Betty & Peggy

Today's Golden age portraits are of two beautiful sisters... Peggy is in the grey dress.. & Betty in the navy.

MARGARET (PEGGY) Jessie Stransky born 1936 & Betty Caroline Larman born 1940

Both born in Port Kembla NSW

The ladies had a half brother from their father's previous marriage, and another Brother named Bill.

Their Dad was a Steelworker at Port Kembla Steelworks

Childhood memories had the ladies reminiscing that they were rather poor but learnt to be very resourceful. Lived next door to Port Kembla Railway Station. Fishing and blackberrying and sourcing wooden fruit boxes from the back if the fruit shop for kindling wood. Also coal that the lookout guy on the last coal wagon used to push off for us from the top of the pile. Their Mum provided amazing meals on a meagre income and a coal fired fuel stove. Port Kembla in those days was an amazing playground for us all. We came from the generation that roamed all over the place and just had to be in before dark. Our playground was Port Kembla harbour and breakwater and the most beautiful beaches, sand hills and large salt water pool. Occasionally we were lucky and got a ride on the port tug. Imagine doing that these days! Toys? What were they? We improvised. An old fence paling became a cricket bat to us and a biscuit tin the wickets.. Our high light of the week was Saturday afternoon at the pictures and sometimes we had to find and return a soft drink bottle to get the entrance fee otherwise no movies for us.

We weren't allowed to have ambitions and had to leave school at fifteen. No tertiary education for any us. Mum wanted us out in the work force so we could start paying board. Betty says, she could then start going out to a dance in Wollongong on a Saturday night to. I really liked dancing.

Peggy's First job was a Stenographer at Port Kembla Stevedoring Co.

Peggy married in 1959, Betty married in London, England in September, 1968 to an Englisman. In 1969 we travelled to Australia and settled in western Sydney.

Both the ladies had 3 children each, & both sadly lost their firstborn children.. Both daughters..

The babies were taken away without them ever seeing them, they don't even know where they were buried.. this is how still birth was handled in those days. Just broke my heart to hear they both experienced that.

Peggy ended up a single parent & worked to support herself until age 67.

She now has 3 Grandchildren and 4 Great Grandchildren (No.5 on the way)

Peggy says she has travelled extensively

Belonged to the German Ladies Choir for 7 years

Made porcelain dolls and ceramics for 9 years

Very active in my community.

I enjoy writing family stories for a future Family History Book

I relocated to Nelson Bay at the end of 2018 to be nearer family

I am a member of U3A a nationwide network of learning groups aimed at encouraging older people to share their knowledge, skills, & interests. Peggy's skill is in her writing.

She loves spending time with Great Grandchildren

Betty's first job was as a filing clerk in Australian Iron and Steel office. She hated it and soon moved on to another job in an office in Wollongong.

Betty enjoyed Reading, mostly fiction based on history and stories of the Australian outback. I liked swimming and spent a lot of time at the beach and pool. I was hopeless at other sport. I enjoyed sewing and made a lot of my own clothes. I always wanted to live in the country as I love animals and got a job as a governess on a sheep station at Brewarrina for eighteen months. My favourite job was as a bookkeeper in a travel agent in Wollongong which gave me a lot of opportunities for cheap travel. After five years I left for the UK on a working holiday.

After raising her children Betty rejoined the work force when her eldest son was seven. She started off doing temporary work and eventually got a job at a family-owned Real Estate Agent as book keeper and finally retired when she was 70.

She still lives in the same house in western Sydney that we bought in 1970.

Peggy Hall

Todays Golden age portrait is extra special because Peggy doesn't allow anyone to take her photo. She was diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy at 4 years old . She told me, "I was at Newcastle beach and came out of the water with my face all dropped". At 5 years old she would go by bus to her appointments.. walk from her home to hunter street , go on the bus to the clinic new pacific street & then make the return trip by herself. Just unbelievable to imagine at that age.

She has struggled to see herself as beautiful due to the condition, so it's an honour she entrusted me with not only that, but to also tell her story.

Name – Peggy Mae Hall

Year – 03/07/1934

Place of born- Nabiac

I am a proud Biripi/ Minimbah Bundagry elder , representing our aboriginal community.

We spoke of her Aboriginal ancestry, & Peggy said growing up it was never spoken of or acknowledged. She said she has never felt prouder. & more accepted, than one of her recent gatherings when she was asked to stand up as an elder & represent her people by cutting the commemorative cake for the occasion.

Peggy has 2 Sisters, 1 brother. she was the eldest, I remember we all had nicknames (Aka pegleg) , Maurice (aka Monny) , Carol ( Always wanted to be named Caroline , when she had her daughter named -Caroline ) , Jocelyn AKA Jo.

Parents- Born to Lorna May Higgs and Leonard Pearson Higgs. When the war was on mum worked as tailoress, clothing factory sewing, during the war mum was a bus conductress collecting the fares . Father passed away at 36 years, due to a rare heart condition that could have been fixed with today’s treatment.

Important memories to me were being on the family farm. The things that we would need to do Maurice (10) and I (11) , we would plough the cultivation for vegetables for the animals , and do the milking. We would then go off to school, I remember getting the cane for being late .

One day Ma sent us around to the Kennedy’s farm , there was a peach tree in the bottom of the hills we went with a bucket , We couldn’t find it so sent one of the younger kids to ask where the peach tree was ,they told us where to locate the tree.

First job (So many jobs). My first job was Making baby slippers in Hamilton, followed by multiple jobs (then I went to a mixed business shop (grocery store at Stockton) Then after that my real work started. I went to a restaurant on the corner of Beaumont and Tudor street Hamilton, then the pallet in Newcastle worked for Mooks the Chinese restaurant opposite the pallet . the Victoria theatre.

