“The names of the roads around Bundalong read like a family tree,” said descendant Jock Munro of Rankin Springs NSW, an organiser of the reunion. “There is a strong Scottish flavour in the Bundalong area.”
Many of the descendants of Sarah and John Munro’s eight children had never met before. A packed afternoon program uncovered information about the family’s heritage from Loch Fyne in the Western Highlands of Scotland and discovered more about the Bundalong family.
Surprise guest was Duncan Beaton of Lochfynside in Scotland, another relative and amateur historian, who was beamed into the gathering via zoom to talk about Munro ancestors in the Western Highlands who were farmers and shipbuilders. The audience learnt they were related to the famous poet and novelist Neil Munro from Inverary.
Ages at the reunion ranged from one to 99 years and hailed from around NSW, Queensland, the ACT and Victoria. Only three of the second generation are still alive, two of whom attended - Joyce Skewes of Yarrawonga and Mhora Houston of Moree - both in their nineties. There were representatives from every one of the eight children of Sarah and John.
Golfers on the day were surprised to hear the sounds of bagpipes as Jock Munro kicked off proceedings.
On the Sunday, a smaller group paid their respects at the graves of Sarah and John Munro at the Yarrawonga Cemetery, surrounded by many other relatives’ graves.
The group then visited the old family farmhouse Auchenrae on Munro’s Road, which is on a property now owned by John Carmichael who is also related to the Munros.
The last stop was the little wooden Bundalong Presbyterian Church which closed in 2022. John Munro built the first church that was later destroyed by white ants and was rebuilt by another local family with Scottish roots and sits on land now owned by Dan Dowling.
John Munro was Yarrawonga Shire President in 1929. On the front of the town hall are the words: This stone laid by John Munro Esq. President 1st October 1929.
