| A genealogical presentation of the life and times of the ancestors and descendants of William Henry Mathews (1880 – 1964) and his wife Sarah Louisa Florence Mitchell (1889 – 1972). |
| THE MATHEWS FAMILY LINEAGE |
| Russell Alexander Mathews (1911 – 1977) Named after his Uncle Wellsley Russell HARRIS (1878–1968) and his grandfather James Henry Alexander, Russell (aka “Russ”) was born on the 21st of May 1911 at 53 York Street, Middle Park [1], an address which Russell would have no recollection as he only spent his infant years there. His first family memories were of their Elwood home at Docker Street and the birth of his younger brother Oliver. In 1917, under the watchful eye of his older brother John, Russell commenced his education at Elwood Central Primary School, then from 1923 through 1925 attended South Melbourne Technical College where in his final year won an entrance scholarship to Caulfield Grammar School. Russell’s next two years at Grammar School produced excellent results. In his intermediate year he was Dux of class and the following year he was Dux of school, winning an engineering scholarship to Melbourne Technical College. Out of the classroom he was a member of the tennis team, a rover for the 1st XVIII football team, and the off-spin allrounder for the 1st XI cricket team. |
|
Russell’s year at South Melbourne Technical College proved pivotal for his future as his interest in the chemical aspect of engineering overshadowed the mechanical side. Subsequentially the following year he accepted an invitation to complete a degree in science at Melbourne University. In 1933 he graduated with a bachelor’s degree [2]. |
|
Once again, his time at university was not purely academic as he played football for the University Blues, receiving “Half-Blues” in 1931 and 1932 [3,4]. He regarded himself a better footballer but played cricket as well. He was also a handy tennis player representing Melbourne University in inter-varsity tournaments. Following University, Russell managed to secure employment as an industrial chemist with Nobel / ICIANZ (to become known as Imperial Chemical Industries, Australasia) at their leathercloth factory [5] in Deer Park doing experimental work under the supervision of the noted chemist Leonard William Weickhardt (1908–2000). After a few years he became the laboratory's chief chemist and at the beginning of 1937, a transfer saw Russell take up a position as superintendent of the chemical plant responsible for the solvent recovery and dehydration of nitrocellulose fibre (guncotton, the product used in high explosives). Sports wise, after leaving University, Russ’s continuation in football necessitated a transfer to Old Caulfield Grammarians [6], whilst in the summer he managed some lower grade district cricket with St Kilda. He was also a handy tennis player representing Christ Church St Kilda [7], where his tennis doubles partner Freda would soon become his wife. Freda (1916–1941) was the eldest daughter of insurance agent Frederick Arthur McGILL (1880–1988) - of the Melbourne book shop McGill’s - and upon turning twenty-one became engaged to 26 year-old Russell. Their marriage, performed by Canon Crotty at Christ Church, Acland St, St Kilda was held on the 25th of March 1939. |
|
|
When World War II was declared in the September of the same year, Weickhardt’s chemical group that included Russell, were sent to ICI's ammunitions factory in Deer Park to assist with the manufacturer of high explosives for the troops. Russell was superintendent of the explosives division. A year later Russell was transferred to the company's general chemical factory in Yarraville [8] to oversee Australia's initial production of Aniline [9]. Aniline was a product intermediate to the production of Nitrobenzene which in turn was required for synthesis of the drug Sulphamethazine, an anti-malarial. As this drug was required urgently for the forward troops in New Guinea, a £¾ million Sulphamethazine plant was erected (almost overnight) to which Russell Mathews was transferred as its chemical coordinator. |
Russell and Freda had had no real opportunity to find a residence since their marriage and as Russell's family home St Helens was rather empty with both his brothers gone, staying with his parents was a welcome temporary option. It was not long however that the family numbers increased by one, the house welcoming a new boy, Russell Howard, born on the 25th of February 1941. The family’s joy was quickly replaced by grief when Freda showed signs of obstetric complications causing acute post-partum kidney failure, a situation from which she never recovered. |
|
With the Japanese army swarming down the Malaysian peninsula, life for all Australians was perilous and, in the Mathews household, extremely difficult at times. Father Russell was in demand with his extremely important and necessary wartime duties and had little time or energy to be a responsible parent. It was left to grandmother Florence to provide the latter. By 1942 the Deer Park ammunitions factory had been placed under the tightest army security and access for its employees could only be gained through strictly controlled transport out of the central Victorian Barracks on St Kilda Road, Melbourne. This transport was provided by the Australian Women's Army Service with one designated driver allocated to one factory employee. Russell Mathews’ driver was a 34-year-old country woman named Doris CHARD (1909 -1995). |