Married Roy Peake at 17 and had 3 sons. We parted ways when I was 28 years old. I met Charlie Hall (42) when I was 30 years old, having 2 kids Kim and Garry . Sadly, Charlie passed away at 75 years old. I was a market gardener at Weston. then I worked at the kowah café in Maitland, the Ausie café in Maitland, Chinese restaurant in Lakemba, home help service Newcastle , manager with Sarah Coventry jewelry ) ,

I became a Chef- at Lingard hospital( 7 years ) , Wallsend RSL kitchen hand, professional dressmaker and designer , Retired from the workforce 58 years . 6 years later at the age of 63 when my husband Charlie passed away I went back to school and got my diploma for remedial massage therapist working in remedial massage for 10 years , with a practice at Wallsend , fortnightly at Denman , Tenambit remedial massage practice.

Peggy has 5 children, Raymond, Terry, Wayne, Kim , Garry .

When I started having kids and would be home, I was dressmaking , Lanes at Maitland first shop where you could order curtains made and I did the sewing

She now has 9 Grandkids -Simone, Ben , Sarah , Anthony, Carl, Angie, Rick ,Jake , Tayla

Great grandkids- Elwood, Flynn, Mikayla, Stella ,Evie, Larni, Maea , and grandbaby 8 due September 2023 (8 Great grandchildren)

Her hobbies are Driving, fishing and gardening. Cruises / travelling .

Have travelled many places including Singapore, Hong Kong , England , new guinea , Tonga ,Vanuatu, Samoa, Fiji , Noumea pacific islands , France, Papua new guinea, Tasmania , I only need to go from Darwin to Perth than I have travelled all of Australia.

Over her life she has lived in 34 places

Pat Mapperson

When I first captured Pat she was turning 100. She was simply amazing for a lady of so many years. She still made jokes, & was a very sassy Nan.. So I asked here back to pose in the greenhouse as she was turning 101. She was the first of my Golden age sessions completed in the Greenhouse & in the dresses & wings. When I found out Pat had a great, great grandson on the way, I asked her back to pose for me with 10 day old Finn.

I incorporated some of her meaningful items into the shoot. A blanket she made herself, a plate she had painted, a brooch her Grandmother had given her... even her birth certificate, as she still has the original! I felt so honoured to create this for her.

Patricia Mary Mapperson (née Pennicuik) was born 6 December 1922. She grew up on The Ridgeway, Holgate and rode a horse to school. As an only child, she left school at 14 years of age to help run the family poultry and citrus orchard farms. Pat reflects of this as a challenging time, as she has always had a love of learning. She spent her early years of married life on farms at Premer and Mudgee before retiring in Toukley in 1970.

Pat has spent much of her life volunteering her time and skill to local charities. She volunteered with organisations such as Meals on Wheels, local Nursing Homes and Camp Breakaway. Pat joined the Toukely Senior Citizens in 1978 managed the tours desk for over 10 years. Pat is currently a Life Member and Patron of the club. Pat continues to make ‘trauma teddies’ for the Red Cross as she has done since 1988 and currently manages her village library.

In 2004 (at age 81), Pat was involved in a light plane accident which left her with a shattered ankle bone and tibia, broken ribs and vertebrae and caused her to be placed in a medically induced coma and spend months in John Hunter and Royal Newcastle hospitals. The accident left her with severe and permanent mobility issues. Hospital staff prepared Pat’s family for the worst, given her age and severity of injury. Her family knew her strength and resilience, knowing Pat would make a recovery. On being notified of the extent of her injuries and implications for her mobility, Pat stated that she would be fine so long as she had use of her hands.

Pat is one of many creative talents, including knitting, crocheting, china painting, leather work, quilling and ballroom dancing. For much of her later adult life, Pat was a cake decorator making many hundreds of wedding and special event cakes. Pat was a keen baker, and has passed these recipes and skills on to the generations that followed.

Pat moved to Nareen Gardens Village in 2007 where she still resides independently. Pat is known for her love of family, friends and selfless spirit. She is looking forward to celebrating her upcoming 100th birthday in December.

Patricia Tozer

Todays Golden Age portrait is of the beautiful Pat. Pat's daughter is a friend of mine, & I have watched her struggle with not only the recent loss of her Dad, but also watching her Mum decline due to Dementia.

I asked her to bring Pat along, & even though she was worried Pat might not react well to the shoot, she was such a darling, & said she was so surprised, & just loved it.

Patricia Flora Tozer

Born 1944

Born in Cooma

Has one sister - Beverley

Pat's dad was a grazier and her mum was a stay at home mum who raised the two girls on the property, her mum never drove.

There was always plenty of jobs on the farm, milking cows, looking after the sheep and cattle.

Coonerang the family farm was purchased in 1902. It was bought as relief country due to the great drought. They rode pushbikes in suits and top hats from Hay, to the Monaro region.

When Pat's dad died in 1968 probate was in ( when the government takes control of the land & possessions) and everyone thought they would lose the farm, but with Pat, her Husband and Pat's sister and lots of help and hard work, they managed to pay the probate out after several years.

Mum got married on the 20th March, 1965 to Bruce Tozer, they had 4 children 2 girls and 2 boys. The oldest boy worked on the farm with Dad and was tragically killed in Sept. 2007 by a falling tree.

Pat never stopped working on the farm and if she didn't have dementia she would still be doing it.

She also cleaned for a motel in Cooma and cleaned peoples houses for spare money. Pat trapped foxes to pay for the iron on the roof of the family home, she would walk several kilometres each morning checking her traps with her faithful fox dog Joe.

Pat also loved sewing she made several bridesmaid dresses and heaps of clothes for the family. She also enjoyed playing tennis, Bruce put a court in on the farm. Pat had many trips overseas to places like New Zealand, England, Canada, France, Alaska and Japan.

Bruce sadly died in November, 2022, they have 8 grandkids and 1 great grandchild.

