Peter Sheedy, 77, from Marian near Mackay, always knew part of his family story—his Irish grandmother had settled in Mount Morgan, a rugged mining town in central Queensland. But he never imagined how much he had yet to discover.
Discovery through online records
When a nephew found contact details for Merle Patmore on Ancestry, Peter's search exploded. “We linked up with Merle, and that’s just opened up an amazing sort of family tree, really, that I never knew existed,” Peter told 7NEWS.com.au. Merle’s extensive research revealed that not only his grandmother but also her mother—Peter’s great-grandmother—had come from Ireland after her husband died, and was buried in Mount Morgan Heritage Cemetery.
Family connections and living relatives
The discovery also linked Peter to living relatives in Mackay. “I’ve got other relations that have been made known to me through these linkages, and we’ve caught up,” he said. The online platform allowed him to access scanned documents, passenger lists, and cemetery records from home, transforming his understanding of his ancestry.
Honoring ancestors with bronze plaques
Peter and his brothers had long wanted to create a memorial for their grandmother and an infant uncle. With the discovery of the great-grandmother’s burial in the same cemetery, they installed three bronze plaques on the memorial wall at Mount Morgan Heritage Cemetery. “That was our preference, was a headstone, but the bronze plaque has been a great substitute,” Peter said, grateful for the opportunity.
Ongoing search and future plans
Still busy as a Mackay Regional Council councillor, Peter plans to continue his research. “When I have more time, I’ll be doing a lot of this. It’s lots of possibilities,” he said, hinting at a desire to write a book like one cousin already has. The experience has been transformative: “It’s just fantastic, really. I’ve got a lot to be thankful for.”
