Junee was chosen as the location for this year's family picnic day. A good sized crowd gathered on Saturday 5 April at 11:00 am in the Junee Memorial Gardens, adjacent to the Olympic Highway.

Again we were blessed with a fine sunny day, which added to the enjoyment of our annual get together.

Noel Butt opened the meeting reminding us that 2008 was the 170^th anniversary of the arrival of George and Stephen Butt and their families in Sydney in 1837.

With the formal proceedings completed, a family lunch was held, followed by a guided tour of historic Monte Cristo Homestead.

Christopher William Crawley took up land in January 1876 ... Monte Cristo consists of the original homestead built in 1876, which became the servants quarters and kitchen when the main house was built in 1884, the dairy and stables were also built at this time.

This house was to be his home, and the home of members of his family until 1948, the contents of the house were sold at auction in 1952 and the house left empty and at the mercy of vandals. Their operations were so successful that within a few years what had once been a fine home was reduced to a battered shell.


The homestead on 2½ acres remained in the Crawley estate until purchased by the present owners Reg and Olive Ryan on the 3^rd June, 1963 ⁷.

Next year's gathering is scheduled to meet on Saturday 28 March 2009 in Young. Full details will be circulated prior to the event.

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