(Story by Helen Baskerville at the occasion of the Golden Anniversary of the marriage of Anne & Henry Baskerville on the 8 February, 1996)
WORLDS APART –
Annie: Born 14 March 1923 Maidstone England,
Henry: Born 14 March 1923 Townsville Australia.
Henry was born, “Alan Henry” or “Balls” (as he later became known at school) in Townsville to Harry & Gertie Baskerville. He grew up as a scrawny young lad with his cousins Len, Ron and Howard, enjoying the dilemmas created by throwing rocks on the Chinaman’s store, blowing up letter boxes and generally yahooing, like his own grandsons later.
Anne, by contrast, was the apple of her father’s eye and never put a foot wrong. As Joey, told Maggie and Helen, it was always Annie who was the tsar, while poor Joey played the footstool or the male part in the show.
THE MEETING
It was Joey, too, who had the endless boyfriends, until one day just before Anne turned 21, Anne decided to visit the mess hall on Binbrook Station. Little did she want to go . . . . . . LITTLE DID SHE KNOW!!!! It was in the mess hall, surrounded by course, jovial Australian airmen, that they each spied one another across the room. Annie, with all her English “plum in the moutn’ and Henry with his Aussie charm, both, found someone very special. Soon afterwards, they celebrated their 21st Birthdays both on the same day, 14 March.
THE COURTSHIP
When Annie took Henry home to Turkey Court, her father was a little upset . . . . “Why can’t you find a decent Englishman?” – much the same words Henry said, much later, to his own daughter Helen, when she embarked on her 3 year world traveling.
The romance though, did continue, both on the station and at Turkey Court and its surrounds, until the war came to an end.
Granddad in England gave the couple an ultimatum – Henry, who was unemployed and penniless (sounds like times these days, doesn’t it boys) must return to Australia without his girl until such time as he could establish himself. So on the 21st of November 1945 the couple parted.
LEAVING LOVED ONES
It was a year almost to the date, that Annie with apprehension, left the cold shores of England on a boat headed for Australia, carrying thoughts of a new life there.
It was on this journey that she met Keith Dartnell, who would later become Henry’s sister’s husband. It was very sad goodbyes for Anne. Goodbyes that would last at least another 5 years before she would return once again to see her English family – this time with her own young family.
So it was goodbyes – to Turkey Mill, The Boathouse, The Lake where she and Henry often swam. It was goodbyes to her dear parents, her besotted father, her loving mother and sister Joey (who had conveniently used her honeymoon trousseau even before she had). It was goodbyes to dear Yvonne, Topsy, Paul and Steven and her dear Nanny, Edie – and off to a distant shore.
AUSTRALIA AND A NEW LIFE
Meanwhile Henry, back in Australia, had returned home to Wavell Heights and found a job in the Commonwealth Bank, a secure place where he stayed for 40 odd years. Receiving permission from her father to marry Anne, Henry found his way to Sydney where he met his beloved off the boat and immediately announced their engagement.
Anne was accepted as a daughter, by Nana and Gonga, and they offered her all the familiness that she had left behind in England. Admittedly, her father had given her sufficient money for her return journey, if things didn’t work out. But, things went well and within a short time, the wedding was announced.
THE WEDDING
The day arrived . . . 8th February, 1946, a typical February/Brisbane day . . . (hot and steamy) which for an English bride, who had only recently left the winter chills of Britain, it must have been a daunting day.
Amy and Betty were her attendants as was Howard and Fred (Henry’s navigator during the war) Henry’s. Anne wore her diamond and ruby bracelet which was sadly, later stolen. She also wore her grandmother’s veil, which Helen also wore on her wedding day.
Not too much went wrong on the day. Gonga gave his daughter-in-law away as proxy for her own father. The church was a very high Anglican Church, located in the centre of Brisbane.
THE RECEPTION & HONEYMOON
At the reception, alas, no columns could be found for the 2nd tier of the weeding cake. So the 2nd tier was just ‘plonked’ on top of the lower tier.
