28.11.1934 – 08.06.2022 Delivered by David Sykes on July 8, 2022.
Gwen Sykes (nee Shea) was born on 28 Nov 1934, eldest child of Jim and Rita Shea, Fairview, Galong.
She was followed into this world by Marie, Betty (deceased), Jimmy (deceased), Robyn, Noel and Wendy.
Mum attended school in Harden. Before the bus run came into being, she and Marie stayed with their grandmother in Harden during the week, then caught the train back to Galong on Friday afternoon.
Being the war years, they would often share the train with soldiers heading to or from Sydney. Mum met her lifelong love, Adrian Joseph Sykes, when she was around 16 or 17 years old.
They were married on 12th March 1955 in Sydney and moved to Glendalyn, Binalong. There she raised her family and often welcomed visiting grandchildren.
From May 1956 to July 1960, Mum had four children – David, Mark, Adrian Gerard and Lynne.
In November 1984, the first of mum’s 10 grandchildren was born. In order of birth, they are: AJ, Richard, Hannah, Danielle, Geoffrey, Natalie, James, Sam, Josh and Sarah.
Mum is also survived by six great-grandchildren: Hayden, Evie, Cooper, Mila, Henry and Beau.
I had the pleasure of taking Mum to Young for an appointment last November and she insisted on going Christmas shopping for the great-grandchildren.
Mum also took a lifelong interest in her many nieces and nephews, along with the very many members of her extended family.
In 1980 mum and dad sponsored two refugee families from Vietnam who stayed with us at Glendalyn – Ha and Ting, and Hong and Weeak – and we are so pleased to see them here today.
Mum and Dad moved to Montana, Binalong, in 2002 where they had built a lovely new home. Mum set about establishing an extensive garden.
Mum lost her soul mate, Adrian Joseph, in June 2004. In 2017, when age and illness caught up with Mum, she moved into aged care accommodation at Warmington Lodge in Yass.
Along with all other residents in aged care during the pandemic, Mum had to endure extended periods of time with very few visitors allowed.
And like most people of mum’s generation, this imposition was faced with gentle acceptance and stoicism. In late April, Mum acquired a chest infection, then had a fall resulting in a broken arm, followed by a series of associated health problems.
During this time, she also caught covid and much to our astonishment and relief, survived the infection with no serious symptoms.
However, other health issues persisted, and Mum passed away on the 28th June after two months of declining health.
The land. Mum was very much a country girl. She was raised on the Shea family property, Fairview, Galong until she married Dad in March 1955. She then proceeded to raise her family at Glendalyn.
Life on the land was the only life Mum had experienced. Gardening was a life passion for Mum, both at Glendalyn and Montana.
It was not unusual to see mum in her earlier days watering the garden in her bikini, catching some sun, with one eye on the garden and one eye on the driveway, ready to make a run for the house with the unheralded arrival of any car.
Mum endured the downturns and droughts with determination and optimism that things would come good, and she celebrated the triumphs and successes with relish. Mum spent her whole life as a professional home maker – and she was very good at it.
We were all the beneficiaries of mum’s considerable cooking skills – be it home made goodies in the school lunch boxes, eating around a beautifully set dining table, or a casserole taken to someone in need. Mum lived for her family and friends.
She came from a very happy family at Fairview and this transferred with mum to Glendalyn.
She delighted in the company and love of her 10 grandchildren, and was in her element when they visited or when taking two or three of them on a road trip up the coast.
It was very clear from the outset that there were going to be different rules for the grandkids when they were with their grandparents – and we, as parents, knew not to challenge those special rules.
Mum, along with Dad, readily made friends with people that crossed their paths. In 1980, when they travelled through Europe on a bus tour, they befriended three young Canadian girls, and have remained friends with them ever since.
On hearing of Mum’s passing, one of the girls, Carol sent me a message:
“Patty, Sherry and I were so delighted to see their friendly, welcoming faces at the back of the bus. I especially remember how full of life and open to adventures your mum was and how reassured we were that she was looking out for us in a caring way.”
Mum took on the mammoth task of hosting three weddings at Glendalyn.
Most people I talk to after hosting a wedding at their place say
“I’ve been there, done that, and it won’t be happening again”
– due to the huge effort required.
Such was Mum’s love of family and generosity of spirit she happily did it three times – and it was always done so very well.
Sewing was another of Mum’s passions and skills.
Many of our clothes when we were young children were home made by Mum late at night after we went to bed.
For Lynne’s wedding, Mum made Lynne’s wedding dress, which included sewing 1400 costume pearls onto the dress, Lynne’s going away dress, and her own outfit.
Dad was known to meet random people over a few drinks at the pub and invite them out to Glendalyn at short, sometimes no, notice.
I am not going to tell you Mum was always delighted to be meeting people unannounced, sometimes a bit late at night, but I will say that very often the visitor was soon a friend.
Those of you who knew Mum well will know she felt the cold very badly.
However, she insisted on having the front doors of Glendalyn open all year round, apart from when the weather was very inclement.
This was symbolic of her ethos of welcoming people into her home.
Mum’s Catholic, Christian faith was very important to her. Not just in word, but in her actions and deeds.
She was always involved in the activities of the local Catholic primary school and the local parish. Whenever we were loaded into the station wagon as a young family, we would always pray to St Christopher, patron saint of travellers, and say three Hail Marys.
Whilst this did not ensure a peaceful trip with four young kids in the car, we did always arrive safely at our destination. The community of Binalong and district was as much a part of Mum as she was a part of it. Mum was involved in the CWA, Red Cross, church and school committees at various stages of her life.
For many years, a highlight of the annual calendar was the Red Cross International Night –mum, along with many other women, spent countless hours preparing the catering and entertainment for the night.
Mum revelled in local celebrations – the opening of the Binalong pool in January, 1964; riding side saddle at the re-enactment of the shooting of Johnny Gilbert in 1965; back to Binalong weekends; Shearers and Squatters balls; and centenary of the arrival of the railway in 1983, just to name a few. We have much to be thankful for, and I would particularly like to thank:
• People for the messages of condolences and sympathy from many people who could not be here today.
• The board, management and staff at Warmington Lodge for their caring and kind attention given to mum. Over the last almost five years, Mum regarded the Lodge as her home and never wished she was anywhere else.
• The doctors and nurses at the Yass Hospital, Mum’s doctor, Dr Rajah Ahluwalia, and Fr Peter from the Yass Parish.
And the last thank you goes to Mum.
We have been absolutely blessed to have you, a gracious lady, as our matriarch, role model and mentor.
Thank you for the years of love, devotion and enduring example of how to live a life well. I will close with a poem written for this occasion by Robyn Sykes:
For Gwen Gwen studded our lives with her sequins and lace: she shimmered like satin with ribbons and curls. How we thrilled to be wrapped in her velvet embrace! warm as merino, more lustrous than pearls. She knitted life’s fabric with patience and flair for family, church and community work.
Together with Adrian. Oh! What a pair!
They made the joint jump. Half the town went berserk! When curtains of trouble drew in and around, they worked hard and prayed hard, their values aligned.
Gwen treasured their bond, and their echoes resoundin the hearts and the minds of the clan left behind. Her front doors stayed open to greet those in strife and she trusted her God and His promise of life.
