Saunders Family Reunion

27th April 2022

Saunders Family Reunion

24 descendants of one of the first settlers of the Barraba district, Sidney Smith William Saunders, gathered together for several days in early April at the Barraba Caravan Park, for a family reunion.

The wife and 7 children (and their families) of Percy Saunders, (son of Fred and Daisy who lived for many years in Barraba) returned to the area to honour a long-held desire by the family to place a headstone at the grave of the 2 eldest sons of Sidney and his wife Harriet, who died on the same day in uncertain circumstances at just 5 and 4 years of age in May, 1861. Their father was away and their mother had the sad task of seeing to the burial of her precious boys in the Woodsreef Cemetery.

Though originally drawn to the district in search of gold, and struggling for many years to eke out a living, the family's fortunes improved when two of Sidney's sons selected Gosenbar and Anglesey.

A simple but moving ceremony was held, with Rita Saunders, a long-term resident and cousin to the family, in attendance.