The Australian newspaper of 11 September 1993 featured a front page story about Evonne (Goolagong) Cawley, an aboriginal, and former international tennis champion, then in search of her spiritual identity. Whilst I have not felt the need to follow that particular path there is a lesson for myself and others of my generation. To quote from the article "In the ancient Pitjantjatjara language of the Anangu custodians of Uluru the process is written 'ara mulapa ngaranyi pulkara kulintjaku' — the proper thing is to really listen". By the time I started to listen it was almost too late.

The following family histories arise from genealogical research undertaken by myself and others. I would like to acknowledge the various people who have contributed in some way to the research and therefore to this work. Firstly my late step-father, Viv Cerchi who started inquiring into his own family background shortly before his death in 1983. Secondly my late mother, Kae (Farrar) Cerchi, who prompted me to look at the paternal side of her family history of which she knew virtually nothing. Thirdly, my late Grandmother, Lillian (Edwards) Farrar who was the source, along with my mother, of much of the anecdotal material concerning the Edwards family. The key impetus to start undertaking serious genealogical research arose late in 1984, when I was loaned a facsimile copy of Victoria and its Metropolis by my then work colleague John Ellery. Contained in these large volumes was a reference to a Matthew Farrar who subsequently proved to be my Great Great Grandfather. A little time earlier my mother's cousin, Fay Williams, had contacted my grandmother seeking information. When I contacted Fay, I was generously provided with the results of her research which, in turn, led me to others. A special thank you to Fay for her help in making a smooth entry into the past history of the Farrar family. Suddenly, it seemed, there were many people in pursuit of the same information amongst whom the following have contributed in some significant measure to these notes: Meryl Smith, Kevin Cartwright, the late Emma Kent, John "Rocky" Kent, Rene Meehan, Roy Farrar, Charles Terrier, Judy Gibson, Ian Scott, Richard Greenaway (and, indirectly, the late Isobel Hodgson). I thank them all profusely.

A special acknowledgment must be made for the warm welcome offered to me by George Burrows, owner of the Black Snake Inn at Granton, Tasmania, when I dropped-in while visiting Hobart to carry out further research in March 1986, and again in December 2007. Finally, and by no means least, acknowledgment must go to the staff of the various Archives Offices and Libraries which are the repository of much of the recorded information that has survived. The staff of these institutions cheerfully answering odd-ball questions, from a myriad of people such as myself, each pursuing their own quest. They do so despite a shortage of resources to cope with the massive increase in demand for their services that has occurred in recent years.

This history is presented in several parts. The earlier parts are primarily historical, i.e., from various records and archives, and the later parts anecdotal. Throughout I have referred to all characters by their given names rather than by their relationship with myself. Should other people read this history they will not have to labour in clarifying who the characters were.

I make no apologies for the large number of footnotes. Rather than present the results of my research without the references, I have, instead, chosen to present them in their totality as each has been a hard won step forward. Where I have been provided material by other people the footnote recognises their contribution to this work. Where possible I have endeavoured to link the family history with other contemporaneous events as a small step towards developing an understanding of why the history of the family followed the course it has taken. By leaving the "listening" until it was almost too late I have had to assume the role of an archaeologist to piece together fragments of lives passed.

Twenty five years after first putting the research notes to paper (1983), I decided to undertake a major update of the story and put it on the web. For reasons of personal security, I have not included details of living people.