Australia

From: David Freeman [mailto: freeman at tsn.cc] in code to minimize spam
Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2008 8:21 PM
Subject: Australian descendant Youth of the Year

Please find attached two photos of
Chris Ayoub who is a Dhour Shweir descendant being named Young Citizen of the Year in the local Australia Day Awards -

Congrats Chris. We are very proud of your achievements and thank you David Freeman for sending the info.

Chris and David, do not be a stranger now... Please visit and interact with folks of your ancestors town.

"MY GREAT-GRANDPARENTS AMIN AND KAMMILIE ABOTOMEY ... CAME FROM SHWEIR TO SOUTH AUSTRALIA AROUND 1890."

They say there is something in the water of the Ains (springs), some say it is in their blood, others say it is a feeling in the heart and soul that makes them yearn for Shweir, their hometown, their forefathers birth place.

You see, Dr. Klee Benveniste never lived or even visited Shweir, yet she knows more about Shweir and its history than many people who lived there. From the moment that Dr. Klee logged on to Shweir.com in early February, she has been like a beacon of light. Just take a look at the Shweir Bulletin Boards (old and new), you cannot help but see many meaningful and profound entries by Dr. Klee. Her love for Shweir and its people radiates through the web pages like her smile and it is contagious.

Bio: Dr. Klee is a qualified psychologist with a Ph.D. in Public Health living in Australia. Her grandmother was born in Australia to Lebanese parents who came from Shweir around 1890. Klee married at 38 and her son was born when she was 41. She worked and studied in the field of community medicine research for over twenty years before leaving the workforce when her son was born. Klee was awarded her Ph.D. from Flinders University School of Medicine when she was 43. She has been doing voluntary work as an archivist since. Her son started school last year so she has been applying for part-time postdoctoral research fellowships. Klee and her husband love to travel and have visited Hong Kong, China, Israel, Egypt, England and Rome before their son was born. Together with their son, they have travelled to each of the mainland states of Australia. Her favourite places overseas are the Corniche (beachfront) of Alexandria and the old cities of Jaffa and Jerusalem. She even visited Metulla ("the Good Fence") on the border of Lebanon, gazing emotionally into Lebanon during the civil war in 1989. Family history research has been her hobby for many years

Click on the photos to enlarge

I have mentioned on the Bulletin Board about displaying items of cultural heritage and encouraging the redevelopment of craftsmanship. Attached is a scan of my great grandfather's 19th century watch chain from Lebanon, possibly even from Shweir. It belonged to Amin Abou Taameh and has been handed down, generation after generation to me. It has silver-plated metal links, and the green stones are decorated with a leaf design and channel-set into the post-and-rail links. It would have been made pre-1890. I think others would be interested to see it".

Klee the bride	Klee the Doctor	Amin Abotomey, her great-grandfather	Kammilie Abotomey, her great-grandmother
Amin and Kammilie with their 4 sons and 3 daughters in South Australia around 1895; Klee's grandmother is about two years old, sitting in her mother's lap. The oldest son Samir, standing, was the first to arrive in 1887	Klee's grandmother Elizabeth ("Kitty") as a young woman, around 1910	Amin Abotomey and Sons, General Store, Fruiterer and Confectioner - Peterborough, South Australia, 1897	A. Abotomey and Sons, Clothing Manufacturers - Adelaide, South Australia, around 1915