Monday, November 26, 2012

Mary Ann Hicks - A Thirroul Pioneering Woman - 1839-1930


Mary Ann Hicks nee McKenzie 1839 - 1930 of Thirroul. 

Born at Fairy Meadow, in 1839, Mary Ann McKenzie was the first Illawarra-born child of Alexander McKenzie and wife Anne. She married Henry Thomas Hicks on November 5 1861, and so would be described on her death as one of the grand old pioneers of the district.  On marrying Henry Thomas Hicks she became a member of the pioneering Hicks family of the northern Illawarra. The family lived in various locations : Russell Vale (from 1842), Austinmer - North Bulli (from 1843), Wollongong, Towradgi  and Thirroul - Robbinsville (circa 1880's). 


Above - Mary Ann Hicks (with cap) and daughter Edith Florence Joy (nee Hicks) - circa 1920's

Parents Alexander McKenzie and Anne McLean
Alexander McKenzie, father of Mary Ann McKenzie,  was born on the Isle of Skye in 1803, and had married Anne McLean in 1829 at Armadale,  on the Isle of Skye in the Parish of Sleat. They travelled to Australia, on a bounty ship in 1837  (the William Nicol), with their elder 4 children:  

  • Daniel b 1831 Armadale, Isle of Skye
  • Donald b 1832 Armadale, Isle of Skye
  • Alexander b 1834 Armadale, Isle of Skye
  • John b 1835 Armadale, Isle of Skye

Four more children were born in the Illawarra :
  • Mary Ann b 1839 Fairy Meadow, NSW
  • Catherine b 1842 Berkley, NSW
  • Agnes b 1843 Springhill, NSW d 1844
  • Another child, Anne, died 1846 Berkeley 

Settling in Ellengowan
In Australia, Mary Ann's father, Alexander McKenzie of Ellengowan became active in the Illawarra Agricultural and Horticultural Society for much of the 1850-60's. Ellengowan was in the Fairy Meadow - Parameadows area - which was the site of a battle between the Bong Bong tribe and a Wollongong tribe 4/3/1827 - known as the Battle of Parameadows. 

Following first wife Ann's death, Alexander had  remarried in 1849 at Parramatta to Elizabeth Hanks, they had eight children :

  • Elizabeth b 1850 Balgownie, NSW
  • Robert b 1851 Balgownie, NSW
  • Hugh b 1853 Balgownie, NSW
  • Thomas b 1854 Bulli, NSW
  • Anne b 1858 Bulli, NSW
  • Flora b 1860 Bulli, NSW
  • Charles b 1861 Bulli, NSW
  • Christina b 1863 Taralga, Goulburn
Marriage of Mary Ann McKenzie to Henry Thomas Hicks
On 5.11.1861, Mary Ann McKenzie married Henry Thomas Hicks,  the eldest son of James and Margaret Hicks of Austinmer, then known as North Bulli.

Mary Ann  and Henry Thomas Hicks lived on Hicks Farm in Thirroul,  with their ten surviving children, four did not survive - 14 children in total! One wonders how much time Mary Ann had for herself in bearing 14 children over the twenty five years of  1862-1887 ?

Above : Mary Ann Hicks (aged 75 years), daughter Edith Florence Joy (nee Hicks), grandson Kenneth Charles, unknown girls  at  her home, "Everest", Seaview Terrace or Hicks Farm(?) Thirroul 1915. 
Children of Mary Ann Hicks 
As kids we heard that Mary Ann and Henry Thomas Hicks had the orchards, also known as Hicks Farm. There were also stories of Mary Ann Hicks living at "Mount Hope" near the Thirroul Railway Station -  Mary Ann's Bible  shows her address as "Mount Hope".

Many of the children of Mary Ann and Henry Thomas Hicks had left Thirroul over the years, moving to Sydney and further north. Daughter Mary Alice Hicks remained at home, caring for Mary Ann for many years at Thirroul, before finally marrying widower Alfred Cook in 1929 when she was in her late 50's. Alfred was also the brother of Alexander Cook, husband of Mary Alice's oldest sister, Margaret Minnie. Another daughter, the widow Edith Florence Joy, appears to have returned to care for her mother in her last years.

