MUM.....A SURPRISE FOR YOU

Hi Mum

Sorry I've neglected you but it's been fairly quiet of late but now I've just thought of something I think should delight you, something you richly deserved, so let me tell you about it.

After your death in January 1985 the Soroptomist Club, with whom you had been so much involved, decided they would like to organise some type of memorial to you so they approached the King's Park Board who explained it was not often that type of thing was done in the park.  I have no idea what decided them but eventually it was agreed that there would be a jarrah seat with a plaque in your memory. This is the plaque that was decided upon:

First of all the seat overlooked the women's memorial lake and fountain but then it was moved for the use of people who walked the many trails through the park for them to rest on.  I think this is a beautiful setting for your seat:

This is Len and Jean resting on you seat when they visited Kings Park in 1986:

Nearly 16 years ago I visited the seat and found it had been painted green which I suppose will hopefully preserve it longer.  With me were my daughter, #2 granddaughter and (at that time) my only great-granddaughter.  Of course photos were taken and here we are, all taking it in turns to sit on your seat.

Unfortunately I can no longer walk to where the seat is/was situated but I must ask if any of the family are in Kings Park again if they would kindly check to see if the seat is still there.

I think you realised all your family were always very proud of you and still are.  You were always there for me when I was young and in your later years you were there for them as well, plus you did so much good for the greater community.  You packed so much into your nearly 88 years on this earth which reminds me, next Monday week will be the 117th anniversary of your birth in London, England.  I have always been so very glad you and dad decided to emigrate to Australia and become my parents.

NOTE:  Len was mum's step-son and Jean was his wife.

ANOTHER CHRISTMAS DAY

Dear Folks

Another Christmas Day has dawned, warm and sunny although today is going to be quite a lot cooler than the last 4-5 Christmas days.  As usual you are both very much in my thoughts this morning as are Len and Jean too.  I know we were a very small family but I have such happy memories of my youth. Right now we would be staying at Mandurah House and enjoying the company of the people that stayed there year after year at Christmas and Easter.  I think we did that each year from when I was 8 till I was about 20.  They were wonderful times but I now realise why we never decorated a tree at home nor did we have decorations.  We just weren't going to be there!!  It took me a few years as an adult to get used to doing Christmas in my home.  It still feels somewhat strange at times, even after all the years that have passed.

We are going to K & B's this afternoon for an easy, light evening meal.  All the family will be there..C & M and their two beautiful little girls; A and her partner C and of course not forgetting lovely CT who is now 17 and has left school.  We are not sure yet of what she will do in her future but we have high hopes for her. B is of course now living in Alaska and we have sent greetings to them all.  They will likely enjoy a snowy Christmas.  L should also be there.  It was his birthday last week; he is now 31.
With the little ones it is still great fun watching them open their gifts with lots of excitement.

The main reason we are going to Kelmscott is K had a knee replacement last week.  She is doing quite well and B is of course looking after her like the great husband he is.  She and I are so fortunate in having two great people who care so much and give so much of themselves.  Of course if K gets tired during the day she can pop on her bed and have a rest.  We are all taking food so hopefully she will not overdo it but somehow I don't think she will.  She has been following order and doing exercises and all you are supposed to do after such an operation.

Oh well, must go.  Have a few things to do to be ready to drive up there this afternoon.  I did wonderfully well this year and had gifts bought and mainly wrapped a couple of weeks ago but ran a little late sending out greeting cards but eventually got them all done, just in time.

Merry Christmas to you both with love xxxxxx

BACK IN C.A.B. DAYS

Hi Mum

I was going through some very old photographs yesterday and I came across this one of you taken sitting at a desk in the Citizen's Advice Bureau in Murray Street, Perth.

I know that wasn't actually your desk (as you had your own office) but the photos were taken for a journalist who was writing an article for The West Australian or The Sunday Times (I forget which now) newspaper about the Citizen's Advice Bureau which you first started in 1962.  I recognise Muriel Haning (on the left) who was your loyal secretary until your forced retirement as CAB Director after that fearful accident in 1973 when you were nearly killed by that wayward car driver.

I remember you actually began the CAB in a tiny office in what was one of our largest department stores, Boans (long ago taken over by Myer who decided not to continue with the household name we all knew so well), when Mr Harry Boan thought the idea of a Citizen's Advice Bureau based on those in England would be a good idea for our city.  Nobody could imagine how well the idea would take off and yet you developed it into what it has become today.

I think people doubted whether the CAB would be able to continue in Perth without your leadership, but thrive it did and you would be so pleased to know there are now branches throughout Western Australia.  There are five branches in the metropolitan area and also four in the country, as far away as Albany, Busselton, Bunbury and Mandurah.

I am so proud of you for all the wonderful social welfare work you did over many years and this is certainly one of which I am extremely proud because of the wonderful assistance it gives to people.

You may be interested to know that I was invited to a luncheon held in a Perth hotel several years ago (just because I was your daughter would you believe and had information about the formation of the CAB they were pleased to have) to celebrate some anniversary (perhaps 40 years?) of the CAB.   I asked Karen to come along as my guest as she loved you so much and was also very proud of you. When we went in would you believe we were ushered to the table at the front of the room where the VIPS were seated.  It was a wonderful lunch and they asked me to draw the raffle they were holding to raise money.  Hats off to you Mum.

