Elsie Dewhurst 100 not out!
15 Jul 09
Elsie Clarice Rollason was born was born on Thursday 15th July 1909, the second youngest of 12 to John and Eliza Rollason, at Leichhardt, Sydney, New South Wales.
Her school years were spent at Leichhardt School.
At the age of 14 years, Elsie's father bought 60 acres of land at Barrengarry and build a little cottage for holidays.
They later moved here and bought another 20 acres so that they would have access to Moss Vale Road.
Elsie went back to Leichhardt for a few years to run the family laundry business, returning to the Valley and obtaining work at the Bungalow near Fitzroy Falls.
She used to walk to and from her work.
Elsie married her soul mate, Tim Dewhurst, on the 3rd April 1943.
It was an all too short a union as he was sent to New Guinea in the army during WW2. Unfortunately he was killed in action on the 5th April 1945. Just after their second anniversary.
Elsie fostered her nephew Norm Dewhurst and reared him from the age of four.
He unfortunately died 20 years ago in a Motor Bike accident.
Norm was as big as Elsie is small.
They were a sight together.
But very devoted to one another.
Elsie has had many interests in her life. Wonderful cook; I can attest to her cheese cake and many other cakes.
Sewing; she made a double bed patchwork quilt with circles the size of a 50 cent piece in her 80s.
Knitting; bedsocks her favorite as well as baby clothes.
Gardening; now she always had lovely little flower beds.
I can remember her coming into the KV Post Office to tell me she had to see the policeman, as she had been told that the beautiful big red poppies she was growing were opium poppies. She was scared she would get into trouble.
Our local copper said it would was not a problem she was not growing enough.
Not long after Jack came to live with Elsie he bought her a huge amount of dahlia bulbs.
A garden was made along the 20 metres of front fence.
A most beautiful display of multi coloured flowers.
As Elsie has gotten older it has become harder for her to kneel and weed and replant the bulbs, so she lays down and weeds with a kitchen fork and a pair of scissors. Amazing!!!!!!
The last few months of her gardening sessions she couldn't get off the ground so she would crawl up to the house.
Many suggestions were made on what should be done, but if she didn't garden she got depressed.
And every one knows how independent she is.
Loves reciting poetry.
The number of poems she knows is amazing. She won a competition once reciting a Dog named Sex.
The front verandah was Elsie sleeping place. She doesn't like sleeping inside.
When it rained or it was windy she would just pull the blankets further over her head.
I think she has been sleeping inside for the last couple of years.
When Elsie was 80, she and I used to go for walks every Thursday.
80 and we walked to the top of Bunkers Hill. Explored all the creeks.
Kept a very close eye on Sally and Pee Wees house being built.
Boy they have a steep drive.
I loved those walks, I learnt a lot about Elsie's life then. And she mine, a great friendship.
Elsie was involved in many community projects.
She was involved in the setting up of the Pioneer Farm museum, and her interest has stayed with the farm forever.
Dressing up in period dresses and attending functions, fundraising, being on the gate etc.
She was also a foundation member of the bowling club.
Elsie was also involved in getting the Senior Citizens going.
The Elsie I know is loyal, strong, knows what she wants and goes for it.
Says it straight, is generous, kind, and dresses up beautifully, loves playing cards with Jack. She also prefers men's company to womens.
Happy Birthday Elsie.
Congratulations.
Fran Pritchard