Sara Powter worked with her mother, Sheila Hunter doing their family history. This research discovered many wonderful Australian Colonial stories from the four Convicts they found in their tree. Sheila thought the stories were too good to forget, so she penned an Australian Colonial Trilogy, which, after Sheila died in 2002, Sara had printed.
Sara now continues the retelling. Weaving fact with fiction tells of the amazing and intrepid souls who worked together to make our wonderful country the fabulous place it is today. The convicts turned adversity to advantage! Stolen from the arms of loved ones in England. They worked and were rewarded with 'Tickets Of Leave', each becoming some of Parramatta's and Emu Plains’ leading citizens. Like many of the untold convict stories, there was often faith behind them. Their strong Christian Faith was taught to each generation.
She writes, “Over 200 years have passed since the first arrival of our family on this beautiful but rugged shore. Each day I come to love it more. Lee Kernaghan’s song "The Odyssey" sums it up! This country's got a hold on me! I will never regret that they came as convicts! I'm proud of that!” They were ripped from their loving families arms, never to return. Most were sent for very petty crimes. It made them strong and resilient and determined to do the best they can for their family!
The Lockley SeriesThe retelling of Charles and Sal's story mirrors John Ellison's and Sarah Watkins story. They were my GG Grandparents, along with Joseph Huff and Amelia Harlow. They regularly attended St John's church in Parramatta. Without their faith and example of Christian love, their own children and grandchildren may have followed different paths.
Sara is married to Stephen Powter. They have two grown children. Stephen an Anglican Minster, is recently retired. She loves to fish and he to surf, so you may well see them travelling up and down the Pacific Coast of the Eastern States of Australia, in an old caravan with rods and Surfboards boards under their 50 year old tinny! They live on the Central Coast of NSW.
