Pieter Van der Wal

M, #31836, b. 9 Feb 1925, d. abt 2007
Birth*9 Feb 1925 Harleem, Netherlands. 
Marriage*19 Nov 1955 Spouse: Joy Shelley. Methodist Church, Dewhurst, VIC, Australia, #M19595/1955, Pieter Van Der WAL & Joy SHELLEY.1
 
Note*1965 Death of father: #D16809/1965 (Age 67) (par DER WAL Pieter VAN & Aleida HENSEN) - as Pieter VANDERWAL, born Amsterdam, Holland. Death registered at Box Hill, Australia
#D16809/1965 (Age 67) (par DER WAL Pieter VAN & Aleida HENSEN) - as Pieter WAL, born Amsterdam, Holland. Death registered at Box Hill, Australia
#D16809/1965 (Age 67) (par DER WAL Pieter VAN & Aleida HENSEN) - as Pieter DERWAL, born Amsterdam, Holland. Death registered at Box Hill, Australia.2 
Death*abt 2007 Sydney, NSW, Australia. 

Newspaper-Articles

  • 30 Nov 1955: Bush Setting for an International Wedding
    A RATHER unusual marriage ceremony was performed by the Rev Pearce Barber, of Dandenong on Nov. 19th at the tiny ... where Miss Joy Shelley a descendant of the famous poet, was married to Mr. Pieter Van der Wal, whose parents live in Amsterdam.
    The bridegroom left Holland exactly four years ago and is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Pieter van der Wal, of Haarlem.
    The tall, dark-haired bride, Miss Joy Shelley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Shelley, of Lirtinnia, Scottsdale, Tasmania, entered a church brightly decked with large bowls of pink and white watsonias.
    Her classically cut gown was fashioned with high-necked long sleeved epicure lace bodice, and her finger-tip white tulle veil misted the ground-length embossed nylon skirt. She carried a lovely shower bouquet of golden centred frangipani.
    In the role of bridesmaid Miss Eadie Triffitt was a captivating picture in a ballerina frock of pastel green nylon, embossed in white and with a gold acorn motif.
    Little Wendy Triffitt, as flower girl, was a delightful miniature of the bridesmaid and carried a (basket of frangipanni and golden tinted rosebuds.
    The groom had his brother Anton (Tony) as best man.
    Several car loads of New Australians, mostly Dutchmen, journeyed up to the mountains to see their countryman wed Mrs. Shelley, the mother of the bride came over from Tasmania for the wedding. Joy is a native of Launceston. Her two sisters—Grace and Tony, who are in Melbourne doing University courses were also present.
    The Dewhurst hall, where the Breakfast was held, was lavishly decorated with hundreds of fresh flowers from the gardens of the local residents.
    A local ladles committee comprising Madams Holt, Wilson, Pratt, Moore, Peiert and Wade provided an excellent complimentary wedding breakfast to the bridal couple and their friends.
    Rev. Barber took charge of the proceedings and kept the guests very happy with humorous stories.
    This is the first time the Dewhurst Hall has been used for a wedding, and it proved ideal. The hall is surrounded with native trees and shrubs. A truly Australian welcome was accorded the arrival of the bridal couple as the Bell birds were then giving the evening call.
    The Van der Wals left by car to honeymoon in Sydney. On their return they will take up residence in Dewhurst. Joy Shelley3
  • 30 Nov 1955: It's a way they have in the country
    To welcome to their district Dutch newcomer, Mr. Pieter van der Wal and his bride, the ladies of Dewhurst formed a Committee and decorated their tiny Methodist Church for Pieter's wedding; also, as a gift to the young couple, catered for the delicious breakfast held in the local hall following the ceremony.
    A heart-warming gesture, and a delightful surprise to the bride and groom, who have purchased a small property up there, and will be making Dewhurst their home. Joy Shelley3

Citations

  1. [S27] Victorian Government. BDM Index Victoria (Marriages) (online) "#M19595/1955, Pieter Van Der WAL & Joy SHELLEY
    #M19595/1955, Pieter VAN DER WAL & Joy SHELLEY."
  2. [S28] Victorian Government. BDM Index Victoria (Deaths) (online) "Death of father: #D16809/1965 (Age 67) (par DER WAL Pieter VAN & Aleida HENSEN) - as Pieter VANDERWAL, born Amsterdam, Holland. Death registered at Box Hill, Australia
    #D16809/1965 (Age 67) (par DER WAL Pieter VAN & Aleida HENSEN) - as Pieter WAL, born Amsterdam, Holland. Death registered at Box Hill, Australia
    #D16809/1965 (Age 67) (par DER WAL Pieter VAN & Aleida HENSEN) - as Pieter DERWAL, born Amsterdam, Holland. Death registered at Box Hill, Australia."
  3. [S14] Newspaper - unknown newspaper, 30 Nov 1955 (from Dewhurst Progress Association scrapbook).
Last Edited26 Jan 2026