Death of Mary Ann Hicks
Years ago, I recall seeing a beautiful tribute to Mary Ann, written in an old Church Parish newsletter (St David's Thirroul). Mary Ann had lived past 90 years of age, until her death in 1930.  And the March 1930 Church Parish newsletter had later been  safely stored away by her great granddaughter, Joan Adams (nee Callcott - who was also my mother).  In working through my late mother's papers and books, I took some time to find the obituaries. Predictably among the last items to surface, at the bottom of large chest of drawers, finally enabling a window into some of Mary Ann's personal life. Re-reading them maybe 2 or 3 decades since I last saw them, these tributes now have even more meaning for me. Click to read tributes to Mary Ann Hicks nee McKenzie.

Mary Ann Hicks died at her home, "Everest", in  Seaview Terrace Thirroul on February 23 1930 - see death notice Sydney Morning Herald February 24 1930.

HICKS -February 23, 1930, at her residence, "Everest", Seaview Terrace, Thirroul, Mary Ann, relict  of the late H. T. Hicks, in her 90th year.
 Also funeral notice - Sydney Morning Herald February 24 2012.
HICKS- The Relatives and Friends of the FAMILY of the late MARY ANN HICKS are kindly invited to attend the Funeral of their late beloved MOTHER; to leave her late residence,Everest, Seaview-Terrace, Thirroul, on TUESDAY  AFTERNOON at 3 o'clock for St Augustine's    Church of England Cemetery, Bulli. W J WILLIAMS, Undertaker. (includes corrections)


Husband Henry Thomas Hicks of Thirroul - 1836-1909
Note - Mary Ann's husband Henry Thomas Hicks is mentioned in the Illawarra  census of 1881, along with William Fry, Henry Stumbles, Michael Shannon, Thomas Francis Lindsay, George Brown and William Osborne. 

 Henry Thomas Hicks chaired a public meeting in 1865 for the establishment of  Bulli National School. He was elected as an alderman to North Illawarra Council in 1887 and 1888 - a separate Bulli Shire Council would not be formed until 1905, although lobbying for its formation had occurred in 1889, with Henry Thomas Hicks and Mr Farraher actively involved.  Henry's son, Alexander Henry  Hicks, elected Mayor of North Illawarra and president of the Illawarra Miners Association in 1905, at the unveiling of the Mount Kembla Mining Disaster Memorial. It is interesting to note in Mary Ann Hicks' Obituaries, that she could, and would, discuss politics, and was committed to voting. Note - Henry Thomas Hicks' great granddaughter Kerrie Anne Christian (nee Adams) was narrowly defeated at the city-wide election of Wollongong City Council in 1989 - but was successful at Ward One elections in 1991, 1995 and 1995 - she did not contest the 2004 elections.

 He was also actively involved in the early days of Thirroul Public School, where he presided over the opening in 1889; also at St Augustine’s Anglican Church in Park Rd Bulli. He was a Captain in the Bulli Reserve Rifle Club from 1890, and also the Executor of a number of wills for local Northern Illawarra residents, including William Kirton. Also, possibly JP (Peter) Orvad, a member of the Bulli Progress Committee and owner of the Denmark Hotel, according to Rita Roberts one of Orvad’s descendants (as told to Kerrie Anne Christian during the “Back to Bulli” celebration of 1989).
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Lucy Callcott - a Pioneer in Thirroul Tourism


Lucy Callcott (nee Midson), born in 1875,  was the eldest daughter of William Midson and his wife Charlotte Small).  Father, William Midson was a Wesleyan preacher in the Ryde Circuit.

