The Veness Family History

About this time my Mum and Dad went to live on Dangar Island in the Hawkesbury River. Dad had the house built a few years before, and had planned to retire there when he reached 65; but with careful saving he was able to retire at 59. The house at Dangar was to become a focal point for both mine and my sister’s families. Dangar Island is a beautiful little island in the middle of the Hawkesbury River, reached by ferry or private boat. The beach in front of what was their house is used for the start of the now famous bridge-to-bridge ski race held each year. Right: Tom and Ivy Ellis as their home on Dangar Island in the Hawkesbury River. In 1956 two missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints came to our home and taught us about the Gospel. Three months later we were all baptised. This was on 25 August 1956, Frank’s birthday. Frank was called and ordained a Bishop on 1 December 1963 by Joseph Fielding Smith. In 1964 Frank was given the opportunity to attend the April Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. We both decided that I should go with him and make it our world trip. We went to the European Temples as we travelled through the Continent, and had a really wonderful time. Left: Photo taken at Bankstown Chapel on our baptism day, 25th August, 1956. 36 | P a g e