From there, Gordon headed to Benalla, just a short horse and cart ride from where his brother had settled, in Wangaratta.
In 2024, with at least five generations of descendants, the family members have no idea just how many Willises there are spread across the nation.
After visiting Belfast to learn more about the family history, Benalla’s Anna van Popering, Gordon’s great-great-granddaughter, posted on Facebook to see if any other descendants would be interested in a reunion.
That’s when she was contacted by Michelle Verwey, who it turns out is her cousin.
That was in 2023, and recently family members travelled from across Victoria to have a reunion.
Ms Van Popering said that gave them all a great opportunity to fill in some of the gaps in their family history.
“Gordon opened a saddlery business, on Bridge St (East). It was on the site that would become the ANZ bank, and is now GOTAFE,” she said.
“He passed that business down to my great-grandfather, Thomas Loftus Williams.”
Ms Van Popering said when the family looked into Thomas’ life, they found he was involved with the 16th Light Horse Brigade.
“He was awarded a medal for long and efficient service to the light horse,” she said.
“That medal is now on with the Benalla Museum.
“He was only 58 when he died; it stayed with his wife, Sarah Gertrude. When she died in 1966, it was passed to my grandma. It then went to my father, and then to me.”
Thomas Loftus Willis’ medal is on display at the Benalla Museum on Mair St.