The happy couple then honeymooned at Noosa in a room, at the only guest house (how things have changed) at the end of the verandah, with only a ‘blowing’ curtain separating the romantic couple from the passer-by traffic.
Annie also suffered from an attack of the Noosa Sandflies. Needless to say, it was a wonderful start to over 50 years of much togetherness and many happenings as they ventured into their new life as partners.
THE FIRST HOME
The 1st home was purchased not too far from Wavell Heights, apparently only a pleasant afternoon Sunday’s walk away. Although this was the 1st home Henry bought, he 1st saw was the one up the road in Imboss Street. Still, it was Maggie years later that learned the folly of having parents living in the same street. Hence, Henry put the deposit down on the rickety, Boston Street house in Clayfield. Needless to say this first home was a romantic one. Cupboards and seats made from discarded pine boxes, Anne of course, did not breath a word of this to the folks at Turkey Court. Despite the lack of materialism, those back in England were led to believe that the happy couple were living in the lap of luxury!!
The place was riddled with cockroaches and it was dear Mrs. Javas who took the new English bride under her wing to help her make a home.
Mrs. Javas was a dear woman who lived in a huge house with large trees in the backyard, and apparently she had pots of money buried all over the garden.
Anne and Henry of course had no money whatsoever, even to bury. Henry’s wage at the time was a meager $1 or $2 a week, but still – they were happy.
It was at this house where Henry first learned to cut off a dog’s tail. He needed some one’s help to approach the task and he asked for the help of Ken Javas. Once done, he spent the rest of the day in bed, recovering from the stress.
It was under Dr. Mark’s instructions that a baby should happen, and in less than 3 months into the marriage , a baby was on the way!!!
The news at Wavell Heights was very well received, as it was at Turkey Court.
Nana went out of her way to help with the planning of the new addition. Gonga, with his job at the S.E.A. offered fatherly advice to Henry but he must have forgotten something because . . . . . . . . it wasn’t until 6 babies later, that Anne said “Enough is Enough”.
WAVELL HEIGHTS
And so No.1 grand child, Margaret Anne, arrived safe and well a few days before the 1st wedding anniversary on the 1 February 1948. Now, Wavell Heights was a wonderful house, a GRAND HOUSE – one large house with a huge Poinciana tree in the back yard. There was this tree for the kids to climb, a grand piano (now in Helen’s house), and the macadamia nut tree that fed many a hungry grand child. It was much later that we girls realised we had one over the boys – we were allowed in the house, the boys weren’t. Darling Maggie and ever sweet cousin Julie Tomlin were indulged to the hilt by doting Nana, while grumbling David moaned and groaned outside. Then one day——– David saw RED!!! He thumped Maggie and Julie to a pulp, under the Grand Piano. Nana was horrified, “Harry, do something” Harry (Gonga) just said, “Atta-boy David”. Nana and Gonga helped the young couple enormously – Sunday lunches continued for years as did the huge Christmas day family functions.
MARGARET ANNE 1/2/48
And so Margaret Anne arrived safe and well a few days before the 1st wedding anniversary!
DAVID HENRY BROOKE 12/5/50
Some 3 years later, David Henry Brooke arrived. Poor boy, did he so receive the royal order from his older sister. He barely spoke a word till he was 4, as he had a personal spokesperson in Maggie. She knew all his needs (she and Joycie had betta talk!) He was extremely small, “grunter bones” they used to call him and he was just dandy at cracking his head open on concrete beams at school. His favorite pet was “Joey”, who would wake everyone up with his morning call of “cuppa-tea”. Ma Ma would oblige. David’s godly demeanor and quite reserve, belie his years spent as a harem-scarem rascal – Jimmy Lyons in tow. Just as well genes don’t lie. Howard, Terry, Wendy – That explains it all!!! Ask your father!