Pat struggles these days with dementia, a very cruel thing for her family to watch. She spends her time living between Cooma & Cooranbong under the care of her family.

Noleen

Today's Golden age portrait is of beautiful Noleen.

Noleen had so many amazing photos from over the years. She said she enjoyed posing for photos back in the day, & today she asked to wear the wings for some of her pics as she thought they looked beautiful in the photos she had seen.

Noleen has a wristwatch collection of 120 pieces! she said she wasn't sure which one to wear today..

In one of the images I took from her album, she has a piece of singer Johnny Ray's suit. Apparently teen girls tore it from him when he arrived in Sydney.. & Noleen sent away her sixpence to get a piece of it.

This is her story..

I am turning 90 on 15th September.

I was born in 1933 and I grew up on a dairy farm in Salt Ash, Newcastle.

I was the eldest in the family and I have 2 brothers and 1 sister.

I attended primary school at Salt Ash public school, then when I turned 12 I attended Wickham Home Science School. I left school when I was 15 to help my father on the dairy farm until my brother who was seven years younger than me left school to take over. By this time I was 22 years old and between some of that time I worked at the local shop at Salt Ash.

After I turned 22, I got a job at the Williamtown RAAF base where I was to meet my husband to be and I was married at 23 on 9th March 1957 at the Methodist church at Williamtown.

At 24 years old I had my first baby and went on to have seven children, 4 sons and 3 daughters.

I also have 20 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.

It was good growing up in the 1950’s. On a Saturday night, all the local young ones used to go to the movies at the Savoy Theatre at Stockton.

Before we went to the movies we used to hang out at Seagulls Cafe which was down near the ferry wharf at Stockton. The boys would all turn up on their motorbikes and hang out. It was very different back then as you weren’t allowed to drink until you turned 21 and very few young people smoked.

They had a jukebox at the cafe and I remember playing Johnny Ray singing “Cry” and Frankie Lane also.

At interval time at the movies, we would buy something from the milk bar next to the theatre.

You could buy a small packet of salted peanuts for sixpence, which is 5 cents these days and a Cadbury’s chocolate for 4 shillings, which is 40 cents today.

You used to be able to buy a packet of potato chips with no added salt and when you opened the packet there was a small bag of salt in there and you had to sprinkle the salt on yourself, I think they cost about 1 shilling, which was 10 cents.

I also remember when World War 2 ended. I was in 6th class and I was 12 years old.

I remember how things were rationed, like clothing and food etc.

We were very fortunate as we lived off the land as we could grow our own food and my mother sewed our clothes.

When we had droughts we had to go easy on the tank water. We all had a bath once a week, which was a Saturday night before you went out somewhere. There was no showers back then.

On weekdays we had a wash in a dish of water.

Today, people think we had hard times back then, but we didn’t think so at the time, everyone was happy, the days seemed longer and there was plenty of time.

Today, we hardly have time to do what we want, time is going so fast and I cannot believe that I am turning 90 very soon. I just don’t know where the time has gone.

I think most people who are around my age today would think back to the past and call them, “The Good Old Days”

Merle Hatton

Today's Golden age portrait is of the lovely Merle, who turns 88 this year.

My name is Merle Hatton and I was born in a country town called York in Western Australia, I was one of eleven children, 6 sisters & 4 brothers. I have 1 younger sister & 1 younger brother remaining in Western Australia. Life was always full of fun and get togethers ,

I met the love of my life at 16 & we married at 19 years of age. We had 5 children, the first a little girl was still born & went on to have 3 girls and a boy. My eldest daughter passed away 4 years ago & my husband passed away 8 months later so it was a very sad year. We were married almost 65 yrs , that left me feeling very lost but my other children are close by and very good to me. In 1966 we moved from the west to Cooranbong where my husband studied Theology and became a Seventh Day Adventist Minister, we then have been posted to various destinations including New Zealand, Sydney, Tasmania, & Victoria.

We retired back in Cooranbong, Life has certainly never been dull, we lived in 32 homes during our time so we learnt to be flexible . We have made so many beautiful life long friends along the way and met and help so many people, I wouldn't change it for the world. I am blessed to live in a community in my retirement village where there are always friends around watching out for one another. I feel blessed.

During her working career Merle worked in the health food store industry.

She has 9 Grandchildren, & 4 Great Grandchildren.

Marlene

his Golden age portrait is Marlene, & she is the founder of the ROVING RUBIES RED HAT SOCIETY OF THE CENTRAL COAST NSW AUSTRALIA which has been in operation for 19 years.

The group was founded to help ladies over 50 years old find friends & have social outings. Marlene found many ladies lost their Husbands, or moved to areas where they didn't know anyone. & then lost their own identity & didn't know how to carry on living life to the full.

Marlene is 81 & born on father's day in 1941 in Launceston Tasmania. Her Father told her it was the best present ever.

As a child she enjoyed visiting her grandmothers farm and attending dances. Her parents were wonderful Ballroom dancers.

Her father worked a steam train driver, while her Mum stayed home to raise Marlene & her two brothers.

She made her way to Adelaide, & worked as a stenographer for a time.

She recalls getting around on a Vespa Scooter.

Marlene married at 22 & had two children..although she did it tough as a single Mum, raising the children without any assistance from 5 years old.

Marlene opened her own clothing store called Tanya Lee fashions, which was aided by the owner of a fashion shop in Pendle Hills giving her his endorsement, & contacts when he retired. Marlene is forever grateful for that opportunity.

Marlene said... I have worked all my life, only retired at 78 when covid hit. Did miss the people contact and helping them make decisions on the right outfit.

When I moved to the Central coast, used to travel to Beecroft a few days a week and do the Christmas sales for a friend in her little gift shop.

After 36 years in the rag trade, first with my own business Tanya Lee Fashions, then an absolute eye opener for Hartnells at Bankstown, learnt about the muslim code of dress. Left to help a lady open up a recycled designer business - called Second Chance at Drummoyne, which was so much fun, people bringing garments that had only worn once.

