Cover of How we are history, with an aerial map of so-called Australia showing Aboriginal Country outlines over ocean waves
Booklet page on Richard Lovegrove, with his handwritten poem, a sailing ship and a map
Booklet page on Ellen Brown, born McCluskey in Ireland, with a painting of soldiers and a ship, a letter and her portrait
Booklet page on Henry Berand, born in Prussia, with a painting of a flag uprising, a handwritten note and his portrait
Booklet page on Ruby Berand, born 1888, with a map of so-called Australia tracing her sea journey, and a girl beside it
Booklet page with a 1913 letter from Henry Berand to his daughter Ruby, with portraits of both and an old Rockdale street

How we are history

What impact does our family’s past have on our actions and values today, and in the future?

This project explores why my ancestors left their homelands, the culture they brought with them, and how this land shaped who they became, from identifying with their homeland to identifying as Australian. It also looks at the resistance of the Aboriginal people whose land continues to be occupied.

The McCluskey, Brown, Berand, Lovegrove and Scott family story

My father’s maternal ancestors are the McCluskey, Berand, Lovegrove and Scott families. They arrived by boat from Ireland, England and Prussia between 1808 and 1910. The story follows my great grandmother Ruby and has two parts: her adopted family and her biological family. Loney Lovegrove raised Ruby as her own, although no formal adoption took place. The Brown family connects the two sides.

This is booklet 1 of 5, with more to come. First edition distributed in January 2025, updated August 2025. It is a living document and I update it as I check references. This booklet discusses colonial violence against Aboriginal people.

Update Coming Soon
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