Russell and Doris quickly became more than work colleagues through their joint love for tennis, spending many Sunday afternoons at the Hawksburn Tennis Club with Russell's university colleague Rod Wettenhall and his wife, followed by a few drinks at the College Lawn Hotel in Prahran. Doris, not being a city girl, missed her horses, and spent many weekends back at her western district country home in Noorat. Russell was a keen angler and was interested when Doris suggested that he could try his luck down at the Hopkins River in Warrnambool. So, accompanied by his fellow ICI workmate Wally Forman (to become affectionately known as “Windmill Wally” after this trip), Russell headed off to the western district of Victoria. Of course the lads stopped off at “The Ranch” in Noorat to see Doris and meet her family. Russell's friend Wally was an engineer and during his travels through the countryside he was fascinated by the farmer's use of the windmill and at Noorat asked many questions of Doris' father. Russell, the chemist, was interested in the fact that although the windmill provided a means of extracting ground water, the water quality was “hard” and barely potable for man nor beast. It was during this trip that Russell became obsessed with water treatment - a journey that would consume the rest of his working life. Towards the end of 1944, during one such trip to the western district, Russell and Doris became engaged. |
|
On the 14th of April 1945 the couple were married at the Neil Black Presbyterian Church in Noorat by Reverend Philip Somerville. Whilst the ceremony was witnessed by all of Doris' family and friends, none of Russell's attended. Following a brief honeymoon spent fishing from Proudfoots on the Hopkins River in Warrnambool, the newlyweds returned to Melbourne, Doris to her digs at the Prince Patrick Hotel in East Melbourne [10] and Russell to his parents at St Helens St Kilda. Whilst the war in the Pacific was still raging Russell and Doris spent little time together but weekend visits to Russell’s university colleague Malcolm Sprent and his wife Merrin in Olinda were welcome. With the Japanese surrender in September 1945, Russell and Doris returned to civilian life with their priority being buying a house. A new estate in Bentleigh had been developed and they were one of the first to purchase. Their acquisition was timely as it closely preceded the birth of their son. |
|
|
At this stage of his life, it is fair to say that Russell had much to keep him occupied. He was now a senior technical advisor for ICI’s chemical group consulting with many and varied industries, most notably the Victorian Railways and the Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works and in a short period of time had become regarded as the preeminent advisor on water treatment for boilers and agricultural bores using ICI's Alfloc product range. He also helped develop Calgon, a product used for the treatment of “hard” water. His work was so highly regarded that he was head-hunted for a position in the United Kingdom by ICI Head Office in London, but as he had a young family to consider, uprooting and relocating them to the other side of the world was ultimately rejected. Away from work Russell was actively involved with his old school alumni in both an administrative [11] and sporting role. Cricket with Old Caulfield Grammarians was often combined with Sunday afternoon social tennis with Doris and a competitive neighbourhood group. His largest burden however was keeping a happy balance between his fatherly commitment to his two sons. Doris was happy to accept Howard into their home but Russell’s mother Florence, who hadn't accepted her son’s second marriage, forbad the possibility. Florence wanted nothing to do with Doris, vehemently excluding her from visiting St Helens. Realising the boy still needed attention from his father, Florence relented to Russell visiting St Helens every second Saturday, ALONE. |
|
1953 was the beginning of a turning point in Russell’s life. He had completed 20 years of service at ICI and was quite devastated when the company’s Melbourne executive had not respected the milestone. At the time he put it down to a recent change in managerial personnel, but when he applied for the vacant position as Head of the Alkali Division – a position for which he had no peer - and missed out, he began to question his future with the company. Subsequently he discovered that he had missed out on the appointment because he was not a freemason. Whilst his grandfather had been a staunch acolyte of the society, his father was vehemently opposed. With an open mind, Russell initially investigated the possibility of following his grandfather’s footsteps, but quickly concluded that freemasonry was definitely not to his liking. The following year, realizing that there was no chance of advancement with the current ICI management, Russell decided to explore other employment opportunities. As strange as it may seem, it was a vacant local newsagency that took his interest, and he applied for the appropriate licence. The newsagency board did him a favour when they rejected his application on the grounds that he was totally overqualified for the position. At this point he had no alternative but to unhappily carry on with the work he knew best. In 1958 Russell was appointed Head of Water Treatment in ICI's Alkali Division. It may not have been the appointment he sought, but it was advancement, nevertheless. |