Marlene lived in Winston Hills for 40 years & has now moved to Kincumber.

Marlene says, she would be lost without the Roving Rubies, there is such a mixture of personality ranging from Edna at 99 to Adrienne at 60 and have 84 members at the moment with more looking to join in the fun.

Marlene sent me an image of her winning the best hat prize at Randwick races. Gai Waterhouse got quite the shock when Marlene told her it was made out of a bra!

Margaret

Today's Golden Age portrait is of Margaret, who was born in August 1933 so turns 90 next month!

When she was a baby she was sent to live with her Father's parents in Narrabri. They lived in an area called the Brickyards. Margaret has no idea why she was sent away.. & was never told the reason.

At age 6 her Grandmother who had raised her, decided she needed to attend school. So she was reintroduced into her biological family at Newcastle.. she was then one of 7 children.

Margaret remembers her Grandmother pointing out 3 girls walking past & said, they are your sisters. Margaret then was thrust back into family life, having to sleep alongside siblings who were then strangers to her.

Margaret attended Cardiff catholic school, & later Cooks Hill High school.

Margaret's Father Went to war in 1941 & returned in 1945. He had a heart attack upon his return & could only do odd jobs. So she was required to leave school at 15 to start work to help the family financially.

Her first job was at the Lamp works assembling lamps.

Margaret was in a dance troupe which provided entertainment as well as entered competitions.

She recalled her act with a magician where she was stuffed into a box, which appeared empty. Then she would jump out of the box with streamers & balloons as part of the act.

Margaret met Keith when his family moved to Cardiff. They dated for about 6 years before marrying when she was 21. She loved to attend the Cardiff picture theatre on a Saturday night, & fishing at Redhead beach.

Keith had a motorbike with a sidecar which was their mode of transport.. Margaret went to hospital while in labour with her son riding in the sidecar.

Margaret went on to have two children Ian & Kim. She was sadly widowed 35 years ago when Keith died at age 61.

Margaret lived in the same home that they built all those years.. moving into a retirement home 18 years ago.

She has a very active social life, bus trips, & lunches out.

She does miss the sense of community these days. Even just a simple Good Morning, is often lost on those she passes in her daily travels.

Margaret has 5 Grandchildren, & five great grandchildren. with one more on the way.

Lyndon & Olive

For years I have watched this beautiful couple in our local town of Cooranbong.. They are always together, holding hands, riding on a two person mobility scooter, or walking together. They are always wearing matching clothes & accessories, & I think they are just the most adorable couple ever. They are still so in love, & spent the whole shoot praising each other. They had Olives original head piece from their wedding, and Lyndon’s bow tie.

Lyndon and Ollie were both singers with amazing voices. Unfortunately a routine removal of a polyp on his voice chord in 1984 with an unskilled surgeon, left him permanently damaged. He now struggles to talk and gets very exhausted from it.

LYNDON - Born near Temora in the Riverina NSW 1932 during the Great Depression. Grew up on the farm with parents. His father built the house out of local timber. Lyndon had 4 other siblings. He was in the middle of two older girls, one younger brother and a younger sister. (All deceased except for my youngest sister) Attended a little country school during the war and looked forward to the trainee pilots in the Tiger Moths who would fly over our school and throw down little parachutes with lollies attached! (Temora had a training airport during the war)

I went to Avondale College in 1951 where I met the girl of my dreams and instantly fell in love. (Never recovered ever since). Worked at many occupations, included having my own business but eventually received a call into ministry and spent the rest of my life as a clergyman serving in Australian and New Zealand.

OLIVE - (usually called Ollie) Born in 1935 near Bendigo and grew up in Warburton and Melbourne. Privileged to attend a church school at

Hawthorn in Melbourne. Moved to Cooranbong about age 12 and attended High School at Avondale. Her parents had a less than happy separation prior to the move, & her Father took Her, & 3 year old brother with him. Olive was expected to raise her brother. She left school at age 15 to help her father with additional income. Worked in the Sanitarium Health Food Factory where she met Lyndon. Also badly bitten by the Love Bug and married at age 18 in 1953 (October 20) Which will make us husband and wife for the last seventy years!

FAMILY - Three sons; Alvin, Darrel and Glen. Alvin a clergyman; Darrel a manager in the Asia-Pacific for a big American firm. Glen is a specialist nurse in charge of an ICU on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland.

We have nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Our sport (now retired) - Marathon running.

Ollie - 10 marathons; Lyndon - 19 marathons.

Ollie won the age-division Marathon championship in New Zealand in 1984

Hobbies - Photography - Both have won awards. Both are avid readers. Lyndon has written three books. One – An Autobiography; Two - Marvels and Mysteries of the World of Nature (Illustrated) Three – a book of poetry.

Ollie – a fantastic cook and a fabulous wife!

Kathleen Tarleton

Kathleen Theresa Bridget Tarleton (also known in Ireland to her family as Dolly) who is 89.

She was taken from her school in the war when she was 5yrs old (had only just turned 5 when it happened) and put on a bus and taken to the country to live with strangers. She didn't see her parents again for many years. They got re-connected again when she was 11yrs old and returned to England.

She met her Husband, Edgar Tarleton, who was an orphan, when she was 16, they met a community centre where young adults could go after school and do activities. They got engaged 6 months later and Edgar wanted to join the Australian Army as they were advertising, they needed people. Edgar got accepted and gave Kathleen the money to hop on the boat and meet him in Australia. She was a 10 pound pom and got on the boat at 16 to come over and meet him, just hoping he would be waiting for her at the other end. Thankfully he was and he had to find her a sponsor, a family to temporarily be responsible for her as she was under age.

