From the Editor:
Our successful grants from the Bendigo Bank Community Enterprise Foundation Grant program and the Pyrenees Shire Community Grants program will enable us to repair the exterior walls of the Helen Harris Room and give them a fresh coat of paint. Work commenced on the project this week and we look forward to our new color scheme and revitalized building.
We are also investigating options to replace the front picket fence that is showing its age. Once we have an idea of cost we will investigate grant options and this will be our last project for some time as all deteriorating exterior features will have been addressed.
We will soon have a refreshed Court House site and it’s now time that we have a refreshed committee. The current (aging) committee needs a new band of VOLUNTEERS to learn the ropes and take on the operations of the historical society. ADHS has amassed a vast collection of photographs, newspapers, artefacts, historical records, etc and the current volunteers provide research assistance to many visitors during the year. It would be devastating if we had to close the Court House because there are no active members to continue the valuable research work and management of the records. The next few years will be vital for the organisation. Please consider how you might be able to assist and contact one of the committee members to tell us how you can help.
At our AGM last November the financial report was presented by Treasurer Dorothy Robinson and while our financial position is adequate we need your continued support via your renewed membership to enable us to pay our bills. Our renewal forms will be distributed in June and renewals for 2023-24 are due 1st July 2023.
Office Bearers: President—Marg Pilgrim; Secretary—Jill Hunter; Treasurer– Dorothy Robinson; Other Committee members: Elizabeth Williams, Cheryl Mallinson, Glenda Williams, Gayle Amore.
In May we were notified that 3 long time members of the society have passed away. Denis Strangman passed away on 26th April 2023 and this week we received news from Judi Alexander that her mother, Lorna Purser, passed away on the 3rd May 2023, and recently Marjorie Partridge passed away.
Vale Denis Strangman 29 June 1942 – 26 April 2023 (By Anne Young)
This morning I received the sad news that Denis died peacefully in Canberra this morning. Denis established the Society’s web page and was webmaster of the Society’s website for about 18 years.
His local history interest was in Lamplough, a few kilometres from Avoca and about which he had written a short history of its gold rush in 1859 for the Victorian Historical Journal. His great-grandfather and his siblings had been born in Lamplough.
In 1998 Denis Strangman published an index of names associated with the Lamplough Rush. He also made available an article on the rush to Lamplough that he first published in 1987.
Denis wrote in 2021:”Despite our political differences Melbourne Greens Councillor Helen Harris OAM was the person who got me involved in the Society when I was working at Old Parliament House in Canberra. The Parliamentary Library was digitising its collection and they were throwing out the old Library cards. Helen had a loyal band of people in Avoca transcribing historical names to cards (now numbering about 80,000) so I would collect the discarded cards and transfer them to Helen.”
Denis was a Life Member of the Society.
The card index and Denis’s online index of Lamplough names (and his article) are invaluable contributions to the history of the Avoca district.
Vale Lorna Purser, 3rd May 2023 Aged 98 (By Judi Alexander)
Lorna had experienced poor health since before Christmas and passed away peacefully. Her Celebration of Life was held on Thursday 18th May at 1pm at Heritage & Heritage, 733 Boronia Rd Wantirna.
Lorna was interested in researching her family history and she and her husband Jack often visited Avoca to attend meetings of the historical society. She was editor of the newsletter for 17 years and was awarded a Life Membership in 2003 for her service to ADHS.
Lorna’s daughters, Judi and Rhonda, shared memories of their mum and her love of her garden and floral arrangements, sewing, cooking, the church, and serving her community. Asked about the best thing about almost reaching 100 years, Lorna replied “there is no peer pressure”.
Thank you Lorna for your service to ADHS.
Vale Marjorie Partridge. During May the society also farewelled Marj, her service was held on Monday 22nd of May 2023 She lived in Maryborough (near Edna Jarvis) and she and Edna were early members of the society. They both assisted with research work and were passionate members of ADHS.
In 2024 ADHS will celebrate its 40th Birthday.
The committee is investigating options for celebrating this historic milestone. Date: Sunday 19th May ~ Save The Date ! Venue : Court House, High St Avoca
The society has been operating from the Court House for almost 40years and has assisted many hundreds of visitors and researchers during that time. We look forward to acknowledging the hard work of the volunteers who have supported the society.
