Viv W

My name is Elizabeth Lee. One of my husband’s favourite Aunt’s has asked me to do a small introduction today at the launch of yet another amazing book. So here is a part of her story, mainly an understanding of her,  why she has chosen this story to tell is up to her.

Vivienne Worthington, nee Gathercole, was one of 6 children of Harold and May Gathercole, long term Panton Hill residents. Her families connections go back to the early days of Panton Hill , but obviously not as far back as some, or we would be talking about Gathercole Hill instead. Vivienne spent most of her early life up to 20 here and still returned with her family to the farm at Alma road to see her Mum and Dad every Christmas and in between for 40 years.

Her interest was piqued by coming across a member of the Panton family and realising that Panton Hill had a beginning and history that she was not aware of and many a tale to tell. who were the first settlers, who were the Panton’s, how did the village get it’s name, what happened to them and others in those times and since.

Vivienne was helped in her endeavors by work she had previously done locally on her family tree which led to a lot of local genealogical knowledge.Growing up in Panton Hill she knew people to talk to and had also absorbed  a lot of local knowledge on places in the area and which sites to look up information on.

Vivienne’s passion for writing and history has developed later in her life after meeting her second husband and having the time to devote to writing which he supported. She is one of those people who has taken to the computer age with gusto developing dormant abilities.  She has written a book on the Eureka stockade from a viewpoint of the women involved and one on the Pioneer Bus company, both being related to family members who had involvement. This book fills in an important part of the early pioneering history of this area and community and the people who helped create it .

Serendipity is the term for unexpected fortunate occurrences. I think I will find the book more interesting due to connections with Shepparton where we live to Panton Hill. One of the chemists here for many years was a Panton. And the McPherson family who settled here and ran our newspapers were among the earliest settlers of Panton Hill.

Vivienne has produced another good book to digest.  has developed an easy reading style which encompasses a lot of research yet is still enjoyable to read.
With no further ado I present Mrs Vivienne Worthington.