Joy Shelley

F, #31837, b. 8 Aug 1933, d. 27 Feb 2018
Married NameJoy Van der Wal.1 
Birth*8 Aug 1933 Launceston, TAS, Australia.2 
Marriage*19 Nov 1955 Spouse: Pieter Van der Wal. Methodist Church, Dewhurst, VIC, Australia, #M19595/1955, Pieter Van Der WAL & Joy SHELLEY.3
 
Note* 2nd marriage to Edmund Jack Press (1917-2010). May have had a child with each husband. 
Widowabt 2007Joy Shelley became a widow upon the death of her husband Pieter Van der Wal. 
Death*27 Feb 2018 St George Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.2 

Newspaper-Articles

  • 30 Nov 1955: It's a way they have in the country
    To welcome to their district Dutch newcomer, Mr. Pieter van der Wal and his bride, the ladies of Dewhurst formed a Committee and decorated their tiny Methodist Church for Pieter's wedding; also, as a gift to the young couple, catered for the delicious breakfast held in the local hall following the ceremony.
    A heart-warming gesture, and a delightful surprise to the bride and groom, who have purchased a small property up there, and will be making Dewhurst their home. Pieter Van der Wal4
  • 30 Nov 1955: Bush Setting for an International Wedding
    A RATHER unusual marriage ceremony was performed by the Rev Pearce Barber, of Dandenong on Nov. 19th at the tiny ... where Miss Joy Shelley a descendant of the famous poet, was married to Mr. Pieter Van der Wal, whose parents live in Amsterdam.
    The bridegroom left Holland exactly four years ago and is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Pieter van der Wal, of Haarlem.
    The tall, dark-haired bride, Miss Joy Shelley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Shelley, of Lirtinnia, Scottsdale, Tasmania, entered a church brightly decked with large bowls of pink and white watsonias.
    Her classically cut gown was fashioned with high-necked long sleeved epicure lace bodice, and her finger-tip white tulle veil misted the ground-length embossed nylon skirt. She carried a lovely shower bouquet of golden centred frangipani.
    In the role of bridesmaid Miss Eadie Triffitt was a captivating picture in a ballerina frock of pastel green nylon, embossed in white and with a gold acorn motif.
    Little Wendy Triffitt, as flower girl, was a delightful miniature of the bridesmaid and carried a (basket of frangipanni and golden tinted rosebuds.
    The groom had his brother Anton (Tony) as best man.
    Several car loads of New Australians, mostly Dutchmen, journeyed up to the mountains to see their countryman wed Mrs. Shelley, the mother of the bride came over from Tasmania for the wedding. Joy is a native of Launceston. Her two sisters—Grace and Tony, who are in Melbourne doing University courses were also present.
    The Dewhurst hall, where the Breakfast was held, was lavishly decorated with hundreds of fresh flowers from the gardens of the local residents.
    A local ladles committee comprising Madams Holt, Wilson, Pratt, Moore, Peiert and Wade provided an excellent complimentary wedding breakfast to the bridal couple and their friends.
    Rev. Barber took charge of the proceedings and kept the guests very happy with humorous stories.
    This is the first time the Dewhurst Hall has been used for a wedding, and it proved ideal. The hall is surrounded with native trees and shrubs. A truly Australian welcome was accorded the arrival of the bridal couple as the Bell birds were then giving the evening call.
    The Van der Wals left by car to honeymoon in Sydney. On their return they will take up residence in Dewhurst. Pieter Van der Wal4

Citations

  1. [S27] Victorian Government. BDM Index Victoria (Marriages) (online) "#M19595/1955, Pieter Van Der WAL & Joy SHELLEY."
  2. [S80] Ancestry - Family Tree, Ancestry Tree Name: Shelley Family Tree 2, Tree ID: 13472954
    Person viewed: Joy Shelley/Vanderwal, Birth Date: 8 Aug 1933, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia, Death Date: 27 Feb 2018, St, George, Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
  3. [S27] Victorian Government. BDM Index Victoria (Marriages) (online) "#M19595/1955, Pieter Van Der WAL & Joy SHELLEY
    #M19595/1955, Pieter VAN DER WAL & Joy SHELLEY."
  4. [S14] Newspaper - unknown newspaper, 30 Nov 1955 (from Dewhurst Progress Association scrapbook).
Last Edited26 Jan 2026
 

NOTE

Some family sections show only the children who were associated with Upper Beaconsfield.

Some individuals may be featured because members of their family were associated with the Upper Beaconsfield area, even though they themselves never lived here.