They got married and had 3 children, All of her family was in England and Ireland so she had to make it on her own here. She mostly had to raise the children alone as Edgar was serving in the army and served in the Korean and Vietnam wars as well as a few others. She raised the children without much money, she would make the children's underwear out of Pop's old singlets, she made all their clothes, they just had to make do with what they had.

Edgar died when Kathleen was only 60, so she has had to surround herself with family and friends for the past 29 years without him. She is truly incredible, always the life of the party, always positive and outgoing and always there for her family, she especially loves cheering her great grandchildren on at their sporting events.

Kathy still plays tennis twice a week at 89 and cards with her friends every week. She has 8 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.

Lea Holtkamp

Lea Holtkamp born Enschede, Netherlands 1933.

Lived through WW2, she was 5 when the war started & she lived 5 klm from the border of Germany. Her house was bombed 4 times! Sometimes from their own allies as they mixed up where the border ended.

The worst bombing was when Lea was 10 years old on the 10th October 1943. She said it was only herself & her sister home at the time. They heard the sirens outside, & her sister went out to take a look. They could hear the bombs coming towards them. Lea ran & laid in the hallway as there was no time to be to their cellar. The next thing Lea remembers is her sister being thrown on top of her from the force of the bomb hitting their home. It blew out all the windows, & the ceilings collapsed.

Her parents returned to the home absolutely distraught as they didn't know if their daughters had survived.

They missed a year of school as the Germans claimed it as a base. Their teachers would try to arrange meetups to give them school work. Lea said the Jewish had to wear a yellow star on them, & that she wore a shoelace and tag around her neck with her personal details.

Each house had papers hanging from the door with a list of the occupants in case it was bombed & they were trying to to recover the injured/ dead.

Met her Husband when she was about 18. He was from the same town, only child. He wanted to immigrate to New Zealand. Lea's parents allowed her to join him on the condition she married him there on arrival. She flew by herself at 19 years old, taking a week due to how often the plane needed to stop to refuel. to get to New Zealand.

Their first child Brigitte was born in Christchurch. They decided to move back to Enschede. Gwendolyn was born there 3 years later. Lea's marriage to Ferdie ended in 1960 & Ferdie remarried.

Within a year this marriage failed, & Ferdie convinced Lea to take him back. So they remarried in 1963.

Their daughter Gwen developed psoriasis and it was deemed that sun and salt water best treatment. So back to New Zealand they went.

They ended up moving to the North island. Ferdie became a pilot. He was never satisfied with where he was, so soon he convinced Lea to travel via Netherlands to Nigeria to work there for several years. Lea told me she moved 27 times to try & keep up with Ferdie.

In 1965 Lea was in a car accident which left her face damaged & needing 30 stitches.

Lea worked in Nigeria during their time there. Working for the Belgian embassy. From here they moved to Australia as Gwen had married and settled there. The marriage to Ferdie broke up again but Lea stayed in Budgewoi.

She worked in Sydney at AMP and happily settled into life here in Australia.

Lea did meet a lovely man called Doug in 1995 who she spent many years with before he passed away in 2008.

They had settled in Jilliby during his final years.

Lea is still quite active & plays competition golf.

Dawn

I saw a post on our local Cooranbong community page, about a local lady who turned 97 years old in June, & asked if I could capture her, & learn a little about her life story.

Dawn is simply amazing for her age.. she could still recount all of her childhood memories, from the happy, to those that almost broke her. A child moved from home to home, during a time in Australia where life was very harsh for many. Dawn was abused, and not given the same treatment, or opportunity as those she grew up with.

Her strength, & resilience to continue on, no matter how dire her situation seemed, is a true testament to the incredible woman she is.

Dawn is mother to 9 children…

She is a talented artist, the pictures in her images are all watercolours she has created. She also had a great musical talent. The framed image of her was taken in 1955 when she auditioned for 3KZ radio in Melbourne. The jackets in the images, she knitted herself.

Dawn has also written a book about her life called "Sis, Look After My Bible".

Her faith is something that has helped her get through her darkest times, so I also included her well worn bible in the images. The mouse, a gift from her son Bruce, who now has her live with him so he can care for her.

Thank you Dawn, for allowing me into your home, & trusting me to capture you. So much is lost, when we lose our older generation.

I am glad to play a small role in making them feel valued.

Jeanette

Today's golden age portrait is of the beautiful Jeanette age 94

She was absolutely thrilled with wearing the dress I had for her.

Jean was Born 29.3.1929 at Queen Victoria private Hospital Annandale

She was the first born to Lygia and Albert Hunter followed by a sister and Brother

Her Mum was a Seamstress and Her Dad was an Apprentice Jockey who rode for many Trainers mostly out of Randwick Racetrack.

The Family lived in Kensington Sydney, close to the Racetrack

As the children grew older her Dad had the opportunity to Ride overseas in India also Java (Indonesia) so all the family moved from Australia to These countries where her Dad rode, Eventually it took a toll on her Mum so her parents Separated and her mum came home to Australia. Jeanette was around 14 at this time

Her first Job at 15 was at Park Davis in Rosebery where they packaged Medication for the Pharmacy’s

She then lost 1/2 her Index Finger in one of the machines and had to learn a new way of life to accommodate losing part of her finger.

Her next Job was behind the Bar in the Hotel at Circular Key in Sydney as a Barmaid which was the name in those days,

She Married George Grace when she was 21 and they had a Daughter Robyn they then separated when Robyn was 4, she then married Stan Tuck at the age of 25 and They then had 2 Children First Debbie then Wayne

Jean continued to work in Hotels with the opportunity to manage Hotels with Stan.

When Jeanette and Stan retired they moved to The Central coast and resided at Long Jetty for 20 years

Stan Passed away in 2004 aged 80 Jeanette sold her Long Jetty home and moved next door to her Daughter Debra

Her eldest Daughter Robyn passed 10 Yrs Ago

Two years ago Jeanette moved to Kempsey to an Aged care Facility to be closer to her son.

