- David’s early Life
DNA History-
I had my DNA tested by 23 &Me and it states that I am 100% European, with 97% being a mixture of British and Irish. The strongest evidence of my ancestry in Britain is in the following regions- Greater London,Glasgow City, Greater Manchester/ Merseyside, West Yorkshire,West Midlands, Belfast,South Yorkshire, Lancaster,Tyne and Wear.
My Irish extraction consists of possibly coming from- County Dublin, County Cork, Count Tipperary, County Galway, County Kerry,County Clare, County Mayo, County Waterford,County Limerick, County Donegal.
The two primary branches of the Celtic languages are the Island Celtic and Continental Celtic, though Continental Celtic languages are now extinct. Within the Island Celtic branch there are two sub groups , the Goidelic or Gaelic languages and the Brittonic languages. Within the Goidelic languages are Irish, Scottish and Manx. Within the Brittonic languages are Welsh, Cornish and Breton. .
The British Isles have been continually occupied by humans for the last 11,000 years. In the early 20th century the Republic of Ireland won its independence from the United Kingdom, but the people of this nation share a common genetic heritage rooted largely in Celtic, Anglo-Saxon and Viking migrations from North Western Europe. Wales is classified as a country even though it is also part of the United Kingdom.
Of note , the DNA report reads that I am 3% Scandinavian, stating " although we have detected Scandinavian DNA in your ancestral breakdown, we have not identified more specific locations that your recent ancestors may have called home. Scandinavian, covers the people of Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Iceland.
From the DNA report, my ancestral timeline was most recent in 1-2 British and Irish generations range where I am likely to have had a single relative who descended from a population. Scandinavian 5-8+ generations ago.
My Early History.
I was the youngest but the heaviest of the Hallam Triplets born some 7 weeks premature with no fertility tablets in that era, a natural occurrence. Supposedly we made history then for being triplets with each a different blood groups.
I David weighed near 48 oz, my brother Gerard came in 32 oz, and my brother Joseph the eldest, first delivered a bit over 16 oz, born at the Royal Women's Hospital in Melbourne. We all were put in humidicribs with Joseph staying the longest as his weight very low.
We arrived home from the Royal Women's Hospital Melbourne to the new house Dad had paid to be built at 17 Hartington St Glenroy, a three-bedroom weatherboard house with a sunroom on the back of the home which served as our bedroom.
I recall my earliest memories as a babe, drinking malted milk bottles on the kitchen floor at Glenroy and when finishing, walking to mum to get refills.
In the primary school years, Mum would at times take us into the city by train and we would wander & shop with Mum. What impressed us on our walks was our visits to Gog and Magog, two mythical creatures in Melbourne’s Royal arcade, near the clock. The fable of the creatures originates from a blend of Biblical, religious, pagan and military mythology stood 7 feet tall. They were modelled on figures found in London's Guildhall and symbolize the conflict between the ancient Britons and the Trojan armies.
We would nearly always and then finish up at our favourite place at Coles cafeteria or Myers cafeteria in Melbourne Central where Gerard, Joseph and I would have delicious pies and chocolate milkshakes for lunch. Special times.
We three were close brothers all our lives, there being an especially close bond between Gerard and Joseph. Gerard when young could pass off for Joe as identical.
Joe so pure of heart throughout his life and he forged a very close relationship/friendship with Mum and Gerard all his life.
Growing up we were comfortable enough, never feeling that we missed out. Being a family of 9, we would rarely all go out and home visit another as we would eat them out of house and home in quick time.
Traditional roles, Dad the bread winner and Mum the home keeper that managed all the cooking, housekeeping, and nurturing of all 7 kids under 11 years.
Growing up, I specifically recall on a Visit to Dad’s cousin Keith. Keith gave me a Superman comic and that started my love in the fantasy world and Super heroes, especially Superman, Batman and justice league. I then bought many Superman and Batman comics over the years and they gave me enjoyment and a escape of reality into the world of fantasy, a genre I still enjoy today. I was also able to buy little green soldier men toy soldiers, like the ones in toy story film and I would escape into my own reality playing war games.
When Matthew was young technological advances in film & TV had made great advances and Matt also shared a enjoyment in all things superheroes and fantasy stories on the big box office screens. Our favourite, watching watching Lord of the Rings when Matt was about 6 years old. In later years we would discuss all aspects of the movie, how it was put together, the plot line and the musical support and then grade it. Enjoyable times. Unfortunately technology wise around Andrew's ere films like these were sub standard and few. Andy is a lot like his grandfathers,Tom and John who loved real life documentaries and sport.
I recall with pleasure sitting around at home in Balwyn with the boys and Mum talking, critical thinking sharing about the topics of the day. I recall doing this in a fashion in the home with my Mum and Dad.
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Schooling years, Joseph, Gerard, and I attended Corpus Christ Primary School. I recall early in my Primary school years, a bully picking on my brother Joe. Joe came and told me and Gerry and I went to Joe's defence.
