My fascination with researching this family commenced in 1994 soon after joining the Mackay Historical Society and Museum Inc.

The Archives and records of the Cook Family at Greenmount Homestead included many photographs and family letters of the Atherton family of whom Althea Vida Cook was descended from. To be able to catalogue these records and photographs we needed to know where each family member fitted in.

So over the years I have gradually built up and researched and verified records of the family which has important links in the settlement and history of Central and North Queensland. This has involved many hundreds of hours of research and collation of records. 

I also wish to thank the many people and family who have contacted me over the past years; Stephen Atherton, David Coote, Meg Laidlaw, Mary O'Brien, Jillian Patane, Bill Pursey, and Bronwyn Tarrier. a lot of basic information was gleaned from the publication "Plane Creek Onward" a booklet that was produced for the Atherton Family Reunion held on 3/4 August 1985. And I wish to thank Yvonne Nurnberger in the Research done to produce this book.

The Story is still not complete so any information and photographs of family members would be greatly appreciated

Glen Hall, Research Officer, Mackay Historical Society & Museum Inc.

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