On 14th March this year on her 94th birthday she came back to The Central Coast and Is now residing at Killarney Court Aged Care Facility where here Daughter Debra Works.

Jean loves living there

Jeanette has 3 Children 8 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren and 4 great, great, grandchildren

John & Mary

John & Mary have been married for 67 years.

John was born in November 1934, in Fullham England.

He had one sister. He used to walk to school in the snow in shorts, as long pants were a luxury item that most couldn't afford. He was almost 5 when the war broke out, he remembers the sky being black with bombers going over. Many streets close by to him were evacuated, but his family was able to stay.

He left school at age 15 & worked in a bakery, but at age 16 he joined the Merchant Navy.

It took him to many places including Australia & New Zealand. After 3.5 years in the Navy he snuck himself into Australia as an illegal immigrant.. ( he tells me he has the papers to call him a citizen now)

He became a Customs Preventative Officer searching vessels in Newcastle.

He took early Retirment at 60, then had a heart attack! he needed a 5 way bypass.

Mary was born in Mayfield Newcastle in 1936.

She had one brother.

She grew up on a dairy farm, & said she hated it..

She left school at age 15, her first job was at Reg A Bakers, a sports store working in the office.

A handsome gentleman asked her to dance one night at a local dance.. she was 18.

After marrying John in Tarro NSW they went on to have 3 daughters together. The first arriving 10 months after they were married.

After her first daughter was born, Mary was in a car accident & broke her pelvis. She was in hospital for 5 weeks. The doctor told her she would be unable to have any more children, however she went on to have two more just to prove him wrong.

Mary took up a job at Steggles chickens injecting the butter into the birds as part of their processing. She could process 12 birds a minute, but has the permanent reminder of this work as her fingers became very twisted as a consequence.

She also worked at Hunter Valley Private hospital in the laundry & kitchen.

They have 8 grandchildren, & 17 Great grandchildren.

Jeanette

Todays Golden age portrait has an especially sad, but beautiful story.. Jeanette's lovely daughter Kristen messaged to ask if I would capture her Mum, before her condition deteriorates further.

Jeanette had an amazing morning with me dressing her up, & capturing these portraits. Kristen said her Mum was on cloud nine afterwards, & literally dancing through the hallways on the way back to her care facility.

Jeanette, now aged 72, was born and raised in Coolah, a small country town in regional NSW. She is the eldest of five.

She enjoyed her time at the local school where she was both academic and athletic. She was a fast and promising hurdler and she spent her free time as a scout leader.

She met and married a local country boy. In early 70’s they bought their first house in the Coolah township and started a family welcoming two boys.

The family moved to Newcastle before they had a daughter in the early 80’s. The built their dream home and lived in it until Jeanette’s husband died in 2020.

Jeanette loved Motherhood, and she excelled at it. Her children were her whole world. Her parenting was patient, selfless, kind and gentle. Her adoration of her seven grandchild knew no bounds.

Five years ago Jeanette was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Apathy was the first red flag that something significant was changing for Jeanette. Long-standing family traditions became forgotten. Confusion crept in. Recent memories always lost. Her nature changed and she became a different version of herself. Children’s names are muddled. Grandchildren are becoming strangers. Regardless, her family love her endlessly and will always remember her as she was - a wonderful Mother.

Irene

Today I had the honour of capturing the incredible Irene, who is 104 years old!!!

Irene's sight may be failing her, & her hearing is not what it used to be.. but she is as mentally sharp as ever, & was able to recount her life story to me while I took the photos. She also could move exceptionally well, using only a walker.

Irene was born in Kyogle in 1918, her father was a farmer, who was called up to serve in the war.

She loved her time as a child growing up there with her brother.

The photo she held in the images was taken when she was 18 & starting her training as a Nurse at Royal North Shore. Her Mother is in the centre of the image, & her Brother who was 17 situated on the right.

Irene told me that her brother enlisted to fight in the war also, & lied about his age..

After only 10 days of training in Dubbo was due to be put on a boat to sail out to fight. Her Father went & dragged him off the boat & told them his real age, forcing him to come home.. Irene said that same boat got hit by a torpedo & he would have been killed if her father hadn't retrieved him.

Irene married at 25 years, I commented to her that most the ladies I spoke to, seemed to get married at around 19.. She said, she was working & didn't have time for any of that..

She had three children two sons & a daughter. Sadly she lost her eldest son some years ago.

She said they raised the children in Sydney, & lived in a 2 storey house. Irene said she stayed very fit as there was 60 steps up to the house from the road. She would need to bring the pram down the steps first, then go back up & retrieve the baby, then back up to get the other children.

After the children arrived, Irene worked for a chemical plant, that produced products like round up, called Monsanto. She said she had 400 employees to watch over, & only 9 of which were women. I asked if she had any troubles with managing so many men.. but she said they were all very respectful to her.

The paintings in the images are all Irene's art works she created. I asked if they were somewhere she lived etc, but she said she just made the scenes up in her mind then painted them.

Jan Wade

I was due to photograph Jan as part of my Golden age project last year, but she had some bad luck health wise, as did I, so it never really worked out for us timing wise.

Thankfully the universe gave us our chance today, & wow I am so glad I got to capture her.

Jan is 82 years old, & her horse Amigo in his twenties. They have been together for 17 years.

Jan grew up in Sydney's eastern suburbs. She left school at 14to become a "copy girl" at Sydney Morning Herald. At 16 she was given as art cadetship which changed her life. It meant she was able to attend East Sydney art college & immerse herself in the wonderful bohemian life.

In 1966 she set off to explore Europe for 3 magical years. The highlight being a trip through Turkey, Iran, Pakistan & best of all India.

Returning home to Australia, she worked in advertising, then finally publishing. Jan had several books published.

