Town Talk | The Rathjen family

Schleswig-Holstein was part of Denmark when Henning left it in 1854. However, following the Franco-Prussian War in 1870-71, it became part of Germany. After half a year on the Malvina Vidal, Henning arrived in Melbourne on October 6.

He had become tired of the unrest in his homeland and travelled with many other migrants. They were all seeking a new, peaceful beginning and were interested in the goldfields, which were calling people from many nations.

Henning made his way to Bendigo and had some success. But, during his search for gold, he found something much more valuable. He met a young woman, a teenager, in fact, who had also travelled unaccompanied to Australia. A brave spirit, if ever there was one.

In 1857, he married Caroline Brunke. Coming from a farming family, he bought 320 acres in Colbinabbin and felt it to be paradise. He was an innovative and successful farmer, initially planting crops but diversifying into dairying and winemaking. He bought additional land as it became available.

Over 22 years, Caroline gave birth to 14 children, four of them dying early. She was the first white woman to settle in Colbinabbin and, in addition to raising her family and gaining a reputation as a hostess, Caroline became a beekeeper.

Some hives yielded up to 150lb of honey a year. She sold much of it and saved the money for many years, leaving it to her children with a beautiful, loving letter. She died in September 1911, with Henning following just six months later.

It will be of particular interest to locals to read that Amanda Rathjen, the 10th of the children, married George Starritt in October 1912. And Alfred Rathjen, the 13th of the family, married Catherine Starritt in February 1914.

Following these marriages, there was a close bond between the two families. In 1940, George and Amanda’s daughter married Gordon Pogue at Scots Church, Shepparton. There have been many marriages into local families — among them the Gribbens, Twitts, Minns, Bunns, Watsons, Carrs, Parks, Stammers, Sutherlands, Baumbers and Hayes families. I know I must have missed some — and if that’s you and yours, I apologise most sincerely. I have tried. There is also a substantial branch of the family in Western Australia and several family members in Queensland.

The vineyard

In the early 1860s, Henning Rathjen planted two and a half acres of vines as an experiment, which was successful. As a result, the planting was increased to eight acres. Red and white hermitage and muscat were found to suit the soil admirably.

Growing his vineyard again, he later built a spacious cellar with a barn overhead. Alfred — the 13th of Henning’s children — inherited the original 320 acres, including the winery. To the disappointment of other family members, Alfred closed the vineyards. It was during the Depression, and he had found it was attracting quite a few undesirable customers.

And now, there are two

Hennings Vineyard, on the site of the original, is owned by Darryl — and the Whistling Eagle Vineyard, nearby, is owned by Ian (known as Bomber) and Lynn. Both men are descendants of Alfred Edward Rathjen, the 13th child of our original settlers.

I don’t pretend, for one second, to be a wine expert. I drink one glass of dry white every evening. It lasts me from 5pm (our ‘happy hour’) until 7.30pm. (Back in the day, however, I was much more adventurous.) Anyway, I have had reports from people who know what they are talking about, and they are positive indeed about both Rathjen vineyards.

Now, I must tell you about ‘The Lone Vine’. It is the only vine remaining of Henning’s first vineyard (1858), and, apparently, the wine is minimally fined and filtered to maximise flavour and concentration.

It displays the customary Hennings deep colour with intense blackberry jube, spice, anise and cedary oak characters. Fabulous palate weight, power, intensity, silky dry tannins with an incredibly long finish. ( I copied all that from www.henningsvineyard.com)

At the Whistling Eagle (I love that name), sales growth over the past 20 years has been incredibly impressive. It was awarded ‘Horticulture Producer of the Year’ by the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria and The Weekly Times in 2008. For more, visit www.whistlingeagle.com

Now don’t visit just one of these wineries. According to Mr Google, it takes less than an hour from Shepp. Why not make a day of it?

