Today I captured a Golden age session for beautiful Caroline. Her wonderful Granddaughter drove her a very long way & stayed overnight to bring her along for her session. Caroline is just amazing, her hands have been crippled by arthritis, but she still knits!
Caroline Bernice Franklin was born on the 3rd of January, 1938, in Enmore, New South Wales. The eldest of three daughters, she grew up alongside her younger sisters, Lorraine and Suzanne. Her parents, Otto and Elsie Franklin, worked hard to provide for their family — Otto as a dedicated railway worker and Elsie as a talented children’s wear sewer.
Caroline’s childhood was spent first in Marrickville, a bustling inner suburb of Sydney, before the family moved to Greenacre. She attended Bankstown Primary School and later completed her intermediate certificate at Bankstown Girls’ High School. From an early age, Caroline showed a creative streak and a warm, caring nature that would stay with her throughout her life.
Caroline met her future husband Douglas at age 16 (he was her boss) & married the love of her life, In 1959, at the age of 21, Douglas William Clarke, at Campsie. Doug worked for Coles and later for Woolworths as a buyer. Together, they built a life filled with love, laughter, and plenty of moving boxes — the couple relocated thirteen times before eventually settling at Jettys By The Lake in Windang, where they found their forever home.
Caroline and Doug raised two children: Ian Franklin Clarke, born in 1960, and Dianne Clarke, born in 1963. Caroline devoted herself to her family while also building a career in retail. Her natural eye for beauty and her love of home and garden inspired her to open her own shop with Dianne, where they sold homewares and plants — a perfect reflection of her creativity and nurturing spirit.
Sadly, Caroline’s beloved Doug passed away on the 28th of January, 2013, after a battle with melanoma. It started on his shoulder & was only the size of a match stick Caroline said, but upon completing a full body scan they found it also in his kidney, which he had removed. Unfortunately, it also spread to his brain & he passed away within the year of his initial diagnosis. His loss was deeply felt, but Caroline continued to honour his memory through family, friendship, and her many passions.
Today, Caroline is the proud grandmother of five grandchildren — Christal (her storyteller), Courtney, Troy, Mitchell, and Chanelle — and the great-grandmother of nine (soon to be ten!) great-grandchildren: Charlotte, Aiden, Peyton, Riley, Hudson, Louie, Meadow, Allison, and Carter, with another little one on the way.
Caroline’s hands have rarely been idle; she is known for her love of sewing, knitting, macramé, and gardening. Her creativity continues to thrive at Jettys By The Lake, where she leads the Girls Shed, bringing together women in her community to share laughter, stories, and crafts. With a glass of scotch in hand and a warm smile, Caroline remains the heart of her family and community — a woman whose kindness, resilience, and creativity have touched generations.
