Follow this tribute and get updates
User avatar
Anonymous
13 years ago

In 1937 I started as a student at Sydney Teacher’s College. So did Ted. We fell in love right then! He was boarding with Aunty Else (Alison Young) at Ashfield; I was a boarder at “Dunmore”, Marrickville. Wind of this romance blew in the direction of his protective big sisters and so I had to be ‘looked over’. Norma was training at “Norland” at the time. Jean must have been on holidays (she and Dale married on 1-1-1938). The 4 of us had tea somewhere in the city and I remember the occasion as being a lesson in the etiquette from two very ladylike people with dainty little fingers raised at the tea cup. I next met Norma at our wedding in 1943 by which time she was married to Bill. Our wedding was at Christ Church Cathedral, Newcastle. In one of our wedding photos, as we left the church, there she is in a large pale yellow felt hat. Bill was at Rathmines Air Base (Toronto). Norma and he had a flat nearby, hence their ability to get to our wedding. Our paths didn’t cross much at that time – wartime – except in 1943 after Helen’s birth, when she came to “Avona”. (I was living at “Avona” - Ted was in the army) Norma wanted so much to have a child of her own that she confessed that she cried every month when conception hadn’t taken place. Norma was thrilled to be Helen’s Godmother. She asked me to tell her about Helen’s birth. We confided in each other in the dining room with Grandma Nurse in the kitchen listening in. Grandma Nurse was outraged that I had given this information to Norma! Nice girls didn’t talk about these things. Came January 1948 and Norma at last had a baby! Oh joy, Oh rapture! She brought her most gorgeous baby in the whole universe to a family reunion somewhere between Parkes/Boorowa. Frank was lying in his crib looking very much like a miniature Bill. It was a great gathering. The Tom’s and the Ted’s were staying at “Avona” during the school vacation. The picnic was pretty disastrous because of the rain with all dashing from car to car to say ‘hello’. Catherine came into the world on the 17th November 1949 – a special birthday present for Norma! When Lyn was born in 1953 she was named Lynette RUTH – by special Norma request! My next close encounter with Norma was early January, 1954. Here was Norma’s sweetness and generosity at its fullest. We were moving from Eumungerie to Dapto – a major upheaval with 5 children, the youngest being Megan, then 9 months old. Norma and Bill lent us “Wandeen” as accommodation so Ted and John, aged 9, went on to Dapto to await our furniture and to set up our new home while I stayed at “Wandeen” with Helen, Catherine, Lyn and Megan. It was heaven – a lovely modern new home beautifully appointed and meticulously looked after by the ‘lady of the house’! Bill was obviously responsible for so much that made this house special. I have to mention the ‘pièce de resistance’ – a drawer in the kitchen with a large paper clip screwed in. This kept brown paper bags flat and tidy! Wow! Such innovative creativity! Norma’s joy knew no bounds when she was called to Sydney to get her new baby, Jeanne. Her arrival completed Norma’s family so beautifully. The Ted’s were a peripatetic bunch. Our chances to see each other were limited but some special times to share were Christmas times at “Avona”, Grandad’s funeral, the distribution of his estate at Parkes. Norma and Eva also hosted our 25th wedding anniversary – another opportunity to all get together. I remember that we were to be very surprised – tricky when we could see all the cars of family arrive across the paddocks. We spent happy times with Norma and Bill at Oaks Ave, Dee Why. Frank and Jan and their children then arrived back from England and we were delighted to be part of their lives too. Norma’s love of music was obvious in the early days of our meeting. I think it helped my chances with her darling “Teddy” that I could play the piano. I remember accompanying her in duet with Jean singing “Whispering Hope”. She was a pitch perfect natural harmoniser. Those genes are safely handed on to her family. You all know most of Norma’s story, far more than I – you have lived with her, loved and admired her. I am glad that she has been part of my life – so sweet, so caring, so loving, and always ready to laugh and cry with us. Vale, special gracious Lady.

