Birth and Family Background

Elsie Selina Hewlett was born in South Melbourne on August 30, 1900 – an auspicious year: the beginning of a new century.

She was the third daughter of James Philip and Helen Laura Hewlett. The eldest daughter was aged 3 years at the time and died when Elsie was just 3 years old. The middle child was Gertrude Esther Hewlett, my mother.

Early Hardship and Childhood

When Elsie was two years old James Philip deserted the family, never to return. This left Elsie, Gertie and Edith and their mother in straitened circumstances. There were no maintenance payments, and no social security benefits. Elsie’s mother found work as a laundress and did other menial tasks to provide basic food, shelter and clothing for the family. They were extremely poor: the girls never owned more than one dress, but they “always had good food which included fruit and vegetables and were warmly clad”.

The two remaining sisters attended the Princes Park Primary school. Elsie was a high-spirited youngster who was more interested in socializing and having fun that she was in scholarship: a tomboy, climbing trees, playing boisterous games often returning home with muddied shoes and torn clothes, much to the consternation of her mother.

Relationship with Her Mother

Helen Laura, Elsie’s mother, was a difficult woman and Elsie’s relationship with her was not always easy. Elsie left home as soon as she was able in her late teen years while working as a machinist at the Bedgood shoe factory because she “wanted to have a life of (her) own”. However, in spite of the difficulties in the mother-daughter relationship Elsie played a significant role caring for her Mother during her later years when she was an invalid.

Marriage and Early Married Life

At the age of 19 years Elsie met Walter Nicholls, a Queenslander, who was passing through Melbourne on his way home from the killing fields of France after the Great War. The couple were married at the Toowoomba Presbyterian Manse on February 23, 1921 and settled in Queensland living for some years at Gatton. Walter obtained work there as a butcher, a trade he remained in for the duration of his working life.

Children and Family Life

A son, Roland Walter (known as Ron) was born on August 30, 1922. This day was, Elsie’s birthday but at the time she believed that her birthday was on the previous day. She did not discover her actual birth date until 1969 when she applied for a passport and of course she was delighted to learn that her beloved son was born on the actual date of her own birth.

When Ron was three years old the family moved to Victoria and settled in Emerald living in a timber house adjoining the railway station. The 25 years spent there were generally happy ones for the family only marred by the death of a second son, William David Nicholls in 1925 at Belgrave, Victoria who died when he was only a few hours old; and by the anxiety of Elsie and Walter when Ron enlisted and served in the Australian Air Force during World War II.

Life in Emerald and Community Involvement

While living in Emerald Elsie entered into the life of the village (as it was in those days) with great enthusiasm. She served on various committees and was involved in the Anglican church where she played the organ. She kept ‘open house’ and local people were always welcome. During the years of the Great Depression of the 1930s Walter always had work, and Elsie helped needy families by providing food for them even though Walter’s wage was small. 

Later she supplemented Walter’s income by selling eggs and dressed poultry, and during summer months she took in paying guests on a full board basis. Two of these guests, Marie Gall and Dorothy Walker became her life-long friends.

Home Life and Personality

Food always played an important part in the life of the Nicholls family. Elsie will be remembered by many for her marvellous cream sponges (no one could match them), swiss rolls and Chinese chews. She always had a well-stocked larder and would whip up a tasty meal in a few minutes if unexpected visitors arrived. She loved her flower garden which thrived in the rich mountain soil. Evenings were spent around the large open fireplace with Elsie knitting and rug making and telling stories of the day to day life in the village; stories that were told with graphic verbal images and colour.

The War Years

The years of World War II were dark ones for Elsie. Ron had enlisted and served for some years in Port Moresby and on the island of Morotai, Northwest of New Guinea which was heavily bombarded by the Japanese. Elsie and Ron were avid correspondents during that time, and Elsie kept all his letters. Prior to Ron’s departure for overseas a code was devised because letters from servicemen were censored. Ron, via that code, was able to indicate to his mother when he was likely to be coming home on leave.

Illness and the Move to Bentleigh

In 1949 Elsie suffered a severe depressive illness which necessitated hospitalization. At that time, she and Walter decided to move to the city and they resided at Bentleigh. Wally obtained work at ‘William Angliss Limited’ in Footscray, and Elsie worked for several years in a local knitting mill enabling her to buy some luxuries. 

