Hi Everyone,

Welcome to the February 2025 Hoschke Family Reunion newsletter. We are trying to find the balance between not posting often enough and posting too often, and thought we would trial a monthly newsletter. We have some great content this month that we have worked hard on and as always we welcome content that cousins may want to share as well.

We put a lot of work into our website and facebook page, sometimes with little engagement. Please like, comment and share our posts and pages with other descendants, consider it a virtual family reunion, until we can have another real one! Please comment and let us know what you think of our first monthly newsletter!

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Article of the Month – The Youngest Two Children

The Youngest Son – Arthur Henry Charles Hoschke

When Arthur Henry Charles Hoschke was born on 10 November 1893 in Upper Orara, New South Wales, his father, Amandus, was 49 and his mother, Mary, was 46. He was the youngest of 13 children and he had eight brothers and four sisters. In the family photo below, Arthur can be seen laying on the ground in the right front of the photo with his brother Ernest.

Acute rheumatic fever is an immune disorder caused by Streptococcus infection, which was among the leading cause of death among children up until the 1920s. Arthur was tragically to pass away of rheumatic fever on 19 January 1905 in Upper Orara, New South Wales, and was buried in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales. Sadly his eldest brother George’s young wife Ruthetta nee Maston would pass away a few short months later, also of rheumatic fever, and they are buried together in Coffs Harbour Historical Cemetery.

Raleigh Sun (Bellingen, NSW : 1898 – 1918), Friday 27 January 1905, page 2

COFF’S HARBOR.

Mr. Hoschke, sen., of Upper Orara, lost his youngest son last Thursday, and he was buried, here on Friday last. The funeral was one of the largest ever seen here, testifying to the great esteem, in which the parents are held. Rev. St. John (C.E.), officiated at the grave. The Dunvegan public school children marched behind the remains of their late school mate and were joined here by the children of the local public school.

APA citation

COFF’S HARBOR. (1905, January 27). The Raleigh Sun (Bellingen, NSW : 1898 – 1918), p. 2. Retrieved January 26, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article127554617

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The Youngest Daughter – Hulda Minnie Hoschke

When Hulda Minnie Hoschke was born on 14 March 1892 in Grafton, New South Wales, her father, Amandus, was 48, and her mother, Mary, was 44. She was the youngest daughter and the 12th of 13 children in the family.

As a young lady, Minnie was a talented seamstress, in 1905 at the Grafton Show she placed in both needlework and for her cross stitch sampler, as shown by her award below.

APA citation

Grafton Show. (1905, May 4). The Grafton Argus and Clarence River General Advertiser (NSW : 1874 – 1875; 1879 – 1882; 1888; 1892; 1899 – 1922), p. 5. Retrieved January 26, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article234839176

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Minnie was also a keen sportswoman, even after she married. In 1914, she won the Married Ladies Race at the Upper Orara Sports Day, as the article below outlines:

SPORTS AT UPPER ORARA.

The postponed sports, held on Wednesday, were a great success. Early in the morning the weather was gloomy, and rain, threatened to mar the second attempt to hold the sports, but at noon the sun shone out, and motor cars and vehicles came from all directions, and there was a large attendance. Most of the visitors came from Coff’s Harbour.

For days previous to the sports the committee worked hard to make the ground attractive. A £20 programme was provided, and most of the events were well contested, with close finishes, which speaks well for the handicapper, Mr. A. L. Walsh (Coff’s Harbour). Tho secretary, Mr. J. C. Morrissey, and assistant secretary, G. Burling, were at their post all day, and all arrangements were entirely satisfactory. The committee, with the various officers, were zealous in their duty. Mr. C. Lucas and Mr. T. Hoschke were judges, Mr. E. Hoschke referee, Mr. F. Walters starter.

At night the hall was also a great success, The hall was well filled. Music was supplied by Mrs. H. Burling, Miss Morrissey, and Mr. C. Sharp. Messrs. J. Burling and H. McDowell were Ms. C. The ladies provided refreshments for the sports and hall. The sports receipts total approximately £60, and it is expected a balance of about £35 will be available for the public hall funds.

Results: Youths’ race – D. Lucas 1, A. Burling 2.

Orara Handicap – R. Matten 1, G. Thomas 2.

Hurdle Race – R. Matten 1, G. Baker 2.

Wood chop -1. Wilson 1, J. McCann 2.

Buffers’ race – S. Matten 1.

Married ladies’ race – Mrs. R. Ide 1 [Minnie], Mrs. Walters 2.

Single Indies’ race – Miss Davis and Miss Hoschke divided.

Catching the greasy pig – C. O’Neill.

APA citation

SPORTS AT UPPER CRARA. (1914, August 4). Clarence and Richmond Examiner (Grafton, NSW : 1889 – 1915), p. 7. Retrieved January 26, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article61633594

You can read more about Minnie’s life here

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This Month in History

In this section, which is also posted on Facebook, we will remember important dates for all of Amandus and Mary’s children and grandchildren and their partners. If we are missing any, or you would like to write a story about your grandparent, we would love that! Send us an email at hoschkefamilyreunion@gmail.com and we can update your information.

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Sad farewell

Last month the family and friends of Ruth Hoschke farewelled her after she passed away in December, we pass on our condolences to her sons and grandchildren on their sad loss.

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Photo of the Month

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Family Calendar

We had added a family calendar to the website, scroll to the very bottom! It will have birth, death and marriage dates added for the first three generations of the Hoschke Family in Australia, although we will continue to add to this resource for our family over time.

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Family Reflection

Every month we’ll feature a prompt that you can use to have a discussion in your family, we’d love to hear your answers too of course!

That’s it from us for this month, if there is anything you would like us to research for our next newsletter or anything you would like to contribute, please let us know!

Til next time,

Ian Hoschke & Kylie Hoschke