Grandmother Charlotte was the granddaughter of UK 1st Fleet convicts, John Small, Mary Parker and James Bradley. Charlotte’s  father was Samuel Small, who was born in 1804, the youngest of John Small and Mary Parker's seven children. He had married 'Rachel Rebecca Bradley', daughter of fellow 'First Fleeter James Bradley and 'Sarah Barnes', a convict on the 'Third Fleet' from the UK. Lucy was the paternal grandmother of my mother, Joan Adams, nee Callcott.

Lucy married Alfred (Alf) Freeman Callcott a railway man in 1894. During his time on the railway they seemed to have moved around NSW – Hornsby, Hermidale, Lyndhurst (Post & Station Master), Lochinvar, and finishing at Forbes. Lucy and Alf had two daughters,  Marjorie Lou and Clarice, in addition to their son, Louis Russell Freeman Callcott, who also became a railway man. They moved to Thirroul, after Alf retired from the railway.

According to “The Small Family in Australia 1788-1988″ p625, Lucy and Alf built a large home in Harbord Street Thirroul, (No.5 ?) and ran it as a guest house. Harbord Street had first been subdivided in 1911 (refer “Greetings from Thirroul” -  a small book which documents many of the holiday guesthouses around the town by local Thirroul Historian,  Dr Joseph (Joe) Davis, and his wife, Inga Lazzarotto). See also an article by Anne Woods on Guesthouses in Thirroul, formerly known as Robbinsville, continued to undergo great change after the completion of the South Coast Railway in the late 1880's - moving from farming to coal, brickworks and of course tourism. 

Around that time there were many advertisements in the Sydney papers for holiday accommodation in Thirroul. They often featured comments like “1 min to surf", "close to the railway" and “I". Others offering accommodation in Thirroul back then, were the Cooney’s, and also Hughie Ross (also grandfather of Julie Ross of The Spicey Apple), and his sister  Ruth. There were cinemas (Arcadia and New Kings), dance halls, refreshment rooms and Ryan's Bulli Pass Hotel.

Lucy and Alf  were also estate and insurance agents in the town – and were regular advertisers of Accommodation To Let in Thirroul Sydney Morning Herald from 1915-1939.  They often advertised reduced rates for the winter months. Lucy continued the business, as a widow, for about 7 or 8 years after the death of Alf . Amongst their most famous clients, were the sometimes controversial English author, DH Lawrenceand his wife,Baroness Frieda Von Richtofen. Frieda was also a cousin of The Bloody Red Baron of WW1 Germany.

It seems that the Lawrences were in tight financial circumstances and took advantage of Thirroul’s reduced winter rates, advertised by the Callcott’s. In 1922 DH and Frieda Lawrence stayed at the Californian bungalow, Wyewurk, which overlooks McCauley’s Beach, and was then owned by Lucy’s sister, Beatrice Southwell nee Midson.

There are varying thoughts on “Kangaroo" – a total fiction or a semi-autobiographic work by Lawrence? And like Somers in Kangaroo, did Lawrence really make contact with people from both the political “Right” and “Left” of the era in such a short time frame ? It was quite possible, as there people with strong views, from both sides of the political divide, in the Northern Illawarra during that time period. On the Left, there were the Coal Miners, and on the Right, the Small Business Operators. In 1920 John S Kirton, owner of the Excelsior Coal Mine was clearly a senior local member of the Nationalist Party.

And Lucy was seemingly interconnected into this milieu. Lucy and Alf's  son-in-law was Victor Farraher, husband of their younger daughter Clarice. Victor was also a son of Elizabeth Farraher (nee  Kirton), sister of John S Kirton, who had opened the Excelsior Coal Mine on his Thirroul property.  So there would have been potentially a close family tie-up between the Farraher family and the  Kirton family. And both Kirton‘s wives, Florence and Bridget, were also sisters to Murty Farraher, Victor‘s father. Incredibly convoluted ?

