This story is a tribute to the late Elizabeth Annie (“Betty”) Anderson, of Rockhampton. Betty died on 25 February 2020, aged 100 years 6 months. I met Betty when I was a child. She was a long-standing family friend. My mother Evelyn and Betty had known each other since their late teens. My husband, Tony, […] Read more…
In your family archives, do you have an old letter or two? I do. One is a 3-page letter dated 13 March 1952 my father wrote to my mother, brother and me. I would recognize my father’s handwriting anywhere. Seeing his handwriting and reading the words and expressions he used in this letter makes me […] Read more…
This story is about Longreach in its early days and one of its pioneer families. It was inspired by six illustrated postcards of Longreach I found in my late mother Evelyn’s collection of photographs and memorabilia. The postcards reveal key aspects of this small Central Western Queensland town in the late 1800s and early 1900s […] Read more…
Earlier this year I resolved to find and reconnect with Alwyn and Fay Neuendorf. This is how I went about it. On 16 March 2016, I posted the following message and photograph on my Love in a little black diary Facebook page: “My dear followers, especially those of you who live in PNG. Do you […] Read more…
This story, set in World War II, is about a mother’s love for her sons. As you will discover, this love inspired the title of my short story blog “Love in a little black diary”. It is said there is a special bond between a mother and son. Elsie Antonia Proposch had three sons. William, […] Read more…
When I was a little girl, my grandmother gave me a precious keepsake, an old postcard. It has a fabric insert, organza embroidered with the words “To my Sister”, richly embellished with dark pink roses and greenery. I have always cherished it, mainly because it is so beautiful. It was years later that I realised […] Read more…
Joy came into my life when I was three. She was so pretty – fine features, blue eyes, clear olive complexion and long dark brown hair. She was dressed beautifully, in her white voile dress with hand-embroidered bodice and Peter Pan collar edged with lace, pleated skirt, pink taffeta petticoat and matching bonnet. Her outfit […] Read more…