At some time in the late 1880's, Robert Henry Cassidy came to live in Melbourne. It would seem that many if not all of his family found their way to Victoria around this time, as there are a number of photographs of family members taken at the Allan Studio in Smith St. Collingwood which seem to date from this period. 1

After a few years Robert moved to Geelong in search of work. A tuck-pointer by trade, my mother recalls him saying that his first job on arrival was on the Elephant Castle Hotel in McKillop St, East Geelong. The date on this building, which still stands, is 1892. Presumably it was not long after this that he met Margaret Watkins the Geelong girl he was to marry. The wedding took place on October 16th 1893 in Geelong. 2 Margaret was a Catholic so possibly the marriage took place in a Catholic church most likely St Bernards in Belmont, her local parish church. Their family eventually grew to include seven children all born in Geelong. Their names and years of birth were as follows:- William Edward "Will" (1895); Lillian (1897); Robert Harold "Harold" (1899); Margaret Clare "Clare" (1902); Edgar John "Jack" (1904); Frank Laurence (1907) and Winifred May (July 28th 1910). 3 The family resided at 17 Richmond Crescent, on the corner of Hope St, in East Geelong 4 until after Robert's death which occurred after a long illness on July 8th 1935. 5 During his last illness he was received into the Catholic Faith of his wife and family. He was buried in Geelong's Eastern Cemetery.

The story of Margaret Watkins and her family is recorded later in this book, but before taking it up I will relate something further of the other children of Thomas and Caroline as I am conscious of the fact that it is the fate of some of these that is of most interest to many of those who helped me in compiling this account, and indeed who are among those most likely to read this narrative.