 |
The irony for Russell was that his expertise was obviously valued at Company Head Office, London, but disregarded at home, and in 1965, when a more junior and less qualified person was appointed Divisional Head, he immediately resigned citing his inability to work under a person he truly believed was his inferior. This sudden change of job certainty had closely followed the death of his father, and the combination of these circumstances brought about a severe mental decline. So dramatic was his breakdown that he had difficulty in walking and standing, restricting him to his armchair or bed. This situation continued for many months, and only began to change when a rudimentary plan for creating his own business enterprise took shape. In 1967, having secured a bank loan, Russell leased a small factory floor space in Moorabbin and registered his business name - TAMAR Chemicals Pty Ltd. The company started small and “snail-paced-slow”. It was, from its inception, a one-man concern, with Russell having to develop his own client base (many of whom needed to be persuaded from the ICI fold); manufacture all of Tamar’s chemical compound products; package the saleable goods (most being packaged in drums and 20 kg polyethylene bags) and deliver the goods. Bookkeeping and answering the phone added to the daily load. After five years Russell had single-handedly established a company of repute, so much so that a much larger competitor in the same field – Gibson Chemical Industries Ltd (aka Gibson Kelite Industries Ltd) - offered to buy out the business. Russell refused the offer. Two years later, a well-respected chemical engineer named Sigi Zidziunas approached Russell with another buy-out offer; this time proposing to carry forward the company name. For Russell, who was now at retiring age, it was an offer too good to refuse and Tamar Chemicals began trading as Tamar Group Australia [12]. The real success story here is not the “phoenix rising from the ashes” but the self-propelling drive of a man who pulled himself from the depths of depressive self-destruction. It should also be added that a loving and supportive wife helped when it was most required. Upon his retirement, Russell had planned that he and Doris would travel; their first port of call being Surfers Paradise in 1975. It was the first time that either of them had been on an airliner. The trip was a disappointment, for while Russell thirsted for more adventure, Doris yearned for home. |
|
Apart from the seasonal cold and his mental breakdown twelve years earlier, Russell had never had any sickness, so it came as a shock when on the 24th of February 1977, he dropped dead in the back garden of the family home. |
|
Russell’s ashes were scattered in the gardens of the Springvale cemetery. Doris remained in the family home for a few years after Russell's death before moving to a brand-new unit. She survived her husband by eighteen years. |
| Freda McGILL (1916 – 1941) First wife of Russell Alexander MATHEWS Freda was born at St Hellier 111 Weybridge Street, Surrey Hills. She was the third child and eldest daughter of Frederick Arthur McGILL (1880 – 1988) [13] and Emma Josephine Mary (nee SMART; 1882 – 1963). She was the grand-daughter of Irish immigrant Frederick William McGILL (1834–1909) who, together with his brother John Joseph (1823–1913), established to family’s newsagency and bookselling outlets in Elizabeth and Bourke Streets Melbourne. Freda’s father was not involved in the family’s newsagency as he was only a child when his father relinquished his interest. His livelihood being insurance. When the family moved to 43 Armstrong Street, Albert Park in 1937, Freda joined the Christ Church Tennis Club in Acland Street, St Kilda. It was here that she met Russell Mathews who became her regular doubles partner. |
|
The progression from tennis to marriage was inevitable, and in 1939, on the 25th of March the ceremony was performed by their own church clergyman, Canon Crotty. In an article titled “All-White Wedding” published (with an illustration of poor quality) in The Argus on Monday 27th March 1939 [14], Freda and Russell are accompanied by bridesmaids Valda McGill (Freda's younger sister) and her best friend Shirley Marshall together with flower girl, niece Judith McGill. Russell's best man, Gordan Loveless, was not pictured. Following a brief honeymoon at the Mayer Chalet in Warburton, Freda and Russell settled into married life at his family’s house St Helens (opposite Christ Church) in East St Kilda. It was here that their son, Russell Howard, was born on the 25th of February 1941. Whilst her pregnancy and delivery went smoothly, Freda suffered post-partum obstetric complications that regularly saw her in and out of the Austin Hospital. Nine months later she was dead, officially recorded on the 7th of November 1941. |