 John S Kirton had been President of the North Bulli Shire Council and was also President of the local Nationalist Committee. He presided over a dinner held at Ryan’s Bulli Pass Hotel in 24 January 1920 to celebrate a Nationalist Victory;  in Federal Parliamentary elections (Source  - Sydney Morning Herald January 26 1920). Some years later, Victor Farraher, wrote in support of Captain De Groote, who rode in on horseback and cut the ribbon at the opening of Sydney Harbour Bridge in protest. This was ahead of the NSW ALP Premier Jack Lang in the official party, in 1932 (refer Joe Davis‘ book "DH Lawrence in Thirroul“).

DH Lawrence used the family name  Callcott for one of the main characters in his novel, “Kangaroo“. There have also been suggestions that a woman, and her 11 year old son, commenting on the aeroplane landing incident in the novel, are in fact Lucy Callcott and son Russell. However, in 1922  Russell Callcott was already 19 years of age, and much older than the boy described by Lawrence in “Kangaroo“.

So, it was this short stay, at Wyewurk, that provided some of the inspiration for “Kangaroo“, according to Thirroul historian Dr Joseph (Joe) Davis. Coincidentally, Joe also taught Lucy's great grandson, Mark Callcott, at high school – at the time that Joe was writing his book “DH Lawrence in Thirroul“. Additionally, Joe is also a distant cousin of my daughter Katrina Christian - great great granddaughter of Lucy and  Alf  Callcott. It seems that Thirroul has always been that kind of place, with a strong sense of “connectedness”.

 For many years, Lucy also found time to be the organist in St David's Anglican Church in Roxborough Avenue next to Thirroul Public School - a plaque was placed in her memory on the church wall. Unfortunately Lucy did not enjoy a warm grandmotherly relationship with most of Russ's children. However it reminds me of the story of Paul Mercurio on the TV program "Who do you think you are ?" Paul discovered that his grandmother ran a hotel in America which left little time for her children, including Gus Mercurio, father of Paul. Perhaps it was the same for Lucy ?

Heading into the WWII years there appeared to be a change in the Guesthouse market in Thirroul. There seems to be no evidence of any advertisements in the Sydney Morning Herald by Lucy Callcott in the period from 1940 until her death in 1952 (see her death – funeral notices below). Perhaps coastal threats during WWII, and then changing tastes in the post WWII era, coming on the heels of the 1930′s Depression years, had caught up with them ? However she continued as a landlady, being driven around the northern suburbs by her son Russ, so she could collect the rent from her tenants.

Despite these  changes of reduced demand for Guesthouse accommodation, a popular seaside camping ground, operated in Thirroul, adjacent to the Olympic Pool, until the 1960′s. Also, in the 1960′s, Thirroul Beach was becoming a popular day trip destination, with many people coming down by train or bus.  Since then, day trippers have mainly arrived by car, although buses can still be seen at the beach. Lucy's son Russ continued to be a landlord during this period.

In the 1980's with the electrification of the South Coast Railway, many Sydneysiders chose to become residents in Thirroul and commuters up to Sydney. And a small motel had operated in Thirroul since the 1970′s, a notable customer was the artist Brett Whiteley.Whiteley, and fellow artist  Gary Shead, had a fascination with DH Lawrence, Wyewurk and "Kangaroo".

Bed and breakfasts, together with holiday home lettings are also starting to appear in Thirroul and its neighbouring suburbs. Recently Wollorowong, a property in Thirroul had been placed on the market. It was among the holiday cottages that  Lucy Callcott had managed in 1937,  operating as a guesthouse up until WWII. Wollorowong has been described as the last of the Thirroul Guesthouses by Joe Davis.

Lucy Callcott died in 1952, three years before I was born. And when I first stood for election as an Alderman on Wollongong City Council in 1989, I was at the Thirroul Leagues Club and was asked by a local "Was I a granddaughter of old Mrs Callcott?" I replied "No, I'm her great granddaughter". Despite the tensions that had existed in my family, nevertheless I have to acknowledge Lucy Callcott's pioneering contribution to the early days of tourism in Thirroul and as a small businesswoman  nearly a century ago.

