Precious memories

Memories of family and times past

At the Monday Chat this week, Ian Simon exhorted us to bring along a memento, or two, which were precious and part of our family stories, both past and present.

 

Kid gloves reflect a not-so-distant past

Ruth brought a collection of elegant kid-leather gloves owned by her great-aunt Doreen Ryan. 

Doreen started work in the typing pool at the Lands Department and worked her way up to be shorthand typiste for Western Australian Premiers, such as, McLarty, Wise, Hawke and Brand, for more than 30 years. It was a time when ladies wore gloves to many events, and she was no different.  As a single lady, she attended many business and state dinners.

But her beautiful gloves held special memories for Ruth, who wore the white, decorated gloves pictured here, at her own wedding.  These gloves were gifted to Doreen by Sir David and Lady Brand after a trade mission which included Milan.  Doreen   knew as much about the affairs of state as the main actors themselves as she took dictation in shorthand, typed and corrected their correspondence.

 

 

 

Cherished silver wedding gift 

When Heather's great-grandparents married, the wedding gifts were something special for the newly wed couple, but also practical.

This lovely fish server set was given to Lilian and William, with a card, now long gone, carefully inscribed. It represented hopes for a long and fruitful life together.

While the card is gone, the set was clearly cherished,.

It has been cared for and kept pristine in its original lavish box for their many descendants to appreciate and understand just a little about this couple's life.

 

 

 

 

 

Silver awarded for livestock achievements

The inscriptions on these prizes from the Kybunga and Clare A & H (Agricultural and Horticultural) societies tell the story of Ian's grandfather, Gustav Adolph Albert Simon, rewarded for his achievements for outstanding breeding stock.

Silver Serving dish with lid:  Clare A. & H. Society, A.I.S Bull and his progeny; Presented by The Society, to be won Three Times - won by G. A. Simon

Carving set: Blyth & Kybunga A. & H. Socy 1937; presented by L. C.Mugge Esq for Mare 4 years

 

 

A memento from more recent times

Precious does not always mean old.

Or something to be stored away carefully and brought out on special occasions.

This little leather purse was given to Anne by her sister, just days before she died last year.

"This belonged to Mum," she said.  "Now it's yours."

It will be treasured, and used every day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tiny treasures hold family mysteries

These two small objects are not only beautiful, but a little mysterious.

The brooch.  Is it a brooch, or was it a ring given to Anne's Great-grandmother Emma Kate Norris (Germein) by her husband Captain James Norris?

Family legend has it that it was a ring; a 'make-up' gift after one of his trips away to China to pick up exotic tea for the burgeoning Australian market in the 1860s.

The mourning pin.  In Victorian times these little items were a common way to remember the loss of a close family member. This little pin contains the hair of the lost loved one. It is engraved on the back : W L  

Determining the dates of these two items may bring Anne closer to revealing their origins.