In 1970 she met her Husband & had one precious little girl.

They travelled abroad together, she said they were gypsies at heart.

During this time Jan discovered her love of horses, and long distance riding.

She managed to achieve 3 of the iconic 400klm Shahzada & 3 Tom Quilty rides. Seh holds a trophy for completing 10,000klm of marathon rides.

After a marriage breakup Jan met her prince charming, they have been together for 22 years.

They were living in Old Bar NSW on a magnificent property when the 2019 fires devastated the region. Jan's art studio was burnt to the ground, & in it all of her illustrations, painting, & books.. her life's work... all gone.

In addition to that they lost cattle &one of her horses.

The only copies of her books she has now, are those she managed to find that others owned. She has been trying to look into getting them reprinted, but it's been difficult for her to find something to suit.

Jan still tries to ride her beloved Amigo once a week, & still trail rides.

Jan has 3 beautiful grandchildren, and now resides in Cooranbong.

Heather

Today's Golden Age portrait is of the gorgeous Heather. Her family put a lot of time & effort into sending me such a comprehensive story to share. So this is a long post.. but definitely worth the read, to see what life was like for her. To relive these memories to share with us all, was quite emotional for Heather. I am so grateful she entrusted me with her story.

Heather was born November 1937. Turning 86 this year.

She was born in The Woman’s Hospital, Sydney to Heather Gibbins née Munro and Ross Codrington Gibbins.

She was the second child, Ross her brother being the eldest.

She was born during the WW2 offensive with Australia getting involved in 1939.

Twin sisters arrived when Heather was 3 - 1940.

Her earliest memory is of her mother picking up her little sister and running into the street screaming for help.

Her sister had a locked jaw and her mum was frantic.

Her sister had tetanus and she was one of the first saved by penicillin. It was a miracle she survived.

Heather remembers going to the hospital and red flags lining the corridor which meant she had to be very, very quiet.

She has no idea how her mother was able to provide food and clothing and shoes but knows her mother worked hard when she could find work to provide for the family. When available they were entitled to coupons.

She has no idea where her father was but he was around, coming and going.

Australia was in depression during her childhood and she remembers one Christmas when she woke and went into the kitchen and there were some dolls sitting on a chair. She didn’t dare touch them. Her mum said, don’t you want your dolls?

She couldn’t believe they were hers, she had never had a doll before and she was so excited. Her mother had hand stitched them and hand stitched clothes for them with embroidery.

Hawkers, men with horse drawn carts would walk around the lanes behind the houses calling out Clothes Props. These were bought by families to hold lines for laundry. Other families made ends meet by selling home grown vegetables.

She remembers visiting her nanna in Kiama. They used to travel by steam train and they loved putting their heads out the window but had to be careful of the soot and sparks. In the train cubicle there was a water bottle suspended in a frame with one glass and everyone drank from the one glass.

Her mother made her clothing from tea towels and she had one pretty dress that had been made from a parachute (silk) and her mum had embroidered on it for her. Her mother was a beautiful seamstress. Everything done by hand.

The family moved to Coogee and at that time there were large coils of barbed wire all along the beach to slow down an impending invasion. Her mother grew more concerned about invasion and took the kids to Brewarrina. They packed up the furniture and then caught a train. She has no idea how her mother afforded the train fares.

The family lived in a big old weatherboard house with land that went down to the river.

One night she heard a great thundering sound, she had no idea what is was. She was in the kitchen and looked out the window and all these horses thundered by. It was very loud and she couldn’t believe what she was seeing. She had never seen a horse in real life before galloping hard let alone many horses thundering past the kitchen window.

The man who owned the horses was resting them on the land with access to the river for water.

Clothes were washed in coppers in the yard using wood to heat and boil the clothes.

When they left Brewarrina to go back to Sydney they settled in Stanmore.

Her mum was a smoker and she remembers going around gutters locally finding cigarette stubs for her mother. She thought she had done a great job collecting stubs but her mother was mortified and she got into trouble for that and never did it again.

The Stanmore house had little furniture. They all had beds and coverings and there was a table and chairs but nothing else furniture wise.

They lived there till her mum had enough Key Money to get a place in Petersham.

One bedroom, one living room an add on kitchen with no cupboards.

It had an ice chest and she remembers the ice man coming with a block of ice on his shoulder and dropping it into the chest.

Cooking, personal washing and laundry was all done in the same room.

Bathing was once a week, all using the same bath water after lighting the wood chip heater. Her hair was long and thick all the way to her bottom and it took nearly two days to dry after being washed with sunlight soap.

Her brother slept in the living room, the three sisters slept in the attic. There were no wardrobes for clothing. But they had a radiogram and listened to the wireless.

Heather worked hard at school to get results to attend Home Science High School. It was a real ‘feather in her cap’. She learnt typing, cooking, how to make a bed, follow recipes, iron, sew, embroider and darn.

She loved the uniform which included a velour hat, gloves and Lyle stockings. For three years she wore the same pair of Lyle stockings. Darning and redarning the ladders. She was desperate for a new pair but her mother couldn’t afford them.

The school went swimming at a local pool and she remembers hiding till all the other girls were changed and out of the room because she was so embarrassed about her underclothes.

Swimming was a pastime done very frequently because it was free. They had nothing except their towels.

To have fun the sisters would ring Peters Ice Cream from a pay phone and order an ice cream cake. They thought this was very funny.

Heather attended night classes at Burrows College, Williams Street, Sydney studying to become a Comptometrist.

Her first job at 16 years was at Bonds Industries, Camperdown.

She was a comptometrist. This factory made hosiery and underwear which is ironic as she had worn the same pair of stockings to school for three years.

She met Gerard Worrad and married him at St Bridgid’s Church, Brook Street, Coogee on Saturday 6th December, 1958 at 10am with a reception held at The Celebrity Room in the Coogee Bay Hotel.

