A smile and a quick wit

Tribute by friend and neighbour Margaret Monk
A SWEET nature and a happy disposition made Mary Lawrence a much-loved Yarra Glen identity.
She had a quick wit and loved a joke, peppering her speech with many old and unusual sayings.
Mary was born Mary Jane Siggins.
She had a brother, Jack, who died in 1960 at 48 and a sister, Rose, who died in the late ’80s.
Her mother was a Malvern Grammar-educated girl and her father an estate agent.
This eventuated in the family moving more than 30 times in more than 20 years.
Mary often reminisced about how her mother yearned for a new stove but each time the house was renovated it was sold and they moved on.
This meant that Mary was not able to forge childhood friendships due to the constant moves.
Ethel was her one long lasting childhood friend but lived in Tasmania. Mary’s mother died at 65 in 1945 and her father at 77 in 1958. Mary was said to be heartbroken on the death of her mother who she felt very close to.
Mary was very sporty as a girl gaining entry into a state team but her parents would not let her go. She was very disappointed by this.
In her teenage years she loved social outings and attended many dances catching the train with friends down the line.
Mary and Bill married in October 1940 in Lilydale, honeymooning in Phillip Island for a week.
Mary’s father did not want her to marry a ‘cow cocky’.
He held up the wedding day to finish his jobs and Mary was quite late to her own wedding.
Mary and Bill dressed in their wedding clothes a week later to have a photo done as none were taken at the wedding.
Their marriage, however, was a long and happy one welcoming son Robert (born in 1948).
Mary and Bill worked hard on his parents’ stud dairy farm at Tarrawarra.
Mary also ran the Tarrawarra Post Office for 20 years.
At the same time she nursed Bill’s bedridden parents at home until her own health was endangered by stomach ulcers.
During this time Mary and Bill belonged to the Yarra Glen Agricultural Society showing their dairy cattle and winning many awards.
Bill belonged to several Lodges and was away many evenings but Mary never complained. Being an exceptional cook, Mary competed in the Cookery Section at the Yarra Glen show winning many prizes. Her scones and sponges are legendary.
Mary and Bill left the farm and moved into Yarra Glen.
By then they had travelled extensively and wonderful slide shows of their trips were shown in the Yarra Glen Hall and many other places.
Both Mary and Bill were avid Camera Club members belonging to the Croydon Camera Club for many years and won many prizes.
Then Mary lost her husband and best mate, Bill.
She learned to drive again and took on the bookwork.
She enjoyed attending Senior Citizens (winning the raffle so many times it was unbelievable) and playing indoor bowls (unfortunately breaking her knee while playing) and she enjoyed attending church. In between were the visits from family and friends.
She had a circle of close friends who saw to her everyday needs, for which she was always grateful.
Mary was a generous donor to the CFA and the church. She donated the land for the Steels Creek tennis courts.
Mary had a ‘bucket list’ which included a hot air balloon ride at age 77 and a helicopter ride at age 86.
She had a soft spot for animals and babies and adored seeing her great-grandchildren.
Celebrations were held for her 90th birthday, which she talked about for months.
Eventually she became a resident at Holmwood where her friendly, easy-going nature endeared her to staff.
She continuously praised the staff who gave her exceptional care.
Mary could only be described as a lovely person.
She considered herself to have lived a long and lucky life full of good times, good friends and family.
She always had a smile and a cuppa for visitors and above all, she was always a lady.