Marjie When we were at school the minister would conclude every service with the following commendation which I still remember very clearly
Go forth into the world in peace, Be of good courage, Hold fast that which is good, Render unto no man evil for evil, Strengthen the fainthearted, Support the weak, Help the afflicted, Honour all men, Love and serve the Lord
This is how Mum lived her life. It is hard to talk about Mum without including Dad even though he died some 34 years ago. They were so much a devoted team – Dad’s booming laughter appreciating Mum’s wicked sense of humour. They walked through life together side by side, neither one leading nor the other following.
They shared the same values and strived to give Chris and me the best they possibly could. I think as a result we have both lived very privileged lives and hope we have done them proud.
They treated everyone with the same respect and all were welcome into their home and to a seat at their table. They looked for the good in people always but had unlimited patience and compassion if someone’s life took an unexpected turn and would be there for any help or assistance required.
Both Mum and Dad believed that if you lived in a community then you supported the people and organisations of that community to the best of your ability. Thus when Barbara Littlejohn realised a Meals on Wheels service was required in Harden in the 1960’s Mum was one of the first she rang to help. Mum delivered meals for many decades before deciding she was older than most of the recipients and retired.
Likewise when Whichcraft was established in the early 1970’s Mum was a founding member and made the soup for I don’t know how long. She tested the Brownies for their housekeeping badges (which I didn’t pass) for years – getting them to sweep the verandah, make a bed, wash up etc. She worked for the Mother’s Club at Murrumburrah Intermediate High School before it became the Parents & Citizens Association and did whatever class required more pupils for the TAFE college. Her lampshades were amazing as were her artworks especially of the old incinerator at the High School. I am sure she was the only person who has ensured its existence will pass into perpetuity.
She could also take 2 or 3 flowers and a twig and turn them into the most beautiful flower arrangement – a skill neither Chris nor I have inherited.
Her one attempt in sewing classes ended in an unmitigated disaster when the matching pair of trousers she had made for Chris and me came apart at the seams just as we were leaving for Sydney and she spent the whole trip handsewing them back together. Mending Dad’s workclothes was not a problem.
Both worked for the Murrumburrah Show for most of their lives – Dad assigning areas for the show people and Mum in the pavilion with her great friend Mary Norton-Knight looking after the jams and preserves section. Dad in particular loved showtime as he would spend the days with the show people he had become friends with over the years and especially with Jimmy Sharman – I think there was always a bottle of whiskey involved there.
My favourite memory tho is of the Scottish and Church of England balls they would work at. We would walk down to the School of Arts after school and the hall would be abuzz with activity. The men sweeping and cleaning the floor and spreading the Pops around. The women downstairs in the supper room with the coppers boiling, carving turkeys, making salads and trifles and all the while chatting together. Then, that night if there were pre-drinks at our house they would arrive – the men in their dinner suits and the women looking like bejewelled butterflies in all their finery. One year the Scottish band from Wagga gave Chris and me a short burst of the bagpipes and drums in the backyard before they left for the ball – magic, absolute magic.
Although her physical world was centred around 46 East Street for almost 50 years, her emotional ties were with 220 Albury Street, Murrumburrah the house her grandparents built and lived in, where her parents retired and which she owned for several years. It will always be the house in which her loved grandmother Jane lived and I am sure where her love of gardens and nature developed.
Even in recent years her love of gardening and plants was still very strong and she loved nothing more than walking through a garden admiring the plants and plantings. She would suggest plants for me to use and always encouraged the use of yellow, sparingly of course.
Then there was bridge. After Malcolm and Dad died Mary and Mum decided they would have bridge lessons. A whole new life opened up before them. Nights spent in the schoolroom at Wallenbeen playing bridge, bridge weekends away to Condobolin, West Wyalong, Forbes, Canberra and especially Mudgee where they stayed with their great friends Joan and Les Griffin. One night after they had been playing at Whichcraft they were driving home up Albury Street when three cars were stopped by and RBT team. Apparently the policeman asked the driver of the first car where she had been – playing bridge she replied. Had she been drinking – only 1 glass of wine. He then moved onto the second car – same questions, same answer. When he got to the 3rd car merely said to Mum “I know, I know you have been playing bridge and have had 1 glass of wine” For anyone living in Harden Murrumburrah in the late 1980’s onwards you would be well aware of Mum’s devotion and adoration of her grandchildren Jack, Lucy and Amy. In her eyes they were the most perfect creatures ever created and her love for and pride in them has never waned. Jack and Amy are here today but unfortunately Lucy is living in England and cannot be present. Jack will read her memories of Marjie.
Marjie was not perfect as many people would know and especially in latter years when “the finger” came to the fore sometimes in an appropriate manner, more often than not though in an inappropriate manner. We were told a beautiful story the other day by one of the carers at SC about Mum being at the last service there. She was asked if she needed help with the words to the hymn ”Jesus loves me”. Up came the finger and the person was told very slowly and clearly she required no help at all and had known the words for years. She then proceeded to sing every word to the end.
Chris and I would like to thank you very much for being here today, for the love and support you have shown us and especially Mum throughout her life. Before she went into Southern Cross and afterwards Barb you played such an important part in Mum’s life and for that we thank you. The care and love she received from the staff at Southern Cross Cootamundra made the last few years so much easier for Mum, Chris and me. I would like to finish with part of a poem by Marjorie Pizer I read some time ago
When I die, I leave you love and the sea, friendship and all the loveliness of the world, I bequeath to you, the living, all the joy and all the sorrow. Have courage always and sometimes, sometimes remember me.
