WHITE, Marjorie

Marjorie White

 

Marjorie Harris was born in Raglan Street, Creswick, at the home of her great aunt, Midwife Alice Fish.

She was a member of the Victoria Street Wesleyan Church, from Cradle Roll through Sunday School; she was teaching Sunday School aged 15, a member of the church choir and Christian Endeavour Group and attended church three times every Sunday.

Marj grew up in the family home (also a shop) at 32 Albert Street, Creswick and attended the Creswick State School between 1928 and 1936, gaining the Merit Certificate – Year 8.

She was a member of the Calembeen Park Swimming Club, having achieved Bronze Medallion standard at school, for lifesaving, swimming and diving.  On Wednesday 27^th December, 1939 Marjorie, aged 15, saw that a visiting man was in difficulties in deep water at Calembeen and immediately went to his aid and, assisted by Victor James, rescued him and got him out of the water, little the worse for his misadventure.  Marjorie and Victor received a “Valour” award at a public ceremony on 27-2-1940.

Employed as a shorthand typist/clerk with the Creswick Shire Council, Marjorie started writing freelance reports for the Creswick Advertiser.  In 1940-43 she was Secretary of the Girls Patriotic Younger Set.  She wished to enlist in the AWAS at 18 but was not released until August 1943 when she joined the Women’s Army.

She was trained at Darley, near Bacchus Marsh, and posted to Vehicle Park, Kensington and later Bandiana, Vic.  During this time, she became engaged to her teenage sweetheart, Donald White, RAAF.  They were married at Victoria St Church on March 10^th 1945, just prior to his overseas posting to Borneo.

1945:  The war ended and Don returned home.  Marj had been discharged from the Army and was living with her parents, helping to make dozens of the famous Harris pies and Cornish pasties.

Marj and Don had four children – Neil 23-10-46, Robin 16-11-48, Anne

22-1-51 and Helen 21-12-55.  During the children’s school days, Marj spent much time supporting their schools – on committees – tuckshops, as well as teaching Sunday School.

In 1949, with two pre-school children at home, Marjorie wrote to the Council seeking their interest in establishing a Pre-School Centre.  The Council’s reply was to ‘…let these young mothers stay at home and mind their own children’.  In 1959 Marjorie tried again.  She had been writing for the Ballarat Courier for several years, and the Editor published her letter seeking interest in establishing a kindergarten in Creswick.  An overwhelming response led to a packed meeting on June 8th, 1959.  Marjorie was elected Foundation Secretary; Cr Selwyn Geddes was President.  The Committee worked for two years raising funds and the first pre-school was opened in St John’s Hall, Napier Street in February 1961.  None of Marjorie’s children were young enough to attend, however she remained as Secretary until 1965.

The Victorian Room of the new Kindergarten was built due to the hard work of a group of women who formed themselves into the Ten Willing Workers who have raised thousands of dollars for Creswick charities and worthy causes.  The second room, the Napier Room, was opened in 1961 and Marj was invited to open it as a tribute to her efforts.

During the 1950s Don worked with the returned Servicemen who spent their spare time making cement bricks, building both the Scout and RSL Halls, as well as the Bowling Club and Golf Club rooms. He was also Master of Havilah (Freemasons) Lodge and Marj supported him in this work and was on the RSL Women’s Auxiliary, catering for functions and fundraisers.  She also took office on the Committee of Ladies who worked for several years to have the Toddler’s Pool installed at Calembeen Park in 1959.

In 1965, Marjorie returned to paid employment, first at McPherson’s Homecraft business which then merged into Phillip’s Industries, where she became Office Manager.

In 1978 Don’s poor health (2 heart attacks and a stroke) led to his early retirement.  In 1981, elder son Neil died following a year-long battle with stomach cancer, a legacy of Agent Orange.  Don died in 1983 and Marj, at a low point of her life, was assisted by her son Rob, to build a new house in Drummond Street, which she planned, and gave Rob a new career as a builder.

Marj enrolled in a Watercolour Class, entering her paintings in shows and winning prizes.  She was involved in setting up the Creswick Artists Group in the late 80s.  At this time, she also knitted and crocheted rugs and baby shawls, many of which she gave away and donated to charities as raffle prizes.  When her mother (Mrs Harris) entered to John Curtin Hostel, Marj played the organ for an hour after church each Sunday to entertain the residents.

From 1997-99 Marjorie contributed Creswick news to the Central Country Times on a fortnightly basis until it ceased publication.  When the CDN started in 1998 Marj was on the early Committee and contributed for many years.  She was a Committee Member for the 1998 Creswick School 125^th anniversary, and wrote some of the memoirs.  She wrote a history of the, now disbanded, Newlyn RSL which was published in the RSL State ‘Mufti’ magazine.  She was an active volunteer at the Visitor Information Centre and belonged to the Laurel Club, co-ordinating the making of wreaths for ANZAC Day and marching in the parade.

As an active member of the St Andrews Uniting Church, Marj was on the Committee for the 140^th Anniversary and regularly arranged flowers and served as a door steward.

In 2008, Marjorie was honoured as an Inductee of the Heather Mutimer Women’s Honour Roll – a fitting tribute.

Although her health declined in her later years and she was no longer able to attend church or participate in her previous activities, she continued to knit and crochet until her death following a stroke in November 2017.