 |
| Doris Blain CHARD (1909 – 1995) Second wife of Russell Alexander MATHEWS Doris (affectionally known in her family as “Dor”) was born at The Ranch McKinnons Bridge Road, East Noorat, youngest daughter to dairyman James Atkins CHARD (1869 – 1948) and Annie Sommerville BLAIN (1882 – 1967). The family legend has it that Dor was “born on a horse”. Certainly, she was a willing passenger by the time she was three years old. |
|
During her younger years Doris was her father’s shadow, assisting with milking the cows, mucking out the pigs, feeding the ducks and chickens, exercising the dogs, and grooming the horses; especially anything to do with the horses. By the time she was eight she was riding her own pony to school in Noorat, a journey of over a mile. |
|
Although Doris was still quite young at the time, the 1914–18 war years had a significant influence on her upbringing, particularly being part of a close-knit rural community supporting the armed forces abroad. |
|
Its fair to say that as a teenager “Dor” was never close to top of her schoolroom classes but was an energetic and eager participant on the sports field with tennis being her strongest discipline. With her elder sister Ina, she was a regular player for the Noorat Presbyterian Church Tennis Club. |
|
Without doubt however Doris’ first love was riding, and she stepped forward whenever there was an opportunity to challenge herself. |
|
Doris was very popular amongst her peers, but her greatest admirer was a polio cripple named William Alan MARSHALL (1902 - 1984). The Chard and Marshall family were very close from the time Doris’ eldest sister Vera (born the same year as Alan) attended Terang Higher Elementary School together. Both Vera and Alan had their own cross to bear, Vera having a severely deformed right hand, the result of a birth defect, and Alan, poliomyelitis, which he had contracted as an 8-year-old. Both youngsters were undaunted by their afflictions and gained confidence from each other's incremental triumphs. As the Chard children matured Alan's painful convalescence was part of their daily life, sharing most of their adolescent activities. With Fred he went rabbiting and rambling through the bush on his crutches. With Ina he learned to swim and with Doris he learned to ride. In fact, it was Doris who fared worst on one day's riding adventure when attempting to get Alan up on her pony's back, fell off herself, badly chipping one of her front teeth. |
|
It was through all these adventures that, in later years, Alan chose – in his own words – ‘to record life as it really was’ from the perspective of one physically disadvantaged - hence the 1955 best seller I Can Jump Puddles. All of the characters depicted in his book were fictitious except for the girl named Maggie Mulligan who was created out of his close affection for, and relationship with, Doris Chard. |
|
For her 21st birthday, Doris’ present from her parents was a 2-year-old brown gelding bred by their neighbour, Mr Arthur William "Bill" NOEL. Named King Douglas, the horse had the pedigree to be a potential winner on the racetrack. Unfortunately, either Doris’ father was not the trainer he thought he could be, or the horse was not the fastest of runners, because in his ten starts in Terang and Camperdown meetings King Douglas never greeted the judges. |
|
After eleven starts over a two-year period, Doris’ father decided to retire the horse from the track, but King Douglas was not to be denied, with Doris suggesting he might become a show horse. On the second occasion of the Noorat Show in November 1934, Doris and “the King” paraded for the first time without great results. Undeterred, Doris drilled her favourite horse to be ready the following year. So, in November 1935, with the crowd swollen by the visit of the State Governor, Captain the Right Hon. William Charles Arcedeckne, the Lord Huntingfield, Doris and “the King” won the prestigious dressage event – “the Garryowen of the bush”. With all her siblings now married, Doris was kept busy helping her aging father run the farm and her mother with her community guild work. In 1938 she became involved in raising funds for the Camperdown Football Club which culminated in a Host and Hostess Ball [17]. Later the same year she was raising funds for the Australian Aerial Medical Service which culminated in the Camperdown Apex Club Annual Ball [18]. Such activity necessitated a speedier means of transportation, and she managed to acquire a second-hand Ford Model-A Sports Coupe. |
|
1939, and once again World War impacted everybody’s lives. Being regarded as the community fundraiser, Doris found herself involved in a Terang and District Red Cross popular girl contest where she finished in third place raising £628/3/-. |
