Jackie McDonald recorded 2 interviews for the Serving Our Country project and was present at a number of other interviews recorded in Tweed Heads.
In her first interview, Jackie and Trish Borg discuss the ‘Men from Solomon’s Row’ in Murwillumbah who enlisted and served in World War 1.
No less than 18 men from 16 houses enlisted from Solomon’s Row including Jackie McDonald’s great uncle Arthur Brown and Trish Borg’s grandfather Arthur Sinclair who both served at Gallipoli. Arthur Sinclair returned wounded to Australia but Arthur Brown died at Gallipoli on Hill 971 in August 1915.
Jackie and Trish speak about the process of discovering and researching the shared histories of their families through the connections of the men from Solomon’s row who served, and the women and families of that generation that were impacted by this service.
Watch Jackie and Trish’s interview at the Tweed Heads Yarn Up.
In her second interview, Jackie McDonald discusses her mother’s side of the family. Jackie details the service of her grandfather Peter Ford in New Guinea and a number of his brothers who also served in World War 2, including Douglas Ford who was decorated for his service in the Middle East and the Pacific.
Jackie then speaks about her brother Michael who served for 2 years in the Royal Australian Navy during the late 1960s including on HMAS Melbourne and HMAS Derwent, before going on to talk about the service of other members of her family, which includes her great aunty Mavis Ford who served in the Australian Women’s Land Army.
Watch Jackie’s interview at the Tweed Heads Yarn Up.
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Sources:
https://ourmobserved.anu.edu.au/yarn-ups/yarn-participants/jackie-mcdonald
