12 February 1938 – 24 April 2021
Reflection by: Philip Beattie (son of Rosemary)
Rosemary was a mother of six – four boisterous boys and two daughters, and sometimes had a tough time juggling the demands of all her children, but she never complained. Our door was always open – be it for family, friends or local faces wanting to stop by the house for a quick chat and over the years many an eclectic bunch dropped by.
We fondly remember the numerous BBQ’s on the front lawn at Metung Street with all the neighbours, friends and family involved.
Mum was always there for us, when we returned from school. There was always a drink and a biscuit waiting then it was usually off to the park. We all knew there would be big trouble if we weren’t home when the streetlights came on.
We always ate at the table. Family dinners were quite an occasion with Mum preparing the family favourites, there was Chop Suey, Ravioli, steak and rice casserole and roast dinners on rotation and many others that were always hot hearty meals. It must have been challenging cooking for all of us every day.
You can just imagine the hi jinx with eight people around the kitchen table with someone regularly trying to steal something off someone else’s plate while they weren’t looking.
I fondly remember and cherish the chats mum and I had while we were washing the dishes, she would wash, I would dry and Mum would learn more about what was happening in my life than most mothers ever knew about their teenagers. Later on I was promoted to washing.
Family holidays…where to begin? There were many. We would load up the Volkswagen with cots, prams, five people and enough gear for a week away. We went to Bright a few times, summer holidays in Sorrento, numerous Scout family camps, and many other destinations. It must have been a huge task to pack for these events and then unpack and attend to all the washing etc. when we returned. Again, it was just what she did.
Our family has had a long association with Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish. Mum started teaching here in 1959, she and Dad were married here, all six children were baptised and attended primary school here along with a few grandchildren.
All our First Communions and Confirmations were celebrated here. The four boys were all altar boys here. We played tennis at the OLGC Tennis Club and attended the OLGC Youth Group. Mum was on the Parish Liturgical Committee, the Halfway House Committee which became the Refugee and Asylum Seeker Committee resettling refugees into the community, the Tennis Club Committee and she was at the time the longest continuous member of OLGC Primary School Mothers Club at 22 years and we doubt that the record has been broken.
Apart from the association with Our Lady of Good Counsel, Mum gave back in other ways. Mum was on the committee of my Kindergarten in 1964. This was followed by a lifetime of helping out in other areas including some 35 years in what I knew as The Josephines.
The Josephines were a group of local mums that met monthly and sponsored children in India for the Ryder Cheshire Foundation. The first child they sponsored was Josephine, hence the name.
Mum had a love of music and books – particularly books – she was forever reading and it was not unusual to pop in for a visit and find her asleep in the chair with a book still in her hands. As kids she made sure we were well read and knew the importance of books and literature. Up until recently she would always be recommending books or trying to send us home with a book and at times a banana and apple too. Mum instilled a legacy in us all that we are still enjoying today.
Mum and Dad shared a love of travel and once Dad retired there was usually at least one annual overseas trip. They would venture off, sometimes immersing themselves in little towns and villages off the beaten track in France or Italy. There were also many cruises around the Pacific and one extended cruise on the QE2.
We look back now and realise how lucky we were to have grown up in this environment and have our mum as such a large part of our lives.
In the last few years I was privileged to have the time to drop in to Mum and Dad’s a couple of times a week for a cuppa and although it was extremely sad to see the decline in Mum it was obvious the love they shared for each other.
My lasting memories of Mum are simple: a hard-working, passionate figure of strength who never waned in her support or love of her family, and who soldiered on, even when times were tough.
Rosemary was a vibrant soul, one who literally lit up whatever room she entered, full of joy and always eager to help out, no matter what the problem was. Rosemary is and will always be missed, but her legacy lives on in the gentlemen and women that she raised.
19 Brenbeal Street, Balwyn VIC 3103
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Judy Savage says:
Beautiful reflections Phillip of your dear mother, Rosemary. We shared many happy times as neighbours, at OLGC,Genazzano and Marcellin. Sadly John and I were away and could attend her funeral Mass. God rest her dear soul.