Sydney Morning Herald Advertisements – a selection of the many ads placed by the Callcott’sfrom 1915-1939
SMH - 27 Nov 1915
Thirroul – Kaludah, 1 min. surf, Superior Accommodation, 30/- week, 6/- day. Mrs Callcott.
Thirroul Kaludah – 1 min surf. – Supr Accommodation. Mrs Callcott. ‘Phone 53 Bulli.
Thirroul Furn. Cottages To Let, booking now for Xmas. Callcott agt. T. ph 58 Bulli
(notes - ’THIRROUL Lulllngton -Guests House under new-L management double single Rooms minute beach gai age excellent table moderate tariffPho-ie 138_’I HIRROUL BEACH – l*urnl6hed Cottages PlatsJ- L Callcott /gent Phone Thirroul 63_ – 25 SMH 1933 http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/17027102
HALF FURNISHFD COTTAGE, close beach and
halhs every convenience, from October 3 ALLhROY Thirroul PO_lYlHRROUL-1 urnished Cottuf.es to Let close beach1 Callcott At,cnt Stamp reply Tele, Bulli 6*
THIRROUL -Furnished COTTAOES near beach A stamp reply A F Callcott Phone Thlr 53
THIRROUL BEACH. -Furnished Cottages. Flats. Í stamp reply L. Callcott. agent. Phone, Thlt ~”
Furnished Rooms stamp reply.
SMH March 20 1937 Thirroul. ”FURNISHED COTTAGE, close beach, accommodate ‘? six, vacant Easter. 11J4.H0._ ‘THIRROUL, Wollorowong … Flat, J- vacant Easter. L. Callcott. Agent. Thirroul 53.
THIRROUL BEACH -Furnished Cottage to letL Xmas also Flats L Callcott Ph Thlr 53
THIRROUL Beach-Private Home Xmas, adults
only £5/5/ week L Callcott 53 Thirroul
Death Notice - Lucy Callcott SMH 30/12/1952 -CALLCOTT, Lucy.-September 29,1952. of 5 Harbord Street. Thirroul widow of Alfred F. Callcott.and dear mother of Marjorie (Mrs.Tiernan. Sydney). Clarice (Mrs. V.Farraher. Wollongong). Russell (Thirroul). Eldest daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. W. Midson (Epping). ;
Funeral Notice - SMH 30/9/1952
CALLCOTT.-The Relatives and Friends of the Family of the late Mrs. . LUCY CALLCOTT, Of  5 Harbord Street, Thirroul, are Invited to attend the Funeral of their beloved Mother; to leave St. David’s Church, Thirroul, To-morrow. Wednesday, after a service commencing at 3 p.m.. for the General Cemetery. Bulli. Church of England portion.
W. J. WILLIAMS, Funeral-Director.
_ Bulli.






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Monday, November 19, 2012

Cate Wilson - A Strong Champion for Thirroul

It seems that Thirroul is losing a few too many strong women lately this November 2012, firstly my own mother Joan Lois Adams (nee Callcott) on November 5 2012, followed by the indomitable Cate Wilson on November 17 2012.

I first heard of Cate in her role in the Thirroul Action Group in the early 1980's - fighting to save Thirroul from being overcome by a series of 3 storey walk-ups, and higher, of an unending series of unit block after unit block and even what seemed then to be ever encroaching risk of high rise development. I had just moved back to Bulli and my mother, Joan Adams (nee Callcott), showed me some community newsletters put out by the Thirroul Action Group. In the north we were so lucky to have her fighting to preserve the character of the area, when it was under such serious threats.

Around 1984 I encountered Cate when we went to debate the future of South Thirroul when it was destined to be overrun by coal transport facilities including  40 metre high coal storage bins. It was clear that Cate was forthright in her opinions and did not suffer fools at all. I recall being at her home towards the late 1980's as we battled on for the South Thirroul area. Cate and partner Eric Wilson were actively involved in CANS, Community Alliance for the Northern Suburbs - a Coalition of Community Groups established by then Alderman David Martin.

Also in the late 1980's, Cate was fighting with Anna Whelan to save the Maternity Ward at Bulli Hospital, whilst partner Eric  was fighting on a different front to achieve better planning outcomes for the northern Illawarra.

