parents

I am sad that my children did not have the opportunity to get to know their grandparents better, which in turn means that they cannot tell their children much about them. so I think I will make a few general comments at this stage .
To see them in the context of their times is to know that they were married during The Great Depression.  History is not taught now as it used to be so  I would hope that you will read up on the internet about that as it affected Australia. It is recorded that Australia was one of the worst affected of the countries of the western world. The years from the mid 1920's were economically extremely difficult for all. Alan was born in 1929 and I in 1931. The year 1932 was the worst year of the Depression with unemployment being at 30% .Then things started to pick up to 1938 only to be disrupted again with the outbreak of World War 11 in 1939. Life was very unsettled until 1948-49.
We were one of the luckier families as Dad had full-time and secure employment in the PMG Dept. There was no money to spare but I dont remember ever feeling deprived or hungry which shows that they were good managers. I now wonder how they  found the money to let me have dancing lessons at that time. Mum was always very frugal and we all learnt much from her in that regard. She was a very complex character.  She had to leave school early ( one of 11 children as mentioned earlier) but even in her 80s she was still "learning". I remember her cutting pieces from the paper when a series of "introductions to science" was published. She was highly intelligent , a great reader especially concerning societal matters, Her particular interest was in women's health and wellbeing; also anything involving children and families. She was a member of the Mothercraft Assoc. when we were little . Modern women think they invented the Womens Lib movement but I am sure it started with many of the women of my mother's generation though in a much more  subtle manner.
She had very firm opinions on things and could at times be rather brusque almost to the point of rudeness , but never spoke ill of anyone and was quick to pull us up if we started to criticise anyone ( even our teachers!) When we lived at Amiens( near Stanthorpe ...more about that later) during the war years she helped local Italian women ( many of whose  husbands were interned) prepare Income Tax returns and fill in other official documents.  Alan and I were at times victimised by local children because our mother let us play with the children of those families. I am pleased to say that Alan and I never doubted that Mum was doing the right thing
Mum and Dad were in many ways very different but had a great relationship which endured for  over 60 years. I am eternally grateful for the environment they provided for me.
While Mum was the authority figure, Dad was the softie. He hated having to enforce discipline When Mum decided Alan needed to be punished.by what was known as a 'belting" I would be under the house bawling  and many the time came upstairs to find Mum wiping her eyes; hate to think how Dad was suffering . Perhaps Alan came off the best!
Dad's career in the PMG started as a teletechnician in 1923. In 1938 he was promoted to Telecommunication Engineer( I remember him studying at the dining room table while we were doing our homework. He had dreadful handwriting and used also to practise writing) He came to the attention of the chief engineer in the Head Office and was moved into that area to help supervise communications during the war years. In 1947 he was appointed Superintendent of Buildings for the state of Qld, In 1953 he was Supt Buildings for Victoria and from 1957 to 1964 he was Supervising Engineer , Works Programming & Building,Central Administation, for the whole of Australia. ( no, I dont remember all those details; they are listed in Who's Who in Australia in 1985 if you want to check them)
After retirement he was sought out to be the Liaison Engineer 1966-67  for the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology which was in the process of expanding its buildings.
Not bad for a man who emigrated fom England at age 9 and  teased as the new Pom at school.
He also was highly intelligent  and a great reader,also a keen photographer. In his early years he was working in Nth Qld and used to send photos and reports down to the Brisbane paper.
Summing up I remember him as a quiet, gentle man with a quirky sense of humour.
Because of his eyesight and work in defense communications he was exempt from overseas service during the war. Mum on the whole enjoyed good health...she was a stickler for good nutrition etc...so unlike many of my generation I was fortunate to have had both my parents for such a long time.

Ike (father)

during WW2

earliest memory

I think my earliest memory is of having this photo taken. Dad was trying to take the photo while Mum was standing on the back steps giving me instructions. I can still "hear" her voice telling me how to stand etc.

Receiving instructions

You can see the difference in the second photo. a big smile! feet in "third postion."

Don't you love that bathing cap!!!!! It was bright red as were the bands on the dress. I distinctly remember the feel of them. Not sure about the white part but the red bands were of a very stiff fabric. I think of heavy waterproof raincoats when I imagine it.