Later Life and Independence

These included a cream baby Morris car which delighted her. She liked nothing better than to drive around the outskirts of Melbourne with a picnic lunch packed in the boot. She was thrilled also to obtain a driver’s licence, and in the course of doing that put her age back 10 years because, she said, “I intend to drive for as long as I am able, I am not going to let the police tell me when to stop.” However, although she drove until she was in her mid-80s, she very sensibly sold her car when she felt that it was no longer safe for her to be doing so.

Family Relationships and Sisterly Bond

From earliest times the two sisters were particularly close, probably because of the deprivations of childhood. Their relationship can be described as a ‘twin-ship’. After Walter’s death they did most day to day things together and owned identical cars, had the same pattern carpet and vinyl flooring in their homes, and the same covering on similar lounge suites. In Elsie’s words “we always looked after each other”. Although they never lived together they would stay at each other’s homes during severe illnesses.

A weekly ritual related to the Saturday roast dinner at Elsie’s house which she baked, and my mother paid for the ingredients. The type of meat was chosen after much discussion and careful selection at a local butchers’ shop and woe-betide him if the meat was tough; and woe-betide Gertie if she was late for lunch!

Later Years and Loss

It was a wrench for Elsie and Wally when Ron and Nancy moved to Sussex Inlet several years ago, they were greatly missed. This couple had an excellent marriage and were devoted to each other. Ron died in 1990 at home at Sussex Inlet.

The years after Ron’s marriage were marred by Walter’s ill health, a legacy from WWII when he inhaled mustard gas when he was in France. Elsie was his devoted nurse and prided herself on the excellent care she gave during his many crises.

Widowhood and Travel

The couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in February 1971 at the home of Bill and Molly Whitham in East Ormond; Nancy’s parents and close friends of the family. In June of that year Walter died.

Elsie then resumed her social activities become actively involved in two Senior Citizens Clubs. She had several trips overseas with her sister Gertie visiting Canada, United States, Europe, Africa, Japan and Asia.

Final Years and Care

1990 was a tragic year for Elsie; Gertie died on September 17, and her beloved son, Ron, died on December 27. Her world fell apart: she was then 90 years old and living independently in her home with difficulty. She remained there until late 1991 when she moved into a Baptist Hostel and remained there until 3 weeks prior to her death. During that time, she struggled with failing health, and in January 1992 she had a stroke which left her partially blind. This was a terrible blow for her. However, she had the emotional resources to pick up her life again and continued a limited involvement in the social activities of the hostel.

During the last few years of her life Elsie was supported by her close friend Merle who was like a daughter to her. Eileen and Jim, her loyal neighbours of many years were always willing to shop for her and provide basic necessities; Nancy, arranged for Elsie to have access to talking books, and other aids to improve her quality of life; Russell and Stuart, Marion and Owen’s sons, telephoned and visited her, and Marion managed her financial affairs and liaised with Hostel and medical personnel.

Facing Death

Elsie faced death and dying with remarkable equanimity and courage as her body broke down. She is to be admired for her strength. During her last 10 days she carefully assigned her belongings to her friends and relatives and made her peace with those who were closest to her. She wanted to die, and expressed that desire clearly saying “I have had my day. I am tired. I do not want to struggle any more. Every night I cry and ask the Lord to take me, so I will not wake up in the morning”.

Death

Elsie died at 8.30 p.m. on January 27, 1994 from a pulmonary embolism. She did not suffer undue pain or distress and for that we are very thankful.

Poetic Tribute

In other days I sang of simple things,

Of summer dawn, and summer noon and night,

The dewy grass, the dew-wet fairy rings,

The Larks’ long golden flight.

Deep in the forest I made melody

While squirrels cracked their hazel nuts on high,

Or I would cross the wet sand to the sea

And sing to sea and sky.

Then came the silvered silence of the night

I stole to casements over scented lawns,

And softly sang of love and love’s delight

To mute white marble fauns.

I played with the toys the gods provide

I sang my songs and made glad holiday,

Now I have cast my broken toys aside

And flung my lute away.

A singer once, I now am fain to weep.

Within my soul I feel strange music swell,

Vast chants of tragedy too deep – too deep

For my poor lips to tell. . . . By Leslie Coulson.

The pall bearers included Stuart and Russell Clark and the song ‘The Carnival is Over’ by ‘The Seekers’, my Aunt’s favourite group, was played as the casket was carried to the hearse. Elsie was buried in the New Cheltenham Cemetery with her husband, Walter Nicholls.