Nana

wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother

she was my Nana

The best cook - she just knew the right ingredients to make the perfect sponge cake or the crispiest crumbed chicken. Her doughnuts were legendary. I remember going to Nana's & Papa's after church and she would be busy whipping up a batch or two of doughnuts for Ingrid to take to a fireside.

An amazing seamstress - she always had a new dress, or skirt with matching blouse for us to wear. She made my year 7 graduation dress, my year 12 formal dress and my wedding dress.

Everything in her garden bloomed and fruited - Nana's roses always bloomed at the front of her garden. She would bring plants home that she bought on the reduced table at the garden section of the store and more often than not the plant would grow into a strong bush or tree.

Family was everything to her - there were many occasions that I, or my brothers or sisters, slept over. I remember staying up with her and watching Princess Diana's wedding. Lying in bed I could always hear her sewing machine humming away. I remember catching the bus into the city and meeting her at the railway station dry cleaners where she worked. Once she had finished work we would catch a bus to her house. On the bus she would bring out her knitting and I would sit next to her keeping an eye out for our stop. On summer evenings her back gate was always open for us to have a late evening swim.

The radio was her constant companion - Nana always kept up-to-date with local topics thanks to talk back radio. Where ever Nana was there was always a radio on, day or night. Even while in hospital she listened to the radio thanks to the little portable radio that Gunt bought her.


A year ago today she passed away with her family surrounding her.

Not once through her illness did I ever hear her complain. She always had a smile for us.

I remember visiting her at the Royal Adelaide Hospital with the kids. The boys were touching everything that moved and were shaking her bed, and while I was trying to ensure that they weren't making her uncomfortable she just laughed and said "boys will be boys". She told Ailish that she was proud of her and commented on how she was growing into a beautiful young lady.

Not a day goes by that she is not in my thoughts. My life has been enriched and blessed because of my Nana's talents and generosity.