OBITUARY
Helen Elizabeth (Nell ) Adams
Born: 18 November, 1926
Died: 3 April, 2011.
NELL Adams lived all her life in the hills and valleys of the Yarra Ranges and loved being part of the rural communities in which she lived.
Nell was born on 18 November, 1926, at her family home in Silvan, the second youngest of Edward and Emma Hollis’ eight children.
She attended Silvan South State School until leaving in Grade 8. She worked on the family market garden until she left home at 16 to work in a guest house in Sherbrook Forest.
At 18 she got a job at the Lilydale railway station refreshment room where she met her future husband Dick Adams. They married on 29 November, 1947, at the Presbyterian Church in Lilydale.
Nell and Dick made their home in Steel’s Creek where they lived from 1947 to1953. During this time, three of their children were born, Phillip, Maurice and Barbara.
They moved into Yarra Glen in 1953 and their daughter Bedelia was born in 1957.
Nell stayed at home to raise the children and during this time was an active member and president of the Yarra Glen Primary School Mother’s Club. She was very much involved in establishing the Yarra Glen Boys (football) Club, and is a life member of the Yarra Glen Football Club. She was involved for many years with the local cricket club.
Nell returned to work during the 1960s undertaking many roles including seasonal fruit picking, market gardening and for a time working at Hollandia shoe factory in Lilydale.
During the late’ 60s, Nell and Dick purchased a block of land in Bell Street, Yarra Glen. They moved into their new home on the block in 1970 and Nell remained there for the rest of her days.
She worked at the local milk bar until Dick’s retirement in the late ’70s. Unfortunately, they had a very short retirement time together, enjoying trips to Western Australia, Tasmania and Phillip Island, before Dick passed away suddenly in 1981.
Nell surrounded herself with her family, grandchildren and friends. She was an active member of the Yarra Glen Living and Learning Centre, enjoying craft classes and the walking group.
She went on trips with the Yarra Glen Senior Citizens Club and with her sister-in-law Vera. Nell was a member of the Yarra Glen Red Cross and Healesville Legacy, where she was secretary and treasurer and sold the Legacy badges every year.
Nell was a keen gardener, proud Aussie and follower of Australian sport. She was a passionate supporter of the Hawthorn Football Club and a member for 17 years.
Nell’s health declined over the past 10 years, but she always held a positive outlook and enjoyed life to the best of her ability.
She was an honest person who called a spade a spade; a true battler, caring, modest, thoughtful, generous and inspiring. She was unique, one in a million.
Nell Adams passed away on 3 April at Knox Private Hospital aged 84 and will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved her.
She is survived by her children Phillip, Maurice, Barbara and Bedelia, grandchildren, Rachel, Malcolm, Brad, Samone, Emily, Bronwyn, Rebecca, Keleigh, Callum and Skye, and great grandchildren Katie, James, Isaiah, Marli, Poppy, Charlotte and Angus.
