I am writing to see if Lawrence Psaila, who emigrated with his parents and siblings to Australia - likely to Melbourne - in 1956 is known to anyone on this board. He would now be around 70 years old.
His father was the superintendant at the British Boys' School in Alexandria when the Suez Crisis erupted in 1956 and British-connected foreigners were forced to leave Egypt.
My father was the headmaster of that school, and Lawrence and I used to play together.
I found this photo on a BBS website: https://www.flickr.com/photos/cam37/3689774343/in/album-72157622061...
I searched the Ancestry.com.au records for "All Census & Voter Lists results for Psaila"
I note Anthony Lawrence Psaila first appears in the Australian census of
1958 - city, Lalor, Victoria, Australia, then:
1967 - city, Maribyrnong, Victoria, Australia
Then in 1977, about the time he might be living in a separate residence, we have Lawrence Psaila
1977 - city, Melbourne North, Victoria, Australia.
1980 - city, Wills, Victoria, Australia - but I see no record of a town or suburb in Victoria named "Wills'!
...and then the records seem to stop.
I then received this from Mark Caruana at Malta Migration, a record of a "Master L Psaila" landing at Freemantle in 17 Dec 1957, record no.30132262; with a forwarding address as 2 Stewart Place, Pascoe Vale, Victoria;
I have always wondered how the Psaila family fared following this great upheaval in their lives.
Any information would be appreciated.
best regards,
Nigel Bruce
Tags:
Could this be his family?
This is could be the death of his mother in 2001 : http://tributes.heraldsun.com.au/archivenotice/2585324/view?random=...
It would fit with the initials in this passenger list: http://soda.naa.gov.au/record/30132262/10
The burial of the father and mother:
BurialNumber: 724732
Surname: PSAILA
GivenName: JOSEPH
DOB: 31/03/1923
DOD: 10/10/1994
Age: 71 Y
ServiceDate: 17/10/1994
Service Type: Interment
Cemetery: Keilor Cemetery
Area: Area J
GISLocation: KE-J****578
-
BurialNumber: 724733
Surname: PSAILA
GivenName: XANTHIE
DOB: 17/04/1924
DOD: 14/01/2001
Age: 76 Y
ServiceDate: 18/01/2001
Service Type: Interment
Cemetery: Keilor Cemetery
Area: Area J
GISLocation: KE-J****578
Sylvia
PS re the electoral rolls listings for e.g.:
1977 - city, Melbourne North, Victoria, Australia.
1980 - city, Wills, Victoria, Australia
In these electoral rolls "city" is the actual suburb or place name (will be exposed when logging in to Ancestry), while "Melbourne North" and "Wills" were/are electoral districts/divisions.
Many thanks - yes, it all makes sense. However, 17 years have passed, so I hope Lawrence and his family are OK and I can trace them.
Best regards,
Nigel Bruce
I've just had a look at the 1957 outward UK passenger list for the above family. They were orginally from Egypt and dad was listed as a motor mechanic .. (and mum's first initial was an "X"). "L" and "A" were born in the mid forties.
Hi Sylvia,
I was born in May 1949, and Lawrence was a bit older.
Just hope others can come in with more information. There must surely be a Psaila 'clan' of sorts in Melbourne.
Best regards,
Nigel
If the Lawrence in the 1980 electoral roll is the right one, then it seems he is still at the same address ... (of course I can't just mention that address here in public)
Hi Sylvia,
njbruce@hku.hk - please follow up....
Nigel
Hi Sylvia,
I have a very good friend who has returned to Melbourne - Chris Robinson - at christopher.n.robinson@gmail.com.
Do get in touch with him and perhaps let him know where to look for Lawrence Psaila. He's found L Psailas in the white pages in Coburg North and Altona Meadows - might he be in that area?
Still trying to trace my childhood friend...
Best regards,
Nigel
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