Significant Events
Significant Events
The two significant Arnold events highlighted here are the Arnold Family Reunions, both held at the Show Hall in Tanunda in the Barossa Valley, near the properties of the brothers, Gottlieb, Gottlob, Ehrenfried, Wilhelm and Carl Friedrich and their mother, Johanne Elisabeth Arnold.
1993 Arnold Family Reunion
The first Arnold Family Reunion was held October 2nd to 4th 1993 with over 300 family members attending from throughout Australia. The attendance list is included. The program and order forms reflect the commitment of the organising committee to hold a memorable event with a wonderful series of family grouped photographs.
The highlight of Saturday’s proceedings was the unveiling of a memorial plaque on the grave of our matriarch, Johanne Elisabeth Arnold, in the Bethel Church cemetery. Visits to places of family interest followed and can be found under 1993 Family Reunion Tours.
On the Sunday of the Arnold Family Reunion, the Thanksgiving Service was officiated by Pastors Colin Hentschke and Reg Kotzer. The Light United Band was conducted by a family member, Ron Schmidt 3.5.7.4. The book ‘Changing Pastures Arnolds in Australia 1848 – 1993’ was launched and celebrated as a great achievement by the Arnold Family History Committee.
Photographs of the branches of the five brothers were taken on the Sunday and many are shown here.
A video recording was made in VHS ( video home system, an analog recording on tape cassettes invented in 1976). Some parts of the original VHS have been converted and can be seen on this site. The original VHS covered the highlights of the 1993 Arnold Family Reunion, including the opening, unveiling and church services and other programmed highlights.
2003 Arnold Family Reunion
The second Arnold Family Reunion was held on October 4 and 5 in 2003. It celebrated 155 years in Australia of the Arnold family, all linked to our matriarch, Johanne Elisabeth Arnold. The first members of the family arrived in December 1848 and their descendants marked the occasion by gathering in the Barossa Valley, the initial place of settlement for the family in Australia. Many travelled from interstate to meet other family members for the first time.
The 2003 ‘Supplement to Changing Pastures’ was launched and contained many stories and photographs of the more recent generations. Close to 1000 new entries and numerous updates were included and complemented the original ‘Changing Pastures: Arnolds in Australia 1884 – 1993’.
The family of second brother, Johann Gottlob Arnold organised the laying of a memorial plaque at Angas Valley Cemetery. Pastor Proeve officiated the service. The memorial plaque for the fifth brother, Carl Friedrich Arnold was unveiled by his granddaughter, Joyce Thompson, at the Langmeil Lutheran Church in Tanunda.
‘Living in Silesia’ – an interactive look at how our ancestors lived and worked was part of the Saturday evening highlights.