Any celebratory suggestions, offers of help (and your attendance)
The Future of ADHS: The current dwindling and aging committee of 7 has the massive task of maintaining and managing the vast collection at the Court House. They not only file and record the items that are presented or donated to the society but they also make themselves available to assist researchers in their quest for family history or local information.
We are often told by researchers that our collection and knowledge is awesome but without more volunteers all this may disappear!
We are desperately in need of new office bearers and volunteers to open the Court House twice a month, to manage the collection and assist with research. We also need helpers to help keep the Court House displays neat and tidy. If you believe that you can assist the current volunteer committee in any way please contact the Editor Marg Pilgrim. 0438546532
EULOGY~ RAY DRISCOLL ~ 16-7-1937 to 5-2-2023 May 2023
Good afternoon everyone. Where does one begin to encompass 85 years of someone’s life? I guess, where it all began…
Our Father, Raymond Charles Driscoll, was born on 16th July, 1937, at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. His parents were George and Florence Driscoll. He had an older brother, George, sister Beryl and younger brother Desmond. Aunty Beryl and Uncle Des are here today and we welcome them.
Even though we had heard many of the stories you are about to hear, from Dad, Daryl and I have used some of the information and words from Merri Hogan’s book, ‘The Invisible Thread’, for which Dad once gave an interview, and we thank Merri for allowing us to do so.
The family moved backwards and forwards several times between Moonambel and Melbourne but settled permanently in Moonambel after Florence left the family when Dad was 4 and Uncle Des was 2. Aunty Beryl remembers the 4 kids, sitting on the front verandah when their mother left. It must have been a terrible time for the family. Pa raised them all but it can’t have been easy. The kids were often hungry. Dad often spoke of eating bread and dripping, something that doesnt sound very appetizing. Dad said that it was actually the whole town who raised them. Everywhere they went people would offer them a bite to eat. Dad used to tell us how he would go to the Post Office after school and pick up the mail for all the old people in town, delivering it to them, hoping he would be given something to eat in return.
Dad started school in 1941 at the age of 4 ½, and on the day he turned 14, he went to school with a sugar bag, collected his things and in his words, ‘scarpered’. Dad did NOT enjoy his school days much at all as he had a Headmaster who, by the way Dad described him, came in a close second only to Hitler. Apparently Dad was no stranger to the strap but this person in authority didnt hesitate to use it to punish Dad even for things he did OUTSIDE of school. Mind you, I think Dad might have been quite the rascal. He had a best mate called Leo Murnane and the two of them were constantly “in trouble”. Leo was raised by a lady called Agnes Slater. She once wrote to the Headmaster, asking him to tone down his disciplinary measures but the teacher just screwed the letter up.
Dad used to tell us so many amusing stories of when he was young. He used to tell us how he would put blowflies in Glennie Hunter’s inkwell at school.
He often regaled us with the tale of the day he left his homework book on the front verandah and went off to play with his shangai. In those days, cows were free to wander in the streets. When he got back, Wrights cow had had eaten 4 days of homework and he had to do it all again. He HATED that cow for a long time to come.
Dad’s school days cant have been all bad, as he was an excellent speller and he memorized stories and poetry that he could re-tell and recite all his life. His 2 best ones were The 3 billy goats gruff and THE HOBBYAHS! We will never forget Dad saying, “And the Hobyahs came hop hop hopping, skip skip skipping, run run running. They carried off the little old man, they carried off the little old woman and they chopped off Little Dog Dingo’s tail. He was a very good storyteller and always had us entranced.
There was a story of when Dad and Uncle Des tried to go shooting for rabbits. I don’t know how old they were but they took Pa’s old Harrington and Richardson single shot hammered shotgun and headed over to Howard’s paddock. Neither had fired a shotgun before so they were both a bit apprehensive. They feared the recoil stories they’d been told about shotguns….black and bruised shoulders etc., so they took a pillow with them to soften the blow. They found their rabbit, put the pillow on Dad’s shoulder, he took aim and fired! “Did I get him?” Dad asked excitedly. “I don’t know” was little brother’s reply. “Where were you lookin’ then?” asked Dad. Uncle Des replied, “At the ground where you were gonna fall”.
