The Days of Lizzie Jones

Lizzie Jones 1895 - 1980

My Grandma Jones, was born as Lizzie Nolan in 1895 at Lady Musgrave Hospital, Maryborough. She was the only surviving child of Eliza Tinkler and David Nolan although she had 5 step-siblings from her father’s first marriage and 2 from her mother’s second marriage!

In 1898, when she was 3 years old, Grandmas father died of “Mania” leaving Grandma’s Mum, Eliza, with a newborn baby of 17 days, Grandma and 5 step children. But that is a different story!

Two years later Grandma’s mother married Andrew Jessen in 1900 at Bundaberg. Andrew was a widower with 16 children aged between 4 years and 28 years! They all lived on the Jessen property named Goorah near Gundiah west of Tairo until sometime between 1908 and 1913 when they moved to Wooroolin. Grandma was between 13 to 18 years old when they moved to Wooroolin so her schooling years were at Gundiah and I remember being told Grandma lived there when we drove down to Hervey Bay on Holidays. I so wish I had asked more questions then!

The family lived in the Old Home at Wooroolin still standing on Bunya Highway between Transmitter Rd and Wellers Rd. I have a lovely picture of Grandma Jessen and family & Friends sitting on the step of this home.

Lizzie, aged 24 years, married Alf Jones on 30-June-1920 at the Presbyterian Church by a Minister of the Methodist Church in the small town of Wooroolin in the South Burnett, 17km south of Kingaroy. Her witness was her sister Alice Mary Jessen. Pops witness was Will Quail. Lizzie had one child,

Laurence William, born 21-Aug-1921 at Ontario Nursing Home in Kingaroy, when she was 25 years old. Lizzie had some form of Postpartum infection and was lucky to survive although she was unable to have any more children. Grandma was pretty tough on Dad as she did not want him to be a “spoilt Only child”. She used to send him to friends homes when they caught illnesses to make sure he built up antibodies. There is a story from Alan Jessen about his father, Uncle Bill, calling to visit Lizzie to find Laurie hiding under the bed and crying whilst his mother hit the bed with a stick telling him off for some misdemeanor!

Grandma was very involved with the little Anglican Church in Wooroolin – St Andrews Church of England. Services were not held every week but she certainly went whenever there was one and sat in the same seat every time! I am pretty sure she was President of the womens group for many years but will need to check that with Josie sometime soon…

Lizzie C 1915

I have a couple of photos of Grandma Jones riding a horse – Love this one! Unfortunately no year marked on the back. Probably in the 1920’s though…Quite amazing lady for her times it seems!

When WW11 broke out in 1939 Laurie was 18 and old enough to be called up but his mother somehow got him registered as a farmer so that he was not allowed to be called up. Laurie was apparently furious and waited till the day he turned 21 to enlist….

Grandma joined the local Comforts Fund which provided and distributed free comforts to the Australian 'fit' fighting men in all the battle zones. She was involved from 1939 until the branch closed in 1946. During this period was the start of the Annual Patriotic Sports, probably a forerunner of the infamous Wooroolin Highland Gathering a Sports run by the RSL. She was President from 13-July-1944 until its closure and I have a copy of the speech that she made that day. She finished her speech with the words” Our earnest prayer is that never again will be called upon to undertake work of this kind and that we will have Peace Everlasting”

Grandma was a Member of the Womens Auxiliary, RSSAILA, for at least 19 years. She was awarded Life Membership in 1965 and was presented with a Certificate as well as some marquisette jewellery, a brooch and earrings which are in my possession. She was presented with a Wide Bay Certificate of Merit in 1957 – I have this Certificate but not the Life Membership!

My second job was at McLeod’s Drapery store in Kingaroy, where we sold Materials as well as Underwear and Haberdashery. In 1966 when Australia changed currency from Sterling to Dollars it awful for the older ladies even though the exchange rate was 2:1. Grandma came in one day to buy some material for a new dress, always blue of some sort, and I remember her getting quite upset because she could not understand the money. My memory tells me that I whenever I used to see a piece of material that would suit her I would take a cutting down for her to view – Always blue of course. And of course Jean Campbell always made her dresses. I don’t think she even had fittings as they had gotten so used to each other. I got the giggles when I read Lauries Wedding notice in the paper – mother of the groom wore navy moss crepe relieved with white and navy accessories!

As children we had many happy adventures at Grandmas place. Memories of the outside toilet and therefore Chamber Pots at night! The laundry was outside in a outbuilding that was sectioned into Laundry, Shed and Wood-shed since they had Wooden stove. The water tank was between the house and the outbuilding and I remember ferns and a colourful Fuchsias growing under the taps.

The Copper was a cast iron or copper cauldron in which clothes and soapy water were heated over an open wood fire or wood-burning stove. The wash stick was used to stir and whack this hot, soapy concoction. thereby aerating the wash solution and loosening the dirt. The wash board was a wooden board with a corrugated zinc surface against which clothes were rubbed clean. I don’t remember Grandma having a Hand Wringer to squeeze excess water out of the clothes by pressing them between rollers – surely she did but!!!

The Chicken Pen and the large Loquat tree in it caused much fun. Those poor chickens must have been terrified when we all left…

1970 Family Group 50th Wedding Anniversary

Grandma and Pop held their 50th Wedding Anniversary party at the RSL Hall in Wooroolin Sports Ground in 1970 the same year I turned 21. I believe I left to go to New Zealand soon after this event.

Grandma died in April-1980 St Aubyns Private Hospital whilst I was living in London. She is buried with Pop at Tabinga Cemetery at Kingaroy. She wanted him to be there so she could visit from the home in Kingaroy but we all wish that they were at Memerambi with the rest of the family!