Love you always
    x x x x x

DAD, IT'S THE ANNIVERSARY OF YOUR BIRTH

Hi Dad

It is 128 years today since you were born within the sound of Bow Bells in London, England and 42 years since you silently slipped away from us.

There is rarely a day that passes when I don't think of you, but my thoughts of you are extra special today.  How thankful I am that owing to your ill health, following a bout of the Spanish flu following WW1, you were told by the doctors to move to a warmer land.  You left a beautiful home and a very good job to emigrate to Western Australia to take up farming.  If you'd not made that decision I would never have met you and mum.

I am always so grateful that you both decided you'd like a baby daughter (you already had a son of nearly 21 whose mother had died when he was little) and it was me that you chose to be that daughter. You may have had some Victorian ideas but you were a fantastic father and looked after me so well. In fact you both did and I know at times you probably went without to give me a good life and a good education for which I have always been very grateful.

I was always sorry I didn't see more of you when my two children were young but that decision was taken out of my hands by mum's actions. We won't go into that now but it was a sad time in my life.  It was wonderful that we resumed our relationship in later years and my kiddies got to meet their grandfather.  You were always so good with little ones and I regret my two didn't know you when they were small.

Your photo is up on the mantlepiece today; not that I need to see it to be reminded of you but just to give you pride of place on your special day.  I feel so close to you today.

Love from your daughter xxxx

DISAPPOINTING RESULT DAD

Hi Dad

You are probably the only person who will understand what I'm talking about here but it's just between you and me really anyway isn't it?  East Perth played in the WAFL Grand Final today.....and lost!!!  I had high hopes they might win another flag but it was not meant to be.  They began the year quite badly but picked up steam half way through the season and were looking good.

Never mind, hopefully they will improve next year and who knows?  Another appearance in the Grand Final.  We can only hope.

It was a wet and windy day in Perth today but there were over 20,000 watching the game at Subiaco Oval which was quite good in such bad weather.  The AFL has kept the crowds away from WAFL games over past years which is such a pity.  Progress it is called and I suppose it is, really.

Mum would have been pleased as West Perth are now this year's premiers.  I never worked out why she decided to follow West Perth but somehow I think it was to create a bit of rivalry in the camp.  We used to enjoy having a go at each other about the two teams....just a lot of fun.

I've not been to a football match for many a long year now but I used to enjoy sitting or standing on the bank yelling for my team.  Dreams of times long ago eh Dad?  They were good times.

Love you
    xxxx

NEWS THAT WOULD PLEASE YOU

Dear Mum and Dad

The Federal election was held yesterday and after 6 years of a Labor government (one that had a lot of infighting and conniving going on) you would both be delighted that we now are back to having a Liberal government; at least for the next 3 years (and beyond I would hope)

I think you would both approve of our new Prime Minister.  He is a very good family man and works hard in the community as well.  He keeps very fit and is involved in surf life saving and volunteer bushfire work as well.  He is religious, which perhaps Dad wouldn't worry you, but you Mum would probably approve of that although his religion is different to yours.  I feel he is a good man and will be a good leader.

For some reason many people didn't seem to like him (and still don't from what I've been seeing on social media) and yet it appears sufficient people approved of him to elect him so he can form a government.  We can only hope he forms a good and reliable one that can work well with the Opposition and the Senate and bring stability back to our country.

Times are not easy in the world of today with many economic problems and civil wars in middle eastern countries.  There are lots of refugees from those countries trying to find a new and safe place to live.  I actually fear for the future of my grandchildren and great-grandchildren as their world is going to be so vastly different to the world I grew up in, regardless of the Great Depression and World War 2. We got through them and in many ways I think it made us better people.  I am not sure that is the case any more.

Just wanted to keep you up to speed with what is happening in our world of today.

Love to you both
         xxxx

I AM SO TIRED

Hi Mum

I know I am getting old but since I turned 80 it seems to be happening much more quickly.  I fear the spirit is still willing as ever but the flesh is just so weak.

I often think of you and how badly injured you were when that stupid car driver swung to the wrong side of the road and hit you outside your home way back when you were in your early seventies.  You weren't expected to live, but you did. You weren't expected to walk again, but you did.  Your right hip was so badly shattered they couldn't set it and you ended up with that leg several centimetres shorter than the other and yet you got around with the aid of your trusty walking sticks.

You eventually flew to Sydney to find out details about setting up a workshop for pensioners and the like and you came home and proceeded to set up such a place which is thriving still (Beehive Industries).  We were all so proud they named Ruston House after you.  You deserved the accolades that were spoken on the day the building was opened.  If only you had lived to see it happen.

You were living on your own and yet you managed so well despite everything.  Here I still have Phil with me and he is wonderful and so helpful but because I have problems getting around and even getting things done now I get so downhearted.  I just wish I had some of your get up and go which never seemed to leave you no matter what.

I realise now how much pain you must have been in and yet you didn't complain, or at least not to us, and of course we, being so much younger then, didn't realise how bad it must have been for you at times.  You were always such an independent person and never asked us to do very much for you and I feel I need to say how sorry I am that we didn't do more.

I badly need some of your strength of purpose so I can get on with things that are crying out to be done. I am sure we will get there eventually but progress seems oh, so slow.

I feel you are so close at times and I wish I could sit and have a quiet talk as we once did.

Love you as much now as I always did.
           xxxxxx