As an unofficial historian I would like to try and give an essence of Heather.
Heather died in her 80th year of lung failure. She had had a healthy life up until her last year.
Born in the King Valley, Heather had two siblings. She was the eldest and definitely not the favourite. The middle child was a boy and the apple of his mother's eye. He could do no wrong. Heather always judged this to be unfair.
Heather had what could only be called a normal childhood.
Always optimistic, Heather was tolerant of human beings. She didn't judge people harshly. Well, not openly out loud. She was friendly to a large proportion of the population.
In turn, Heather was liked by most people who met her. She had a fairly full social life, belonging to many groups and fitting well into the wider community. She would have had a mitigating effect if any of her groups showed signs of extreme behaviour. Always quick to laugh, she could always easily defuse a tricky situation.
Heather started life living in a house on the King Valley side of the cutting. This was quite a crude house with few amenities. The inside was not fully lined and it had a limited supply of cold water. Heather enjoyed living in this house nestled between the River and the Hill, close to both. Heather claimed she could go into the bush and the river whenever she wanted. She might have done this in secret, but most likely would have done it with her siblings and relatives, of which she had many.
In time, Heather's family moved about two miles down the road to a house that is still in the family. This house is on 30 acres and close to the River. You could always hear the river at night. A clearing sale was held on the afternoon they moved in. They had already purchased the property and slept in the house that night. They had to move quickly because the 20 cows which came with the property had to be milked twice every day. In time they also kept pigs, which were the responsibility of Heather's mother. Both her mother and father milked the cows, but her father worked off the farm as much as possible as an agricultural labourer or casual worker in industry.
Heather's father, Tom, was from Paisley in Scotland. He wasn’t Hollywood Scottish as he never wore a kilt. He admitted, however, to having a connection with Robbie Burns and his family had kept intact a pair of Burn’s breeks. Tom had had a privileged upbringing until the time his mother broke with his father, a serious drinker inclined to go on benders which sometimes lasted for weeks. Tom's sympathies were with his mother. The family breakup meant Tom's life changed forever. The business which gave them a comfortable living came to an abrupt end. Tom had to leave school before school leaving age and get a job. In later life he would recall in detail how much he had loved school and how much he missed school. How he sometimes would stand outside the school and watch the pupils going in. He could quote Shakespeare and Wordsworth. Tom's family did not get back together and in time it was decided that Tom would come to Australia and join his relatives in the King Valley. He came to Melbourne by boat and then train to King Valley. He claimed the train journey from Wangaratta to King Valley lasted approximately the same time as the journey from Melbourne to Wangaratta. The train stopped at all 12 stations. Sometimes for an hour.
Heather's mother belonged to a musical family. Her name was Edith but she was called Edie. There was a Laffy family band composed of Edie's father, two brothers, and sister, Edie never sang with the band, instead singing solo songs which highlighted her voice. Her singing career went on long after the Laffy family band split up. Often asked to sing at public occasions, Edie would sometimes take part in talent quests run by the local radio station. All her relatives and friends would listen with interest when this happened. A vinyl record was made of one of her appearances.
Heather did not always get on with Edie. She once ran away from home, or more correctly rode away on her bike. Taking refuge with her Aunt, she extolled a list of complaints. The middle verandah had to be swept. The kitchen floor needed to be washed. The beds had to be made and she was expected to do it all. Quickly, however, Edie was notified and the conversation turned to how fast Heather had ridden her bike. Heather had travelled 8 miles in an hour. How fast was she going?
Heather had a full working life until she married and became a full time housewife. She was good at this occupation, excelled at it even. She got on well with her husband David and in time they raised two well adjusted children. David and Heather had many adventures. David had several careers in various industries and Heather always supported him. It can be stated that Heather and David were soul mates who appreciated each other in the deepest sense. If any marriage can be described as successful then theirs can. This wasn’t all David's fault, Heather had a hand in it as well.
In late middle age, during a bout of illness, Heather gave up smoking 'cold turkey'. She had been a reasonably heavy smoker, quite attached to the joys of smoking. She was never tempted to revert.
Heather was always generous to her relatives and friends and always welcomed people to visit. She was always accommodating if people wanted a meal or to stay the night. This was her strength. It was not always openly appreciated, but it was always understood. It's a cliche, but if any one was generous to a fault then Heather would qualify…
Neville Gibb
March 2024
Heather died in her 80th year of lung failure. She had had a healthy life up until her last year.
