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Published Books
Arthursleigh:
A History of the property
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A Theatrical Life:
The Many Faces of Oscar Asche
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A Little Journey to Macdonell House
Family History Research
Was your ancestor at Arthursleigh? Check the database of names.
Contact
Copyright 2005,
Chrissy Fletcher.
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About Chrissy Fletcher
I was born in 1946 and spent my childhood as Chris Barrett in the expanding suburb of Maroubra in Sydney's eastern suburbs. Twice married, and with two adult daughters, I now live on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.
I was educated through the catholic school system, which was a horror. Even though I was clever I couldn't wait to finish school, and as soon as I turned the legal age of fifteen, I left. I became a secretary, a profession I followed for many years.
After a stint of eight years living in Perth with my first husband, and where my daughters were born, I returned to Sydney and married again. My husband had a farm at Brayton, a tiny rural hamlet in the south-west of NSW sixteen kilometres from Marulan, and we relocated there as a family in 1989.
With my girls away at boarding school I had the time (and a huge desire) to return to study. I completed my Associate Diploma in Local and Applied History with University of New England. Many of my assignments were hands-on, so I took advantage of the location of the historic property of Arthursleigh on the opposite bank of the Wollondilly River and conducted all my practical assignments there. By the time I finished my diploma, I was totally immersed in Arthursleigh history - and a bit of an expert.
Encouraged by neighbours and local residents to write the history, I gathered all my research together, wrote and self-published Arthursleigh: A history of the property 1819-1979. Marulan Heritage Committee asked me to launch my book at their inaugural Heritage Fair in April 2002. Families and staff connected with the property in the past came from all over Australia. It was truly one of my most exciting days.
Researching the naming of the town of Brayton opened up a whole new project for me. During the course of this research I discovered Oscar Asche, Geelong-born but London-famous, husband of the beautiful Shakespearean actress Lily Brayton. In 2004 I self-published a small biography of Oscar Asche: A Theatrical Life: The Many Faces of Oscar Asche 1871-1936.
My research into Lily Brayton is another thing altogether. This became for me a somewhat psychic experience, with one serendipitous and strange event following another, to such an extent that I believe Lily Brayton has chosen me to tell her story. When I look back to my very first written enquiry into her life's story, the date happened to be the fiftieth anniversary of her death to the day! Now I am living, dreaming - and writing - Lily Brayton and Oscar Asche, a book I plan to release in the future.
I have recently completed postgraduate studies in Creative Writing at the University of the Sunshine Coast and continue my historical writings in this my third age.
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