Good afternoon, family and friends. Way way back last century, in the nineteen fifties, a young family made the decision to leave the security of the English Black Country and emigrate. The story goes there was a choice for that young family, between Canada and Australia. Dad had been to Canada during the war, and also to Egypt. When he heard WA’s climate was Mediterranean, like Egypt, the decision was easy. So in 1959, Dad, Mum, Wendy, Trish and I found ourselves embarking on a Grand Adventure. First, Tilbury Docks to board the SS Orion, on one of this luxury liner’s 3 voyages bringing migrants (10 pound poms) to a new land. I can remember the steps of Tilbury, to this not quite 3 year old boy many wondrous memories of this voyage remain. Rumour has it two very momentous occasions occurred early in the voyage. Firstly, the accommodation for the family was abysmal; with the matter being taken up with the crew we were moved into a much more appropriate cabin. Secondly, the weather in the Bay of Biscay was so atrocious you and the girls were confined to the cabin, whilst Dad and I were amongst the few to brave the Dining Room in the early part of the voyage. My other memories are of steering the ship by means of a fire hydrant – I had a great imagination even then, shaving (!) and the ports of Aden and Columbo. The sands of the Suez Canal. This magnificent ship had such memories for this young boy and the joy of finding a large model of the Orion in the Brisbane Maritime Museum and later reliving some of those adventures, with your help, was an amazing experience. My memory of you on that voyage was sunglasses, scarf and deck chair. We might have been booked Steerage, but you went Tourist! I guess you were going to make the best out of any situation, an attitude that has persisted with you and served you well throughout your life. Then disembarking at Fremantle, a few weeks shy of my 3rd birthday. Australia was challenging to you and Dad. We kids did what kids do, whilst you and Dad got on with doing for us. Then came along one little brother to pick on and annoy, then another, and suddenly I was in the favoured middle position of the family. I think it fair to say we were oblivious of what our parents went through in those early years, but we were always clothed and fed and had a roof over our heads. Sometimes, often, those clothes were hand me downs, sometimes a leg of lamb lasted a week – Roast on Sunday and Shepherds Pie the following Saturday - I still have fond memories of your Shepherds Pies – and sometimes the ceiling fell in. That was the day of the Meckering Earthquake. I had been uncharactistically naughty for some obscure reason and you had sent me to my room, full of malice aforethought. Then happened the earthquake, the ceiling fell on me and I was Very Well Behaved for quite a few days after that. It was uniquely our life, and it was ours for the taking. From Dad we got our black humour and a taste for discordant music, from you a home full of melodious, symphonious, glorious noise. Art, books, radio, literature and libraries are legacies you passed on to us. Scrabble and cards taught us spelling and numbers, we learnt the value of dictionaries and encyclopaedias and I was a dab hand at both Fish and 21 before I could speak. I never thought we were bookish or arty, we just were. It was natural my father, brothers and sisters would pick up a brush and paint, write and we would do crafty things, that you would eventually go back to Teachers College and then teach High School Art. Then retirement for Dad became more of a necessity as Parkinsons took its hold, and the move to Geraldton came about. Bluff Point became home for you and Dad, new friends made and old rediscovered. Along with the good times there were sad times. Dad deteriorated and you mourned the loss of a husband and father long before he died on his 70th birthday. From your group of friends came a soul mate. Jack Holden had also lost a partner and you found solace in each others company. To all our delight, you found love again. Jack’s business and social interests first kept you both in Geraldton, but the decision to retire gracefully saw you make a move to Mandurah and the RAAFA Estate. It has become home for you and also for us. That’s where Mum is. Recently social media has reconnected us with our Summerfield roots. To discover such a wonderful extended family, to follow their daring exploits and be part of their journey through life has not just been a glorious experience, but we also see where our mother has come from and understand a little more what has driven her life. Today we welcome that extended family in celebrating your 90th Birth Anniversary. Mum, you are many names to many people, Granny, Grandma, Granny Win, Mrs Hillier, Mrs Holden, Win, Winny and Aunty Win. To a very fortunate five, you are, and always have been, Mum, and we love you very very much.
Posted on: Sun, 16 Mar 2014 05:13:59 +0000
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