Born in the King Valley, Heather had two siblings. She was the eldest and definitely not the favourite. The middle child was a boy and the apple of his mother's eye. He could do no wrong. Heather always judged this to be unfair.
Heather had what could only be called a normal childhood.
Always optimistic, Heather was tolerant of human beings. She didn't judge people harshly. Well, not openly out loud. She was friendly to a large proportion of the population.
In turn, Heather was liked by most people who met her. She had a fairly full social life, belonging to many groups and fitting well into the wider community. She would have had a mitigating effect if any of her groups showed signs of extreme behaviour. Always quick to laugh, she could always easily defuse a tricky situation.
Heather started life living in a house on the King Valley side of the cutting. This was quite a crude house with few amenities. The inside was not fully lined and it had a limited supply of cold water. Heather enjoyed living in this house nestled between the River and the Hill, close to both. Heather claimed she could go into the bush and the river whenever she wanted. She might have done this in secret, but most likely would have done it with her siblings and relatives, of which she had many.
In time, Heather's family moved about two miles down the road to a house that is still in the family. This house is on 30 acres and close to the River. You could always hear the river at night. A clearing sale was held on the afternoon they moved in. They had already purchased the property and slept in the house that night. They had to move quickly because the 20 cows which came with the property had to be milked twice every day. In time they also kept pigs, which were the responsibility of Heather's mother. Both her mother and father milked the cows, but her father worked off the farm as much as possible as an agricultural labourer or casual worker in industry.
Heather's father, Tom, was from Paisley in Scotland. He wasn’t Hollywood Scottish as he never wore a kilt. He admitted, however, to having a connection with Robbie Burns and his family had kept intact a pair of Burn’s breeks. Tom had had a privileged upbringing until the time his mother broke with his father, a serious drinker inclined to go on benders which sometimes lasted for weeks. Tom's sympathies were with his mother. The family breakup meant Tom's life changed forever. The business which gave them a comfortable living came to an abrupt end. Tom had to leave school before school leaving age and get a job. In later life he would recall in detail how much he had loved school and how much he missed school. How he sometimes would stand outside the school and watch the pupils going in. He could quote Shakespeare and Wordsworth. Tom's family did not get back together and in time it was decided that Tom would come to Australia and join his relatives in the King Valley. He came to Melbourne by boat and then train to King Valley. He claimed the train journey from Wangaratta to King Valley lasted approximately the same time as the journey from Melbourne to Wangaratta. The train stopped at all 12 stations. Sometimes for an hour.
Heather's mother belonged to a musical family. Her name was Edith but she was called Edie. There was a Laffy family band composed of Edie's father, two brothers, and sister, Edie never sang with the band, instead singing solo songs which highlighted her voice. Her singing career went on long after the Laffy family band split up. Often asked to sing at public occasions, Edie would sometimes take part in talent quests run by the local radio station. All her relatives and friends would listen with interest when this happened. A vinyl record was made of one of her appearances.
Heather did not always get on with Edie. She once ran away from home, or more correctly rode away on her bike. Taking refuge with her Aunt, she extolled a list of complaints. The middle verandah had to be swept. The kitchen floor needed to be washed. The beds had to be made and she was expected to do it all. Quickly, however, Edie was notified and the conversation turned to how fast Heather had ridden her bike. Heather had travelled 8 miles in an hour. How fast was she going?
Heather had a full working life until she married and became a full time housewife. She was good at this occupation, excelled at it even. She got on well with her husband David and in time they raised two well adjusted children. David and Heather had many adventures. David had several careers in various industries and Heather always supported him. It can be stated that Heather and David were soul mates who appreciated each other in the deepest sense. If any marriage can be described as successful then theirs can. This wasn’t all David's fault, Heather had a hand in it as well.
In late middle age, during a bout of illness, Heather gave up smoking 'cold turkey'. She had been a reasonably heavy smoker, quite attached to the joys of smoking. She was never tempted to revert.
Heather was always generous to her relatives and friends and always welcomed people to visit. She was always accommodating if people wanted a meal or to stay the night. This was her strength. It was not always openly appreciated, but it was always understood. It's a cliche, but if any one was generous to a fault then Heather would qualify…
Neville Gibb
March 2024
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