Heather and Gerard travelled to London seperately in 1960. Gerard with his brother in law Pal flew and Heather travelled by ship with her sister Judy.

Gerard had a job with Columbus Dixon in London.

Their first child Dale Ellen was born in Middlesex, London. It was a time when woman were taken away for birthing. No family or support from their husband. It was a frightening and very sterile experience.

Heather, Gerard and Dale departed England in February 1962 for South Africa. They flew London to Rome, Rome to Johannesburg, Johannesburg to Capetown.

Gerard worked in South Africa for a few years and Heather was caring for Dale with the support of a local woman who was known as Maid Miriam.

They left South Africa for Australia when Dale was three. Gerard flew and Heather again followed by ship with a young toddler on her own on The Northern Star.

They resettled in Clovelly.

Grant Gerard was born 1964.

Fiona Heather was born 1967.

Gerard died 1976.

Grant died 2018.

Heather has 4 grandchildren Nicholas, Christopher, Samuel and Oliver.

One great grandson Cove Nicholas, with two more grandchildren due this year, one in July and one in August.

George

Today I captured a Golden Age session for George & his beloved Tobie.

Born 17th February 1945 in the British sector of East Berlin, Jerzy Baczocha ( renamed George by his Australian teachers in later years) was born.

George is Polish but was born into very tough times where fleeing from war was the only life he knew.

George was an only child, his father was a soldier, who was captured in Dunkirk and kept as a prisoner of war for 3 years.

After the war their family had nothing. A change of clothes was all George recalls that he had. He doesn't even have a birth certificate, so is relying on the information that his Mother told officials at the time, as the only formal record of his birth date. The land they had owned in the Ukraine was claimed by the government without compensation.

The family was sent to a refuge holding camp near Naples for 6 months, while they awaited the documentation to be sent to either Canada, USA or Australia.

They spent two months travelling to Australia by boat, The USNS General w.c. Langfitt. George was roughly 6 years old. They were sent to a military camp in Bonegilla Victoria.

Georges father got a job in a Vineyard, & he attended Lyndoch primary school, & went to high school in Nuriootpa.

He left school at age 18 and started working for Phillips Electrical in sales & spare parts.

At age 20 he was conscripted; recruit training was at Puckapunyal and on completion was posted to B squadron, 2 Cavalry Regiment at Wacol an military camp south of Ipswich Qld.

He completed two years of national service & 6 years as a reserve in the Barossa Valley.

The army put George through university, & he completed a degree in Electronic engineering, & majored in communications.

He was married in the eighties, but with being away so much the relationship ended. He had one Son, who sadly passed away in recent times ages in his 50's.

George was sent overseas to report back on the Soviet Union, he reported on their energy infrastructure, where they sourced things such as a coal, communications.

In 1991 he was sitting at the Forum Hotel at the bank of the Danube river & saw a Yugoslavian gun boat on the river, which he noted as being an unusual sight as it was fully armed. The next day the war in Yugoslavia began.

George took on a job working for the ABC upon return to Australia, he was now based in Sydney & was in charge of ABC Technical Services.

George took on a job working for the ABC upon return to Australia, he was now based in Cammeray & was in charge of transmissions.

It was here he met his long time partner Eliza, They both shared a love of horses, & took lessons at the same riding school. George was in his fifties when he started riding. They still live in Cammeray, but come to the Central coast each weekend to visit Tobie, & Eliza's horse Claire at his agistment property, where he is very well cared for.

This leads us the the second part of our story, George & his beautiful Toby who is 35 years old!

"I joined the Light Horse Association and took part in their activities which include a ride from Trundle through to Bathurst for their ANZAC dawn service and parade. After looking around for a

suitable horse I came across an ex race horse eventer called Sir Willow. His owner at the time renamed him Tobie. As she was getting married she put Tobie up for sale.

I purchased Tobie in 1998 and within 2 days of receiving him we departed for Canberra to take part in the 100th Centenary of the Boar War.

Remarkably we were able to raise almost a complete regiment of horse; some 360 mounted troopers. Over five days we participated in a mounted skill at arms demonstrations at the Canberra

showgrounds followed by official government parades at the War Memorial and at Canberra Parliament House. A regiment of Horse in troop order riding down Northbourne avenue was one of

the most memorable experiences of my life.

The success of this event leads us to be included in the Reserve Forces day Parades and extra training from the NSW Mounted Police. Training was carried out at Malabar next to the rifle range.

Horses were then transported to the Randwick racecourse and we rode in formation along the bus lanes thought to the city centre to take part in the official parade through Sydney.

Tobie was also an eventer, much more capable then me. Over the years he help me become a competent horseman.

These days we normally go trail riding which he loves and often I let him decide where we go. He rarely is in a hurry to go home.

Some background on Tobie (Sir Willow); Born in Canada, 3rd September 1989. Mare Bay Willow (3rd

foal), Sire Bluebird (USA). Imported by Duffy Holdings SA.

Esme

What an absolute Queen Esme was for her portrait session.

Esme was born In Bristol England, 96 years ago!

Esme was raised in England, along with 4 sisters.

In 1948 she married her Husband Edward John Fairman.

Esme worked in a Post office until she had two of their children.

Ted & Esme decided to take their two children & move to Australia in 1954. They went on to have two more sons once settled.

Originally they settled in Doonside Blacktown, but later moved to Warnervale on the Central Coast around 1965 to live a life of farming.

Rob their son, recalled their original home as a child had a dirt floor as times were tough. Chicken farming saw them become one of the first suppliers to Inghams chickens.

Ted & Esme moved a couple more times, to Niagara Park, then Wyee, & finally to Watanobbi.

Ted sadly passed away, & Esme has still been living independently ever since..

She loves to knit, crochet, sew & loved to travel.

Her extended family consists of 4 children, 14 Grandchildren, & 35 Grandchildren.