|
In 1943, when the leasehold on The Ranch at East Noorat ceased, Doris' parents relocated to Noorat village and moved into a cottage Glenview, previously occupied by Noorat's butcher Alfred Lewis (now sister Ina's husband). At this time, Doris decided it was time to become independent, so she loaded up her Ford and drove to Melbourne. There she took up residence at The Prince Patrick Hotel situated at 127 Victoria Parade, East Melbourne. She immediately enrolled with the Australian Women's Army Service as a driver and was allocated to an industrial chemist named Russell MATHEWS (1911 -1977) as his personal chauffer. |
|
Doris and the chemist quickly became more than work colleagues through their joint love for sport in general, particularly tennis as both were accomplished with the racquet in hand. For Doris, whose only city friends were a fellow boarder named Alice Wild(e) and Russell, a recent widower and father of a two-year old boy, a relationship was predictable. With the war in Europe all but over and the Japanese in retreat, Doris and Russell married on the 14th of April 1945, the ceremony held at the Neil Black Presbyterian Church in Noorat by Reverend Philip Somerville. The wedding breakfast was hosted by Alf and Ina Lewis (Doris’ sister) at the Noorat butchery across the road from the church. |
|
In wartime, married life for the newlyweds was not easy, but at least they were in the same country and the same city. During the day, their work commitments were the same as before their wedding, as were their nights – Doris returning to her boarding billet and Russell to his parents and son in St Kilda. Whilst Russell’s parents had welcomed (and accommodated) his first marriage, Doris was totally shunned. Her new mother-in-law made it quite clear that Doris would never be a stepmother to her grandson Howard, and that she was not welcome in her house. With the Japanese surrender in September 1945, Russell ventured to the bank and secured a loan to purchase a recently built double-brick two-bedroom house in a new estate in Ormond. Finally, Doris and Russell had a home of their own and it was none too soon as Doris was pregnant and due in the winter of 1946. |
|
The first few years of their marriage were happy, Doris accepting the fact that her husband was committed to spending part of each weekend with his first son in St Kilda. Doris was content that she had her own child for whom to care. She did however miss her country life and on returning in 1948 for her father’s funeral, she became stricken with homesickness. Apart from spending time with her mother and sister Ina, Doris and Russell visited brother Fred and his wife Margaret at Wilalibee, their farm in neighbouring Kolora. Whilst Doris helped with the milking and feeding the pigs, Russell – a born and bred city boys - remained aloof. Knowing Russell was a keen fisherman, Fred suggested that the men could go down to Mount Emu Creek after dinner and fish for eels. Russell's initial enthusiasm was quickly squashed when his fair skin was attacked by both leeches and mosquitoes. Fred caught the only eel whilst Russell was eaten alive by the wildlife. The next day Doris succumbed to the irresistible desire to try out one of Fred’s ponies and when Russell - the sportsman - was cajoled into at least sitting astride the beast, the fun turned into humiliation. Russell attempted to walk the animal, only to lose control and fall off – face down. Whilst the Chard’s saw the funny side of the occasion, Russell certainly did not. Russell never visited Fred’s farm again and only returned to Noorat to attend the funeral of Doris’ mother in 1967. Doris however made regular visits with her son to the Noorat and Kolora relatives. Doris shared her husband’s dislike for eel fishing but was quite the able angler on the river. On one such trip to Bemm River in East Gippsland, the fishing expedition nearly turned to tragedy when their son fell overboard from their dinghy. Fortunately, Russell, who was a strong swimmer, immediately dived in and retrieved his son. The child emerged “blue” from cold - but alive. |
|
The 50’s were carefree times. Kids could walk to school unaccompanied and unafraid; they could play in the local park without supervision, and they knew all their neighbours by name – friendly or otherwise. In summer, street cricket matches abounded and during the winter months, kicking the football was happily tolerated until it threatened a neighbours prized rose bushes. From Tom Boler the local dairyman with his horse and cart to Charlie and Dick Chapman the butchers, plus all the neighbours, Doris knew everybody. Conversely, Russell knew few. There were many possible reasons why it happened, but during the decade’s later years, Doris and Russell’s marriage drifted in different directions, but their love for their garden and the occasional social tennis afternoons during the summer kept them together. |
|