I was probably 4 years old at the time. I started learning dancing at age 31/2 and this would have been for my first recital. I dont remember that but like to think I have a little "claim to fame" as having danced on the Brisbane City Hall stage at the age of 4!

I was enrolled in the Thelma Robertson School of Dancing which I have read in recent years was at that time THE place to be. It was later taken over by Joy and Fay Bassett ; The younger sister Nell used come in after school in her high school uniform to help and later joined Joy full time when Fay was married. Their mother was the pianist. She also played for our exams which only made me more nervous as I was sure she would be reporting back to the teachers!The Bassett school remained the most prestigious school in Brisbane.

I have no memory of early lessons; I expect they were on a Saturday morning and that Mum would have taken me in on the tram as we didn't have a car. ( Cars were only for the at that time.)

I continued learning until I was 18 or 19. I did all the primary grade exams( an examiner came out from London) and what is known as the Elementary which made me a Member of the Royal Academy of Dancing. We were allowed to use those intitals but that was later stopped until you had passed your Solo Seal which was the highest exam  and I think still is.; Iwas working towards my Intermediate when I decided to stop. I was busy with Speech & Drama, piano lessons, study, all combined with transport difficulties. I was having trouble with the toe work which we  started after the primary exams but as I was/am very flatfooted with no arch in my instep , the toe work was very difficult and becoming painful.

I was in many recitals in the City Hall and can recall all the excitement of being onstage, the backstage corridors and dressing rooms etc It all gave rise to my great love of theatre and performing.

One performance I clearly remember was a duet when I was about 7 or 8. It was to the music of "Little mister baggy britches...I love you..." We were dressed as a Dutch girl and boy.I was a bit miffed that I had to be the boy while the prettier girl with curls got to be the girl!

I had a white satin suit trimmed with silver braid. I wore a white pointed cap also with braid.Our tap shoes were painted white and sprinkled with silver. At the end of the dance we crossed our legs towards each other and accidentally our feet hit. I remember silver flying everywhere.

There was a break when we went to Amiens ( for about 1 1/2 years I think) during the war (WW11)

With the primary exams a"national" dance was set; I learnt the Irish jig and became quite good I believe at doing the Highland Fling. We practised with chalk lines on the floor but just before the exam they brought in swords to make us feet perfect . You were not allowed to  look at your feet!

I danced in a number of eisteddfods. As a teenager I was very interested in the "musical comedy" type of dancing and must have been rather good as I was usually chosen for those .

In costume for "musical comedy" performances

That is all probably of not much interest to most of you...but Hey, these are my memories!"

a few facts

Best to start with a few basic facts. I cant remember the occasion personally but records tell me I was born in Brisbane on 12th June, 1931. My father was Isaac ( known as Ike) Tarbit and mother Mary ( nee Wain.) My brother Alan was born in 1929  and my sister Lois 5 years after me. I do remember when Lois was born. I can still feel my excitement of going ( probably with my father and brother) to visit Mum and the baby in a small private hospital .What a thrill to have a baby in the family ...and a sister at the same time!
I have no memories of my Grandmother Tarbit but came to know and love my Grandfather Tarbit and Auntie Agnes. Some years after Grandmother died my Grandfather married again and Ida was very much part of my life also. I dont remember my maternal grandparents from my childhood but do remember meeting one or both of them many years later at the wedding of my cousin Val Wain. I was surprised at how small they were as from what my mother had told me they were very strict and rather severe people. Interesting that I had therefore thought they must be big??!!
My mother was one of 11 children but my father had only his sister
Agnes (who never married -though I remember my father saying that she used to correspond with a serviceman during the war; not sure if he was hinting at any more. Wish I knew.)
That's enough for a first instalment.

Hilary Joan

Mary (mother) & Ike(father) with Hilary and Alan

Agnes (aunt), Mary, Ike with Hilary, Alan, Grandmother Tarbit

Alan & Hilary

looking back

I recently spent some time with my brother Alan sharing memories of our childhood. Interesting how often these memories of an incident or occasion varied and I've no doubt my sister Lois would have a different version again.
As I near my 80th birthday I thought I would try to record  memories of my life. Many of the things I relate will be known to some of you but not to others. I hope they will be of use in helping my children, grandchildren, extended family members and close friends come to know me better ...and remind me of things when I can no longer remember anything myself!
I will try to add things regularly.