Frederick Hermann Carl ZORNIG

Hermann was 15 years old when orphaned by his parents' death and being the eldest child the responsibility of the family fell on his shoulders. At the time Hermann was working for the Bell family atCoochin Coochin Station, and the children must have recieved a little state aid because Hermann had to apply at a local police station for boots when he needed them. After working for the Bells, Hermann did a saddlery apprenticeship with Goleby's in Rosewood and in 1893 married Elizabeth Wyatt in Ipswich. Their first child was born in Ipswich, but the remaining ones were born in Rosewood with Elizabeth's mother in attendance as midwife. Hermann and Elizabeth lived on Mill Street in Rosewood and supported their family with Hermann's saddlery shop and Elizabeth's fruit shop that were side byside. In 1905 Hermann started work with the Queensland Railway and the family returned to Ipswich. In 1906 Hermann was transferred to the 27 mile 78 chain level crossing gate house at Burnside, twomiles on the Southport side of Stapylton, bringing the Zornig family back to the Logan area where Heinrich and Margaretha had lived. Kate Zornig looked after the level crossing gates and Hermann wasin the flying gang. Later, they were transferred to Stapylton where Kate was the Station Mistress for over 30 years. Hermann was a gettler before being promoted to ganger, a position he held until he retired.

Money was scarce in the early days of the marriage and the children often had a meal of bread fried in fat spread with treacle or bread and condensed milk. When the family lived at Burnside potatoes,flour and sugar were purchased by the sack. Kate made her own bread, jams and mango chutney. Corned brisket was bought for a penny a pound and boiled with cabbage, sweet potatoes and pumpkin for a hearty meal. Hermann kept up his interest in saddlery, winning first prize at the Beenleigh Show for a set of trotting harness he exhibited. The children also had a miniature sulky which was drawn bya billy goat. All the children attended Beenleigh School except Ivy who left school. Each New Year the Zornigs would listen to Gottlieb Schneider ring out the Old Year and ring in the New Year. Mr.Schneider would climb onto the roof of his house at midnight and ring a big cow bell that could be heard for miles. Sometimes the Zornig family would have dinner with the Doeblien family. In the German tradition, Fritz Doeblien was truly the head of the family. He would sit at the head of the table carving the meat while his wife put the vegetable dishes out. Woe be to the child who reached for food before the father had been served and started eating! [Zornig Family.FTW]

Hermann was 15 years old when orphaned by his parents' death and being the eldest child the responsibility of the family fell on his shoulders. At the time Hermann was working for the Bell family atCoochin Coochin Station, and the children must have recieved a little state aid because Hermann had to apply at a local police station for boots when he needed them. After working for the Bells, Hermann did a saddlery apprenticeship with Goleby's in Rosewood and in 1893 married Elizabeth Wyatt in Ipswich. Their first child was born in Ipswich, but the remaining ones were born in Rosewood with Elizabeth's mother in attendance as midwife. Hermann and Elizabeth lived on Mill Street in Rosewood and supported their family with Hermann's saddlery shop and Elizabeth's fruit shop that were side byside. In 1905 Hermann started work with the Queensland Railway and the family returned to Ipswich. In 1906 Hermann was transferred to the 27 mile 78 chain level crossing gate house at Burnside, twomiles on the Southport side of Stapylton, bringing the Zornig family back to the Logan area where Heinrich and Margaretha had lived. Kate Zornig looked after the level crossing gates and Hermann wasin the flying gang. Later, they were transferred to Stapylton where Kate was the Station Mistress for over 30 years. Hermann was a gettler before being promoted to ganger, a position he held until he retired.

Money was scarce in the early days of the marriage and the children often had a meal of bread fried in fat spread with treacle or bread and condensed milk. When the family lived at Burnside potatoes,flour and sugar were purchased by the sack. Kate made her own bread, jams and mango chutney. Corned brisket was bought for a penny a pound and boiled with cabbage, sweet potatoes and pumpkin for a hearty meal. Hermann kept up his interest in saddlery, winning first prize at the Beenleigh Show for a set of trotting harness he exhibited. The children also had a miniature sulky which was drawn bya billy goat. All the children attended Beenleigh School except Ivy who left school. Each New Year the Zornigs would listen to Gottlieb Schneider ring out the Old Year and ring in the New Year. Mr.Schneider would climb onto the roof of his house at midnight and ring a big cow bell that could be heard for miles. Sometimes the Zornig family would have dinner with the Doeblien family. In the German tradition, Fritz Doeblien was truly the head of the family. He would sit at the head of the table carving the meat while his wife put the vegetable dishes out. Woe be to the child who reached for food before the father had been served and started eating!

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