Cate and her partner Eric were strong supporters of the Active Community Team that David Martin had initiated with Arthur and Jelly Osborne.

Cate and Eric continued to battle the war of attrition that seems to be inevitable in community politics - you win won round but the issue just keeps bouncing back again and again.

Around 2000 the Sandon Point debate had morphed towards a broad social movement that the local Wollongong City Council totally failed to appreciate. The internet and email facilitated collaboration across so many different community groups. This period saw the establishment of the Sandon Picket Line and the Aboriginal Tent Embassy of which aimed to protect the Sandon Point area from development. Cate Wilson became one of the leading members of the Sandon Point Picket, which unfortunately burned down after a number of years.

In the 1980's Cate, and partner Eric, had restored a beautiful old home on Cliff Parade on McCauleys Hill in Thirroul. I recall some friends would refer to the house as "the one that had been done up by the two teachers" - Cate was a teacher of the Deaf and a strong member of the Teachers Federation.

Cate also painted beautiful watercolours of the northern suburbs area - I have a small one that is evocative of  the coast from Thirroul up to Coalcliff, looking up from  Norfolk Island Pines towards the cliffs. I also marvelled at the beautiful hand-knitted items that Cate often wore - another indicator of her talents ?

I doubt anyone ever ever intimidated Cate. She was always forthright in her views and you knew where you stood with her. An amazingly strong and inspiring woman.






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Joan Adams - One of the strongest women Thirroul has ever known. A Eulogy 13.11.2012.



From the EULOGY for JOAN LOIS ADAMS on behalf of her children – Kerrie, Julie & Daryl - read by David Christian

 Joan loved life – a real people person. Family was very important to Joan and she was a real caring and practical Mum and Nan to all of them.

 Joan was born Joan Lois Callcott at Hornsby on 16th October 1932 – although she lived nearly her entire life in Thirroul, where many of her family lived. She was the second eldest child of Mary Constance Callcott (nee Joy) and, like her mother, and grandmother, Edith Florence Joy (Hicks), she was a battler, or a tough little bantam hen, as her husband Ross described her.

Ross and Joan Adams on their wedding day in 1953


Joan shared 1932 as her birth year with the completion of the Sydney Harbour Bridge – in fact she “walked” the opening of the Bridge in her mother’s womb. Little wonder that Joan would go on to walk the bridge herself in 1992, do a Harbour Bridge Climb, walk the Sydney Harbour Tunnel and the Great Wall of China, fly over Uluru Ayers Rock, and then fly in a hot air balloon to celebrate her 60th birthday.

Life in the 1930’s was tough for many Australian children with the Depression and then the start of World War 2.  During that time, Joan’s mother was bringing up her 5 children, mostly singlehandedly, with help from her own mother, Edith Florence Joy.  Joan attended Thirroul Public School, which was opened by her great grandfather, then North Illawarra Council Alderman Henry Thomas Hicks in 1889. As a member of the Hicks Family, one of the oldest Illawarra European families, Joan took pride in learning of her family in the Northern Illawarra which dated from 1842 – 170 years. There was also Scots heritage from the Isle of Skye too - Great Grandmother, MaryAnn Hicks, was a Mackenzie.   
Joan is in photograph below - in  the front row at far right in white dress 


Years later, Joan, and Kerrie’s husband, David, would share the latest family tree finds – gradually building up a huge amount of information and stories – Joan discovered she was descended from the First Fleet “Small” Family. Sadly, one of the biggest pieces, missing for years from our Family Tree, would only emerge in the days after her death.

Joan went onto the Domestic Home Science School for girls, and the building is still located at Wollongong Public School in Smith St Wollongong. Later her daughter Kerrie attended classes in the same building. Granddaughter Katrina did school holiday programs there too. Joan was a very good swimmer and represented her school at carnivals in Sydney. 

