Albert Friedrich von BORSTEL, the eldest child of Albert Jakob and Dorothee Elisabeth von BORSTEL (nee ISENBERG) was born 25th January 1896 in Wittorf, Germany - a small village near Bardowick whose farmers traditionally plant pasture crops, and raise dairy cattle. His father was a master shoemaker, while his mother's family were farmers. The family lived in various towns around Hamburg where the other children were born: Hermann Karl 1st August 1898 in Harburg, and Dora Maria 27th January 1801 in Hollervettern. Eventually the family lived in 10 Peter Str. Hamburg.

On 1st October 1911 Albert boarded the cargo ship S.S. "Melbourne" in Hamburg on its maiden voyage to Australia. He was employed as the 2nd Steward. The ship weighed 5,926 tons, and was built in 1910 at Flensberg, Germany for the Hamburg registered German-Australian Steamship Company. Its Masters name was L. MAIER. The ship sailed via Algoa Bay Africa, and arrived in Sydney Harbour on 4th March 1912. Docking at Wolloomooloo Bay, it loaded Australian apples and pears to return as refrigerated cargo to Hamburg.

Albert was not on board when his ship departed from Sydney. He was to remain in Australia for the rest of his life. Then 16 years of age, in a foreign country, with a new language to learn he soon made friends with a number of people who were to later stand by him. There was Henry FOSTER who lived at 264 Flood St. Leichhardt, Johanna HARTE who lived al 1 Kegworth St. Leichhardt and Nicholas McBURNEY an Inspector of Police stationed at Clarence St., Sydney.

Apparently Albert soon blended in with the Australian way of life, as he lived in various addresses around Sydney for the next 28 years. First, in 1912 he lived at Pfifer St., Manly for 6 months, then Meeks Rd., Marrickville for 15 months. He then joined St. Leon's Circus in Portland, NSW about 1913, working as a "hand" while the circus travelled through southern NSW and Victoria. He left the circus in Bega and worked as a "useful" for Mr. Charles WINN who owned the "Metropolitan Hotel" in Bega. The hotel specialised in its racing stables and was the haunt of rich trainers and jockeys. After spending 8 months in Bega he then travelled by sea on a steamer from Tathra and returned to Sydney.

In 1914 after WW1 was declared Albert took the name of "JENNISON" and volunteered for enlistment in the A.I.F. - but was rejected. In 1915 he was employed for 4 years as a "dairy hand" by Mr. W.G. WRIGHT, while living at at Bourke Rd. Alexandria, and Meeks Rd. Marrickville. In 1919 he was employed for 1 year as a "machine hand" by the Federal Brickworks in Mitchell Rd., Alexandria, and then in 1920 was employed for 17 years as a "machinist and assistant" by the Waterloo Fire Brick Co., Botany Rd., Waterloo. In 1937 he conducted his own business - a refreshment room and dance hall known as "Victory Hall" at Picnic Point, East Hills on the Georges River.

On the 23rd February 1939 Albert married Wanda May LINDON in Hurstville. The witnesses were Henry FOSTER and his wife. Their son Albert John was born in Crown St. Women's Hospital, Surrey Hills 22nd July 1939.

WW2 commenced soon after and Albert was required to register with the authorities as an alien, because he was of German origin and not naturalised. The dance hall business was suspended on 30th January 1940 and another refreshment room business was commenced at Fitzpatrick Park, Picnic Point, East Hills. He left Wanda in charge of this business about 17th July 1940 and travelled to Lithgow, where on the 15th July 1940 secured a position with the Vale of Clywdd Brick Works. The family lived Saywell St. in a home near the brickworks for about 6 years, where daughter Lynette Dora was born 27th March 1943 and son Maxwell Stephen was born 4th October 1943.

Albert was granted his Certificate of Naturalization No.A(1)6316 on the 3rd January 1942. Although official documents named him as Albert von BORSTEL, he continued conducted his public life under the name Albert JENNISON. In 1942 he attempted to officially changed his name, but was refused by the Military Board Dept. of Army. ( However he succeeded to officially change his name to JENNISON on the 1st February 1956 - Registration No.25286.)

The family then lived in Hutchinson St., Vale of Clywdd, Lithgow until about 1952. This property had a large area of land planted with a variety of fruit trees, while the soil produced good vegetable crops. In addition Albert built 3 modern poultry sheds complete with cement floors and self-watering drinkers to house hundreds of white leghorn pullets. He sold the eggs and vegetables produced to the Vale of Clywdd Co-Operative Store, which was managed by Mr. Harold RICKARD. A dairy cow was also kept to provide fresh milk, cream and butter for his children. Their last child daughter Cheryl Christine was born 22nd January 1948.

During this period Albert was prominent in community affairs. He commenced with the formation of the Vale of Clywdd Progress Association, building a community hall in the park, and remained as its Secretary for a number of years. Later he held positions in Lithgow Show Society, the Lithgow Eisteddfod Society, the Lithgow Festival of the Valley and Highland Games. He was an unsuccessful candidate for member of the Lithgow City Council, representing the Australian Labour Party. He was also a member of the Lithgow Masonic Lodge.

About 1950 after the coal mine flooded at the Vale of Clywdd, Albert was retrenched and worked for about 1 year in the Lithgow Small Arms Factory. His last job was at a coal washing plant in Lidsdale, from where he retired in 1956. The family lived at 11 Mont St. Quentin St., Littleton, Lithgow for about 2 years. They then conducted a successful cafe and cake shop business on the corner of Main and James Streets, Lithgow from about 1955 to 1964, and as well ran a caravan sales and rental service. They were living at No.6 and later No.4 James St. Lithgow. Albert also invested in 2 small farms, at Marrangaroo and Kurmond which were later sold when he finally left Lithgow in 1964 to live at 26c Boundary Rd. Oakville.

The property at Oakville consisted 8 acres of land, a dam with irrigation for an orange orchard, and a large shed which Albert used to breed and house turkeys. He was kept busy doing what he loved best, working on the land as his forebears did in far away Germany. His final years were spent improving the farm and enjoying the arrival of his grandchildren, who loved to visit him. He was very fond of the first grandchild Jason Andrew born 26th December 1965, who fulfilled his life ambition.

Albert died on 16th September 1972 in Windsor Hospital aged 76 years. Cause of death was pneumonia and uraemia. He was cremated at the Pine Grove Memorial Crematorium Eastern Creek 18th September 1972. In attendance were 2 officials from Lithgow to represent Masonic Order.

Footnote: Albert maintained contact by letters with his family in Germany, up to the commencement of WW2. He learnt of;

* His brother Hermann's marriage to Maria and the birth of their son Hermann.

* His sister Dora's marriage to Max WENZEL in Hamburg 1920.

* Dora's death in 1921 following the birth of their son Max.

* His father Albert Jakob's death 1933 in Hamburg.

* The re-marriage of his mother Dorothee to Johann Friedrich Ernst LESSMAN in 1934.

* His brother-in-law Max and his son Max migration to America in 1937.

No contact was made with his family in Germany after 1939. Albert did not learn that;

* His nephew Max had returned from America to serve in the German Army during WW2, and was killed in Riga Latvia 21st May 1943, and buried in the Riga War Cemetery.

* His mother's death 1st February 1947 in Brunsbüttelkoog, Germany.