Postscript to schooldays.

Though we didn't have school camps or major trips as schools organise today I do remember one great school outing while I was at Yeronga state primary school. It was probably pre-war so I would have been about 8. There was a steam ship named the SS Koopa which steamed from Brisbane to Redcliffe  and I think also to Moreton Island. The school may have had an annual picnic and on this occasion a family day was organised on the SS Koopa to Redcliffe. Mum made me a new outfit . I can still remember the floral material for the shorts and top. She also made a large sunbonnet to match...a sensible action as I have always burnt easily in the sun.  I grizzled all day about wearing that hat as I thought it was babyish! Ungrateful  young miss! I always had to wear a blouse under my bathing togs  and that also brought out the grizzles. I must have enjoyed the day on the whole as it is a fond memory!

Thanks to my son-in-law Brian for finding these photos for me.

I have mentioned earlier that my Grandfather Tarbit, Ida, and Auntie Agnes were very much part of our lives. Alan and I spent some wonderful school holidays staying with them at their home in Booval outside Ipswich.  In 1947 Lois and I spent some time with them..Alan would have been at work by then.

Here we are helping our Grandfather pick peaches for Ida to make jam.

At the time when I finished secondary school many girls were making their debut. These were very big occasions and were often organised by the school. Clayfield College did not sponsor these events and many girls from my year had a private "coming-out" party or supper dance. I went to several of these and finally persuaded my parents to allow me to have one. We held a supper-dance in a Hall at Clayfield and invited all my class. Some  of them brought a male friend along but there were still plenty of girls dancing together. I remember it as a very happy evening.

This was the dress I made for the occasion. The little bolero I had knitted in some sort of chenille which was very popular at the time.

When I see the photos in the newspaper these days of the "graduation" outfits the girls are wearing I think how young and unsophisticated my generation was...and  rationing on cloting is not in force in Australia today!

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