This experience

Over the past few days, I have spoken to several helpful people. At the end of each conversation, I was told, “You must speak to Louise”. I had made contact previously, but Lou Rathjen is a busy woman. She lives in Colbinabbin and works in Melbourne, where she is nursing.

Knowing I was running short of time, John Gribben sent me — what indeed must be — the longest text in the history of text messages. He told me Louise was now the family matriarch. “She is funny and engaging and loves everyone. Yes, she might follow Collingwood. And yes, she might dine out on past glories when it comes to winning prizes at agricultural shows — but the truth is everyone loves her so much; she gives strength, pride and passion to the Rathjen family name.”

John’s mother was Una, the fourth child of Henning and Caroline’s 13th child. He said the Rathjen sisters wrote to each other once a week for their entire lives, using carbon paper. (According to the records I have, there were four girls in that family, daughters of Alfred Rathjen and Catherine Starritt.) The letter writing, John said, kept the larger Rathjen family close — with first and second cousins being kept informed about activities.

Still texting, John also said he was fortunate to be part of such an amazing family. He had previously thought the strength of a family revolved around places but has since learned that the strength of a family is in the people. He mentioned Kaye Watson from Tatura — her mother was a Rathjen. “Kaye keeps connected to the broader family group and the local community, giving many people a positive and loving link to the Rathjen family,” he said.

John and I then agreed it was time we had another coffee. Indeed, after that text message, it’s my shout.

Louise called me from Melbourne last Thursday night. She is a laughing “keeper of the knowledge” and just as John described her — except she is far too young to be a matriarch.

From her, I learned a number of things. Alfred Rathjen (known as Pete) lived in Shepparton. Pete was in the Air Force during World War II and took up a soldier settlement block in Undera. One of his passions was harness racing, and the dining room at the Shepparton Harness Racing Club is named after him. His son Peter remains a Sheppartonian.

Louise’s dad, Finlay, attended Shepp High during the war years. One day, the principal came into his class and asked for him and Ewan Harmer. They followed him out of the classroom, beginning to wonder what they had done wrong. It resulted that he wanted two young men who, he thought, could handle a shovel; there were two trees to be planted in front of the school. Fortunately, they remain there to this day.

Re-visiting Caroline Rathjen

This week, I got to know a little about Caroline Brunke. She was just 16 when she left home to go to the goldfields. And just 19 when she married Henning Rathjen. I learned much of what I know from the letter she left for her children, asking them not to mourn. (I have also written a note for my boys, which I hope to update many years from now!)

Caroline’s second child lived just one day, her fourth for seven years, her fifth almost 12 months and her 11th child just six months. As I write this, I feel some of her pain. And yet, she carried on — raising her 10 living children with love — and welcoming people to her home with grace.

I have always been astonished by my great-great-great-grandmother, who packed up her worldly goods and two small children and crossed half the globe to come to Australia. It was the 1860s. She was a widow, as her architect husband had fallen from the steeple of Dublin’s cathedral.

Her well-off parents-in-law invited her and the children to live in their stately home — on the condition that the young ones were raised Catholic. She refused that comfortable life, preferring a new land and Protestant children.

Her life was not an easy one, but she managed to start an Australian family, a loving and connected family — and my maternal grandmother was a part of it. All my adult life, I have been grateful for that brave spirit.

It is possible there were more women like these; in fact, it is probable. Strong yet caring women have influenced our families, our communities and, therefore, our country much more than we have considered. Michelle Obama has written: “One strong family lends strength to more. One engaged community can ignite those around it.”

I thank the extended Rathjen family for the warmth and generosity I have encountered. I am richer (in the only way that matters) for the experience.

That’s it for this week. Please take care. There’s a bit too much of that unmentionable virus around.

And — may it be easy, my friends.

Marnie

Email: towntalk@sheppnews.com.au

Letter: Town Talk. Shepparton News. P.O. Box 204. Shepparton 3631.

Phone: Send a text to 0418 962 507. (Note: text only. I will call you back if you wish.)