Joan worked as a Shorthand Typist at the CRM works in the 1950’s – it became part of BHP and then BlueScope Steel. She was the first of our family to work in the steel industry. Subsequently her husband Ross, daughter Kerrie and sons-in-law David and Laurie would work in the Steel Industry, spanning a period of nearly 60 years till 2011.

Ross Adams came into Joan’s life when they met at a dance.  Ross had been at Kokoda in the 2/16th Battalion of the 2nd AIF during World War 2. He came  down from Queensland, to visit his two aunts Mabel Tuckerman and Ivy Richardson, before heading off to Perth to catch up with his army mates. However he met Joan, and they married at St Augustine’s Bulli on December 19 1953. Joan found herself in the large Adams Family, many of whom lived in the Boggabilla – Goondiwindi area up north. In 1954 she and Ross got a War Service loan and so they moved into their own home in Redman Avenue Thirroul, where Joan lived for the rest of her life.  In early 1955, daughter Kerrie arrived, and Julie in early 1956. 

With two very young daughters, and still in her twenties, Joan was for a time also caring for her invalid mother and grandmother. Both had passed away before Daryl arrived in late 1962. Her aunt, Marjorie Joy, had by then become a mother figure for Joan, just as Marjorie’s late husband, Ken, had been Joan’s father figure, before his untimely death.

Joan was a great cook. She experimented with dishes beyond traditional Australian food. Her cakes, slices, desserts and Christmas Pudding with silver coins were legendary. She was also very good at sewing and knitting, stretching the family finances by making all her children’s school clothes. Kerrie and Julie were dressed identically, and seemed to many to be more like twins. Joan was fairly strict with them, and then along came Daryl, who was a “real” boy – escaping through holes in the back fence and coming home with muddy clothes.  


Joan loved reading, doing cross word puzzles and jigsaw puzzles – the 3D Titanic puzzle done in the days before her final hospital stay was the most challenging of all she said. Joan also did a lot of photography – she had saved up when she first started working to buy her precious Kodak Box Brownie camera. Joan was also involved in the School Mothers’ Club and local Tennis Club from the 1960’s – becoming an active office bearer in each of these.

In adulthood, life remained challenging for Joan, as husband Ross experienced what we now know as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after his time at Kokoda – often she had to be both mother and father to her 3 kids.  However she always encouraged them to do the best they could, with the talents they had, and the opportunities that came their way. Kerrie was good at school work especially Science & Maths, Julie was good at Art and Daryl was good with his Hands – and so they moved into these areas with their Post High School education & careers.  Joan was also a confidential sounding board for Kerrie in her 12 years representing the Northern Illawarra, as an Alderman on Wollongong City Council.

Kerrie and Julie had left home to pursue their studies in the early 1970’s leaving Daryl as the only child still living at home.  Ross had continued to experience post combat trauma and eventually moved away under the pressures, leaving Joan and Daryl, although he periodically returned at Christmas time.

 Life continued to be tough for Joan and Daryl – and around this time Daryl took up pigeon racing with Joan’s support. We knew never to ring home on a Saturday because it was pigeon race day.  

In 1976 Ross suffered a severe debilitating stroke and Joan brought him home. She nursed and cared for him until his death in early 1990. Anna Barnett came into their lives in the 1980’s to form the Northern Illawarra Stroke Recovery Support club – predictably, Joan again became an active office bearer, until her own ill health in mid 2005. Courageously Joan had taken Ross on a 23 day camping safari to the Red Centre and Darwin in mid 1986 – with Ross using a walking frame.  It was written up in newspaper and magazine articles. In 2010, Joan was honoured with Life Membership of Stroke Recovery Association.

Over the 1980’s and 1990’s Joan became the proud & loving Nan to Erin, Gavin, Clare and Katrina. 

After Ross’s death in 1990, Joan’s aunt, Marjorie Joy, introduced her to War Widows and Laurel Club. Her aunt had been supported by Legacy for many years following the early death of her own husband. Predictably Joan became an active Office Bearer in War Widows and Woonona Bulli RSL’s Laurel Club. 