User avatar
Megan Jeffress
13 years ago

User avatar
Megan Jeffress
13 years ago

In 1937 I started as a student at Sydney Teacher’s College. So did Ted. We fell in love right then! He was boarding with Aunty Else (Alison Young) at Ashfield; I was a boarder at “Dunmore”, Marrickville. Wind of this romance blew in the direction of his protective big sisters and so I had to be ‘looked over’. Norma was training at “Norland” at the time. Jean must have been on holidays (she and Dale married on 1-1-1938). The 4 of us had tea somewhere in the city and I remember the occasion as being a lesson in the etiquette from two very ladylike people with dainty little fingers raised at the tea cup. I next met Norma at our wedding in 1943 by which time she was married to Bill. Our wedding was at Christ Church Cathedral, Newcastle. In one of our wedding photos, as we left the church, there she is in a large pale yellow felt hat. Bill was at Rathmines Air Base (Toronto). Norma and he had a flat nearby, hence their ability to get to our wedding. Our paths didn’t cross much at that time – wartime – except in 1943 after Helen’s birth, when she came to “Avona”. (I was living at “Avona” - Ted was in the army) Norma wanted so much to have a child of her own that she confessed that she cried every month when conception hadn’t taken place. Norma was thrilled to be Helen’s Godmother. She asked me to tell her about Helen’s birth. We confided in each other in the dining room with Grandma Nurse in the kitchen listening in. Grandma Nurse was outraged that I had given this information to Norma! Nice girls didn’t talk about these things. Came January 1948 and Norma at last had a baby! Oh joy, Oh rapture! She brought her most gorgeous baby in the whole universe to a family reunion somewhere between Parkes/Boorowa. Frank was lying in his crib looking very much like a miniature Bill. It was a great gathering. The Tom’s and the Ted’s were staying at “Avona” during the school vacation. The picnic was pretty disastrous because of the rain with all dashing from car to car to say ‘hello’. Catherine came into the world on the 17th November 1949 – a special birthday present for Norma! When Lyn was born in 1953 she was named Lynette RUTH – by special Norma request! My next close encounter with Norma was early January, 1954. Here was Norma’s sweetness and generosity at its fullest. We were moving from Eumungerie to Dapto – a major upheaval with 5 children, the youngest being Megan, then 9 months old. Norma and Bill lent us “Wandeen” as accommodation so Ted and John, aged 9, went on to Dapto to await our furniture and to set up our new home while I stayed at “Wandeen” with Helen, Catherine, Lyn and Megan. It was heaven – a lovely modern new home beautifully appointed and meticulously looked after by the ‘lady of the house’! Bill was obviously responsible for so much that made this house special. I have to mention the ‘pièce de resistance’ – a drawer in the kitchen with a large paper clip screwed in. This kept brown paper bags flat and tidy! Wow! Such innovative creativity! Norma’s joy knew no bounds when she was called to Sydney to get her new baby, Jeanne. Her arrival completed Norma’s family so beautifully. The Ted’s were a peripatetic bunch. Our chances to see each other were limited but some special times to share were Christmas times at “Avona”, Grandad’s funeral, the distribution of his estate at Parkes. Norma and Eva also hosted our 25th wedding anniversary – another opportunity to all get together. I remember that we were to be very surprised – tricky when we could see all the cars of family arrive across the paddocks. We spent happy times with Norma and Bill at Oaks Ave, Dee Why. Frank and Jan and their children then arrived back from England and we were delighted to be part of their lives too. Norma’s love of music was obvious in the early days of our meeting. I think it helped my chances with her darling “Teddy” that I could play the piano. I remember accompanying her in duet with Jean singing “Whispering Hope”. She was a pitch perfect natural harmoniser. Those genes are safely handed on to her family. You all know most of Norma’s story, far more than I – you have lived with her, loved and admired her. I am glad that she has been part of my life – so sweet, so caring, so loving, and always ready to laugh and cry with us. Vale, special gracious Lady.

User avatar

User avatar
Anonymous
13 years ago

My Aunty Norma was always a special friend to me and my family. She was very special to her younger brother Gordon. A lady in every sense of the word. The 1980 photo shows the great family that she enjoyed and loved.

User avatar
Keith
13 years ago

My Aunty Norma was always a special friend to me and my family. She was very special to her younger brother Gordon. A lady in every sense of the word. The 1980 photo shows the great family that she enjoyed and loved.

User avatar
Helen
13 years ago

User avatar
Jill Armstrong
13 years ago

User avatar
Keith
13 years ago

What a great day. The 100th anniversary of Grandads (their father) birthday. 103 direct descendants turned up to celebrate and we had a great time!!

User avatar

×
We use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. We do this to improve browsing experience and to show (non-) personalized ads. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
Statistics
Marketing
Accept Deny Manage Save
Privacy Policy