Rosemary Raymond

Born 27/03/1908 Suffolk, England Died 19/11/20011 Clayton, Australia aged 93 Years

Rosemary Raymond was born in Saxmundham, Suffolk in England, the second of four children, with an older sister and two younger brothers, the youngest being Jack Raymond who passed away only a few years ago.
Rosemary was a toddler when her father left the family and ventured to Australia looking for a better life for the family. They joined him in 1914 and from Melbourne headed to Tongala.
The country was hot and in drought. It must have been a big culture shock to arrive at a desolate farm with cattle dying all around them after growing up in the cool, damp climate of England.
The family later moved to Murchinson for two or three years, then to Wandong.
When Rose grew up, a girlfriend got her a job as a housemaid at a girls' boarding school in Malvern. Later she went to live with friends at Brunswick and it was here that she met her future husband at a function at the Brunswick Football Club. They were married in 1928 at St. John's Church of England in West Brunswick.
As World War 11 loomed closer, Pa was working at Essendon Aerodrome, but they decided it was time to look for a farm. Pa heard about a good farm for sale on a dirt track in Rowville (now known as Twin Views Estate on Taylors Lane). They bought the property and moved to Rowville some time in 1945.
Ma and Pa by now had five children in the family: Elaine, Harry, Ronnie, Jan and John (my dad). They used to milk their cattle by hand and later became Guernsey breeders. The farm champion, Myrtle Grove Winston, won second prize at the Royal Melbourne Show one year.
Ma and Pa used to be involved in the communitv and they were both members of the Red Cross. Pa was also the President of the Progress Association that worked hard for improvements in Rowville. The members used to run a stall on election days at the Rowville Polling Booth, which was at the little post office run by Miss Elizabeth Bergin.
I was lucky as a child living next door to my grandparents. They were always there and I spent countless hours playing, working, hiding from Pa when I was in trouble, and eating Ma's freshly baked cakes.
Ma was typically found out in a garden somewhere. As a young kid it seemed like ages wandering around the big acre block wondering where Ma was. If she wasn't in the veggie garden (which was the first spot to look) then eventually she could be found working away somewhere, sometimes hidden in the corn patch down the back, cleaning out the chook house, or perhaps in the fernery.
Ma was diligent. There was the regular start to the day. I think Ma would hold the world record for the healthiest breakfasts eaten in a row. She ate Allbran, dry brown toast and black tea before it became trendy.
Ma was honest. Pa told me one day that Ma had never told a fib in her life and I believe him!
Ma was frugal, a trait refined from living through the great depression. Nothing was wasted. A straight stick was a garden stake, half a lemon was a squeeze in a cup of tea, used tea leaves from the pot were garden mulch and Pa's old singlets were polishing cloths. Ma recycled before the word was invented! Ma was talented. She would produce magnificent Christmas dinners and teas for the masses year after year, in the world's smallest kitchen. Ma's Christmas puddings were much enjoyed, even after she stopped putting in the sixpence. Ma was a talented dancer. I can recall watching her at about eighty three years of age, waltzing beautifully at a party at the Robinson's.
Ma was patient. She had to be, she lived with Pa! Ma used to spend hours doing the biggest puzzles. Family would come over and contribute their "two bobs’ worth" with a few bits here and there as the puzzle would take days to complete with a little time spent here and there. Ma used to play cards of an evening. She taught me to play patience and yukka. She would often do the daily crossword in the newspaper.
Ma was many things to us all and we will all remember her fondly.
Kevin Raymond

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