After Ross’s death, Joan was rarely home, as she was now free to socialize, see live shows  in Sydney and Arcadians, to travel –in NSW, Victoria and South Australia. In 2005, son-in-law David persuaded her to join him, Kerrie, and Katrina on a trip to China. Joan walked on the Great Wall of China and saw the Entombed Warriors.

 Several months later, she became seriously ill, but by a series of miracles survived, when many would not. In the 1930’s, a Jewish Doctor Huber, under threat of Buchenwald, was amazingly let go by the Nazi’s in Berlin, and so he came to Australia with his family. In 2005, nearly 70 years later, his grandson, Doctor David Huber, performed cutting edge vascular surgery on Joan in Wollongong Hospital. This surgery was not approved in many American states then. We will remain forever grateful to Dr Huber, as his skill gave us a precious bonus 7 ½ years with Joan. She saw all her grandchildren grow to adulthood,  to cross the Nullarbor on the Indian Pacific with Kerrie in 2011, and to finally complete the sentimental journey to Perth for her husband, Ross – visiting the Kokoda Memorial to Ross’s 2/16th Battalion of the 2nd AIF, which has pride of place in Kings Park, the main Botanic Gardens in Perth.

Joan’s adult grandchildren Erin and Gavin travelled extensively overseas, and at our weekly Sunday night family dinners, Joan loved to look at the photos of their travels on Facebook, and also photos of Clare’s latest adventures.

Joan would bring over home-cooked steamed puddings plus cakes and slices – she was always looking for new recipes to try out. David and Joan shared a love of sport and would chat on about the tennis, rugby league and cricket. And when they came down from Newcastle, Julie’s husband, Laurie, would set up Skype on his computer so that Joan could see and talk to Erin and Gavin overseas.Erin’s highly secret and surprise return home from the UK for Christmas 2011 truly stunned Joan.

Joan had hoped to celebrate her 80th birthday with her children, grandchildren, brothers Ian and Joe, sister Joy, cousins Margaret and Kath, their families, and her friends, at a picnic last month. However over the last year, various health issues emerged, and Joan was happy to just make her 80th birthday, which neither her mother, nor grandmother, had achieved.  We had a surprise 80th morning tea with close family in the hospital. Joan’s famous wide mouthed surprise and smile were there as usual. 

We could never ever thank Joan enough for all that she did for our family. Joan was a very special lady, a real people person who loved life, with a great sense of humour and fun, a battling, tough little pocket rocket, a great friend, always ready to help others. She was greatly loved and respected by her extended family and many friends. So we thank you for sharing this celebration of Joan’s life with us today.
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Thursday, May 24, 2012

Who is Alison Fettell - Community Activist -the latest to lead campaign for Bulli Hospital

It's been 3 years since I last posted to LingaLonga - work and family commitments got in the way .. but at last there is more time to pick this up .. to share the stories of Women of Thirroul who have made a difference for their community.

I first met Alison maybe 10 years ago or so when I was still a Ward 1 Councillor for Wollongong City Council. Back then Alison & Jayne were lobbying hard for McCauley Park in Thirroul. I left Council in 2004 but still see them power walking the streets of Thirroul - often with their dog.

Then in February 2012 I was helping the NSW Asthma Foundation & University of Wollongong at local Shopping Centres with Asthma Awareness promotions for The Over 55's. Alison just happened to wander past with her youngest daughter and we had a quick chat...

Alison had decided something needed to be done to Save Bulli Hospital Emergency Department - and I couldn't sit back .. friends had been saved by treatment at Bulli ED. A number of us starting meeting at Cucina Coffee Shop in Thirroul & Save Bullli ED was born with Alison as its Convenor.

So Just Who is Alison Fettell ? Previously a Single Mum Fighter who didn't collapse under the pressures ? An Executive Health Administrator Manager ? Sea Change resident ? A Tough Fighter for our Local Thirroul Community over the last 10 years ? What's her story ? How is she honouring past campaigns for Bulli Hospital & spearheading the resistance to the latest attacks ?
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