About Richard Gillard

When Richard retired as Bishop for Australia for The Community of Christ faith community, he took up research into his family tree which his father, Alan Gillard, had started. Richard’s interest in Family History expanded as family stories unfolded which he wrote about. His research expanded into his wife, Heather Gillard’s, family, where he found many interesting stories and found proof of the real maiden name of his wife Heather.

To further his research work, Richard undertook a Diploma of Family History at the University of Tasmania, graduating at the age of 79 years on April 5, 2022.

Richard’s early research showed that in his father’s family there were many of his forebears who were transported as convicts to the early colony in Sydney Cove and settled in the Hawkesbury area of the new colony. It became apparent to Richard that the female convicts who were settled in the Hawkesbury Region became the unsung heroines of this fledging British colony and their stories were untold.

The book, The Hawkesbury Women, only tells the stories of a selection of female convicts sent to Sydney Cove, there are many other stories to be told of the capacity of the female convicts to adapt and contribute in a significant way to the birthing of this great nation, Australia.