My grandmother Lydia Jane GROCH was born in 1906 in Hawker, South Australia. Her mother was Christina GROCH, her father was “unknown” according to her birth certificate.
In 1910 Halley’s Comet was seen by Lydia Jane whilst she was still living in Hawker, and was aged 4 years old. This was also the first time that Halley’s Comet had been photographed.
On the 8th November 1985 she received a letter from the then Premier of South Australia, Mr John Bannon, acknowledging that she had seen the comet in 1910, and advising her that there would be a dinner organised for a later date for those who had witnessed the comet twice in their lifetime. It isn’t known if she did attend a dinner, however she may not have, as nothing has been mentioned by other family, and by then my Nana was ageing and her mobility was not as good as it had been. However it is exciting to think she had witnessed all this. I knew nothing about it until I was given the original paperwork about the event, from my dad’s brother, my Uncle Dean Heneker.
“Letter from Premier John Bannon” in the collection by Vicki Lovell (nee Heneker)
http://www.ianridpath.com/halley/halley7.htm
The above link gives a brief history and dateline of the appearance of Halley’s Comet
First time Halley’s Comet was ever photographed was in 1910. – Photograph posted by aboriginalastronomy.blogspot.com
Heneker - a Pioneering family from Kent to South Australia 
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