An image that featured in The Daily News Perth on August 27, 1946 of then worlds heaviest triplets at birth, Yarrawonga’s Gary, Geoffrey and Peter Birthisel in the arms of their mum Elizabeth (Bessie) while older twin brothers Terry and Brian watch on.
Family reunions in Yarrawonga are a common occurrence but not often are former Guiness World Record holders in attendance.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Recently, all but 20 members of the large Birthisel family came together at the Criterion Hotel with two of the world’s former ‘heaviest triplets at birth’, Geoff and Peter, celebrating time with their extended family.
On August, 8 1946 in Yarrawonga, Elizabeth Birthisel gave birth to three boys who, at the time, were believed to be the heaviest triplets in the world and were later mentioned in the Guiness Book of Records.
Fraternal triplets Gary, Geoffrey and Peter created quite a news story locally, weighing 7lb 13oz, 7lb 12oz and 7lb 8oz respectively, smashing the world record three times, weighing a combined 23lb 1oz.
The average baby born in 1946 weighed 6lbs, while the average triplet weighed just 4lb.
Mrs Birthisel, better known as Bessie, had three years earlier given birth to fraternal twin boys. After the triplets were born she had three more babies and finally a girl, Margaret, was born.
Being larger than their peers continued throughout their life as each of the triplets grew to be 1.8m tall.
A family of eight kids, including twins and triplets, seemed normal.
Of the eight children, five are still alive and attended the reunion with Geoffrey, only daughter and youngest child Margaret, and one of the twin boys Terry all still living in Benalla, Peter in Wodonga and John (born after the triplets) in Wangaratta.
All but 20 members of the large Birthisel family came together at the Criterion Hotel recently for a family reunion.
Sadly, Gary and Ken are both deceased but lived in Benalla and Melbourne respectively.
Geoff’s partner Irene said this was the first reunion as such, and the first in Yarrawonga.
“The family have caught up at funerals but decided that they needed to catch up to celebrate and enjoy each other’s company, rather than meeting at a sombre occasion like a funeral,” Irene said.
“There were two funerals within the space of around four months with one in Yarrawonga, so that really brought the ‘happy’ reunion to a head.
“Bessie is buried in the Yarrawonga cemetery and numerous members of the family live close in Benalla so they make their way over to Yarrawonga a bit.”
Irene said the family, with several extended members still living here, have a soft spot for Yarrawonga and are often asked if they are one of, or related to the well-known triplets.
“It is remarkable that their three bedroom Yarrawonga house is still standing,” Irene said.
“I know a lot of the older residents of Yarrawonga remember the triplets birth.
“When Geoff mentions his name he is often asked ‘are you one of the triplets?’
“Another elderly neighbour said that she remembered the day the news came out as she lived in Yarrawonga at the time and there was much excitement around town.”
25°C