There were stories of horses and carts and kids, hitting stumps and flying off the carts, or horses bolting for dams and all ending up in the water. Must have been some wild times but I’m sure they had lots of fun too.
Work History and Sport history, and community involvement ….By Daryl.
When Dad was working for Ken Williams, he met a beautiful girl named Barbara Neil from Amphitheatre. They were married when she was 19 and he was 21, at the Holy Trinity Church in Ararat. 9 months and 1 day later, their first child, Helen, was born. Greg arrived 2 years and 2 days after that. The family lived in a house on the Williams property. Tragedy struck when Helen was only 4 years old and Greg was 2. A car accident claimed the life of Barbara and Dad was left to raise the children alone. He worked away during the weeks, while Helen and Greg stayed with their Grandparents in Ararat.
Some time later, Dad got together with our Mum, when they were the only 2 people who turned up for tennis practice at Tanwood. She had lost her fiance in a car accident some time before that. They were married at the Moonambel Methodist Church on 26th September, 1964. Glenda was born just over a year later. Brendan followed in 1967, Daryl in 1968 and Julia was our wonderful surprise, 7 years later in 1975. Mum and Dad were married for 52 years.
We had many happy and busy years. We weren’t well off at all but we never knew it. We always had plenty of food and clothes. We were rich in many ways.
Life went on and Ray and Lynette saw all of the kids married. The grandhildren began arriving in 1979 and just kept coming. How about this for a fun fact….Dad has 3 sons, 3 daughters, 8 grandsons, 8 granddaughters, 8 great grandsons and 8 great granddaughters! Talk about keeping it even!
Now I feel I must confess something today. 6 years ago, when Mum passed, it was my responsibility to choose the clothes she would wear in her coffin. I did this thoughtfully and carefully. I chose one of her favourite blouses, and a nice pair of trousers. I even put in a pair of socks to keep her feet warm on her journey. It wasn’t till it was too late that I realized that I had failed to put in a pair of shoes with the outfit! Shock horror! I have carried this guilt around for 6 years, thinking that Mum is walking around heaven barefoot! The other day I found Mum’s very nice dancing shoes in a black velvet bag in a wardrobe at Dad’s. My sisters came up with an interesting idea and said we should put the shoes into Dad’s coffin, which we truly HAVE DONE, I kid you not. My guilt is now gone, problem rectified. When Dad gets to Heaven, he can say to Mum, “I’VE BROUGHT YOUR SHOES!”
We would like to thank a few people who have been on this journey with us. Firstly, we would like to thank the team from Central Grampians Palliative Care. They have been such a great support to us over the past few weeks, always on the end of the phone when we had questions, teaching us about medications, and helping us to get through red tape to get Dad seen to.
Next we wish to thank the District Nurses who came out so regularly to check on Dad and refill his medication. They too were very helpful and kind. We also wish to thank Dad’s longtime friend Robby Robertson, for being there when it mattered. For his big heart and generosity. We will never forget your kindnesses. Pat Murrell is another wonderful person we need to thank. She was a good friend to Dad and we know he loved her amazing trifles. A special thanks must go to Joan Wright for being Dad’s companion for the last few years. Dad was very lonely after Mum passed, and Joan has filled that gap and been a lovely friend to him. We need to thank Jean Johnson for so much lovely cooking she did for us in the last couple of weeks before Dad passed. It was most appreciated by us all. Thank you also to Summerfields Winery and Taltarni for your very kind contributions to our afternoon tea today….so kind of you.
Finally, I would like to thank my siblings and their partners. For about 3 weeks we gave Dad round the clock care, so he could have his wish of staying home to the end. These guys were truly amazing! We had rosters and a communication book. Some of them took time off work and all but me stayed nights. It was at times very difficult and draining. A special mention to Heather and Brendan, who, in the last 3 days went well above and beyond the call of duty, taking charge of all the medications Dad needed, and knowing when to administer them. They barely slept for 3 full days! Daryl has also been a constant in the whole process, even getting involved when others were rostered on. He was like our Team Captain. More than once I had to tell him to go home and rest. We had 3 courageous young soldiers/ angels with us also. Georgie, Abby and Joel. They were amazing beyond their years and lovingly cared for their Grandpa, right up to the finish line. I commend my whole family on a job well done. There was something extra special about all pulling together to care for the man who had helped to raise us all.