During the winter Australian Rules football became their social outlet, but not together. Russell’s upbringing had led him to follow South Melbourne, and he would take his son Howard to the club's home games at the Lakeside Oval. Doris, on the other hand, being a western district girl, naturally supported Geelong. She and her son, together with a fellow “Cats” follower and neighbour May Curtis, would pack a lunch basket and head off to most Geelong games. Up until the mid-1950’s these home game journeys involved travelling on the steam train to Kardinia Park (South Geelong station) – an outing that thrilled the young lad. On some occasions after Kardinia Park games, the pair would catch the Warrnambool night train to Terang and spend the rest of the weekend with the Chards. These rail journeys for mother and son witnessed the transition of steam driven locomotives to the much faster diesel models. Better still was when the family upgraded the family car. Now, with expert driver Doris at the wheel, travel time between Ormond and Noorat could be achieved in four hours. One trip in 1957 was exceptionally exciting, when most of Annie Chards family gathered at her home in Noorat to celebrate her 75th birthday. |
|
This celebration around the dinner table was significant for Doris and the rest of the Chard family as Annie had been bedridden following a recent gall bladder operation. The next decade saw many stressful times for Doris. Russell’s father died, which in part, caused him to have a mental breakdown and her own health deteriorated due to a stomach ulcer. Whilst Russell’s situation resolved itself in time, Doris’ condition required extensive surgery and left her severely debilitated for the rest of her life. |
|
Whilst it was not unexpected given her mother Annie's deteriorating health, her death of in 1967 saw Doris’ last remaining link with her rural upbringing severed. Her bond with her sister Ina however remained as strong as ever. Christmas dinner of 1968 saw a significant event for the Mathews family when Russell’s widowed mother Florence and his son Howard were invited, and surprisingly accepted. Whilst Doris had met her mother-in-law only once - just after they married, she had never met Howard. Russell’s sons had never met even though they had both attended the same school for a period of time. The occasion was far from joyous, but the get-together did manage to “break the ice”. In June the following year Florence turned 80, and as she was now living on her own – Howard having been transferred to Brisbane with his job – Doris decided to visit her mother-in-law at St Helens with a birthday gift. It was with great surprise that she was received warmly, and following a cordial morning coffee, offered a tour of the grand residence. Florence’s health deteriorated rapidly from this point and when she died in hospital in 1972, Doris was by her side. In her last months she openly admitted she had been foolish in keeping Doris out of her life. For Doris, 1972 saw a reunion of her Chard siblings, to celebrate the 70th birthday of her eldest sister Vera. |
|
When Russell sold the family business in 1974, he convinced Doris that they should take a holiday. Doris was initially reluctant, but when, as a wedding anniversary gift, they were presented with airline tickets and a hotel booking at the Chevron Hotel in Surfers Paradise, Doris packed a suitcase. For Doris, it was her first aeroplane flight, and it would be her last. It came as a great shock when Russell dropped dead in their Ormond backyard in 1977. Doris was now on her own, her son having moved into his own home two years earlier. Her own physical condition began to deteriorate being afflicted with both forms of crippling arthritis, but she managed her aliments and grief with time spent in her garden. Not to be handicapped by her aches and pains, Doris helped her son move into his second property in 1978 and was an inspiration and driving force in clearing and landscaping his new garden. The effort did take its toll as she was now requiring constant medical attention for her swollen arthritic knees. |
|
It was not long before the family's two-story home became unmanageable for Doris and as luck would have it, a new three-unit complex was being built abutting her property. After some negotiations with the builder, Doris purchased the first unit half-way during its construction; a fortuitous decision with the builder agreeing to fit out the bathroom and access areas to cater for her ever-increasing disabilities. In 1985, the Mathews family home was sold, and Doris moved into her brand-new unit. Later the same year Doris' sister Ina journeyed to Melbourne for the wedding of her granddaughter, an occasion both sisters attended followed by a joyous weekend reunion in Doris' new home. |
 |
| Reunion of the last Chard sisters: Doris and Ina in 1985. |
Sadly, for Doris, she had little time to enjoy her new home as an accidental fall seriously curtailed her mobility. That, on top of her arthritis, quickly saw Doris reach the stage where she could not care for herself. So, it was with much regret, that she relocated to a residential care facility. With physical inactivity, her mental health deteriorated rapidly and in March 1995 she died, her ashes spread in the gardens of the Springvale crematorium. |
References
|