I recall early in our youth in the back bedroom of the Glenroy house at night Gerry and I listening to our crystal sets for many enjoyable hours. Crystal sets radio receiver one had to earth to listen to the radio. It did not require any mains power, just to be earthed.
Our brother Bill did look out for us. I recall as very young fellows all three of us wrestling him on the kitchen floor. He also took us to drive ins to watch movies and water fights around the home.
Our dog Bimbo was a favourite pet whom we spent many long years and hours with.( And dear BO a cross between a labrador and border collie has been as good as mate to me and family.)
For some recreation, Dad built a table tennis table and we would all play each other with Gerry and I having many tough competitive games together.
One special Christmas, Bill bought me a slug air rifle and Gerry a camera. I shared with Barry a past time of shooting sparrows and other objects as Barry also had a slug gun. Barry also shared with gerry his love of pigeons at that stage of his life and Gerry went on to have about 15 pigeons, a hobby Gerry and Barry shared. Dad did not like the pigeons as they crapped everywhere and they would make a habit of sitting on the neighbours tin/ aluminium red roof for warmth I expect and they would leave their droppings, very noticeable on a red roof to the neighbours annoyance. A good school mate Shane Ravenhill would come round with his air rifle and we would shoot from the windows of my bedroom.
Gerry went on with taking photos and developing them himself in the darkened bathroom in Glenroy. this happened to be also a hobby of John Joseph Troy, Mum's Dad.
Joseph left Corpus Christ Primary school in about Grade 1, as he had visual disabilities and mild learning difficulties. He attended a special school Carron bank, a school for the partially sighted located in Kew.
In later years I recall Dad regularly helping to repair & maintain Bill's many old bombs (cars.) Dad was handy repairing cars and also helped me repair my 1965 HD Holden which was badly damaged when I entered an intersection without stopping. Dad was always there for us fellows, a fact I appreciated much more in my mature years.
I expect Dad picked up a lot of mechanical and other skills from his days in the RAAF as a leading serviceman repairing the planes where he was based in Darwin during WW2. Planes that came back damaged from their missions against the Japanese in New Guinea, Solomon Islands and beyond.
Dad had a variety of jobs as he moved and his last move was Manager of the Western Star Butter Factory in West Melbourne overseeing up to 40 employees.
When Gerard & I were 15 years old Dad got us a job at the Western Star Butter factory in our school holidays.
At about 15 years, Gerry, myself and friends Shane Ravenhill and Michael Green learned the art of Judo for a few years with myself getting up to purple belt grade.
School holidays I favourably recall going with Mum (Dad worked) Joe and Gerry to Kerang to stay with Mum's Mum Lucy and Aunty May. We had great times there. Often chopping fire wood for Aunt May and then riding the bicycles on a rough bike track that ran parallel to the rail line for may hours. When we had to leave, Mum's Mum Lucy & Aunt May would cry which made us too very emotional. Granny was a very giving. Aunt May cared for Grandad John Joseph & Lucy until they passed away, Our times with Granny was very special.
Dad and Mum had a very traditional role. Dad was very much the financial provider and mum very much the home maker working well as a team. Tt was hard for Mum in the early years with seven children under 11 years with no outside assistance.
In later years when we were about 17 years living in Blackburn, Mum went back to the Taxation Department, where she was employed in her youth for part of the year for some years. She loved the loved work, met old friends and just got a new spring in life after many years at home raising 7 kids.
Dad and Mum gave all to the family. They had a strong Catholic faith which was very important to them.
When we moved to Blackburn when I was nearly 18 years, the move was monumental for me & Gerard in many ways. Little social life in Glenroy to finding many friends in a Christian denominational group which was a fantastic new experience for us. So much thanks to Mum that found the newspaper link for us. Yearly Camps away to Queensland where we also saw my brother Kevin & his wife Sue. And camps away with friends to a camp site at Port Lonsdale.
It was in this group that I met my wonderful wife Anita where my life was blessed much. With encouragement I studied and achieved Bachelor Arts which took 8 years part time, whilst working full time and then Anita supported e financially for two years for a Bachelor of Social Work at Monash University. And then two great sons, Andrew and Matthew.
Mum and Dad's move from Glenroy to Blackburn also had a life changing impact for Bill as he met Christine in Mildura during his Blackburn North's Baptist Church's outreach in Mildura. Mum because of her early history growing up in Kerang lived through part of the period when the bitterness between the Protestants and Catholics (including Baptists) was strong. Mum says she experienced religious discrimination growing up and it hurt her others dear to her. Such was the anti Protestant feeling that when Mum's brother Con married Lesley he dropped Catholicism and became a Protestant. Mum,(Theresa) and her Parents Lucy and John Joseph did not attend his wedding, which siblings ruptures. But later in life Mum's attitude softened and she had a good relationship with Con and her other brother jack in later years.
We owed Mum and Dad much.
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1957 - 