HELEN ELIZABETH 27/5/53
Henry was still in the bank working??? when the 3rd child Helen Elizabeth arrived. By this time, the other 2 were used to competition and no doubt left me alone, as I was a fairly unperturbed child who looked after herself – potty under the bed and a handy tomato sauce bottle for the milk drink. Not much has changed even now – except the potty is now a walk down the hall in the dark and the tomato sauce bottle has been exchanged for a lovely cold bottle of chardonnay. Life for Helen and the family was quite calm. After college she left for the bush teaching, followed by a time overseas seeking out where Annie had come from – returning with Stretch in tow!
Soon after Helen’s arrival into the world, Henry received a transfer to the Nambour Bank, where the family all settled for 3 years – no! not in the bank – in Nambour. It was during this time that Peter John too soon arrived. He was named SAMBO, a name that still sticks.
NAMBOUR
These Nambour days were also probably the most difficult for Annie, as she had 4 young children under the age of 7. It was here where Maggie, attending the Nambour School, arrived home late at 6:00pm with the excuse that the teacher’s watch had stopped – such originality! A young lass would come each morning and was a godsend for the young mother. It was also during this time that Henry visited the RSL more often than he should have, which meant many a night being locked out of the house and sleeping in the dog house with Chippy – the excuse – “Jallopy” broke down. Panodols filled the lower bathroom shelf. However, the lord is good and a knock on the door took Henry off to an AOG church where a transformation began in his life. Annie & Gonga’s prayers were answered. It was a turn around in both their lives and from then on it was CHURCH – and didn’t we kids remember it, especially poor Maggie then and later Howard.
PETER JOHN 4/9/54
Peter John arrived a little less than one year after Helen’s birth. When he was a baby, he got a boil on his head which made on side of his face look huge! With those twinkling eyes, pigeon toes and a habit of burying one of his fingers up his nose – he had a fairly carefree life. Nothing worried Sam! It was at Grammar where his intellect was tested to the extreme when asked one question, he answered Yes! – Wrong! The repeat assignment was answered, No! – Wrong. When asked to report at 3:30pm, he forgot! The final attempt at the question was ———– (blank!). I mean to say, what a boy of his intellect expected to do! Sammy had a dream life, life of the party that is, full of fun, loads of jokes and an ambiance that attracted people – so much so that he now lives in Sydney- alone! Sammy come home!!!! We all miss you heaps.
LISSON GROVE
This was the place where Legends were made. Tall trees on the corner were climbed so as to drop stones on the passing cars as effectively as possible just to see the reaction when drivers stopped to see where the din had come from, the giggles and wet pants nearly gave us away! Windows were made to be leapt through, even if it meant a broken leg, (that’s Sam and his intellect working again). Cloths hoists were intended to be swung on, even if it caused Henry to go round boxing kids over the ears. (The cloths hoist never recovered). Fireworks night was made for scaring old aunties and blowing up letter boxes – like father, like son.
Baking days created congestion around certain kitchen windows on the Western side as wide-eyed youngsters had their first sex lessons, watching a young neighbor sun himself. Lisson Grove was always full of visitors like – missionaries who fed us brains for breakfast – YUK!! – people in need who took our bed – crooks who stole things from us and took the young David shopping. Aunty Phil was a godsend, spending the whole day with Annie. The boys remember her well. Their crevices and other assorted parts were never so dry as when Auntie Phil did the rub-a-dub trick with the towel. She was also there during the Big Fire. It was she and David who safely retrieved all the budgies, placing them in the only safe, closed room in the house, the bathroom. Not a problem really, until the next day when visitors needed to wash their hands! It was not long before baby No.4 was on the way. Well, Connie fainted, Nana collapsed. Harry said “you’re forgotten everything I’ve told you Alan.”
THOMAS CHARLES 3/3/57
Tom arrived home with red eyes and a bald head after a fairly traumatic birth. He was always a placid easy going kid who everybody liked. “T.C.Berne’s”, “Tom the Bomb” and “Wangle Dangle” were some of the names given to him by his siblings. He never did quite recover from the first sight of sweet Rosie Aderman. He has been such an INSPIRATION!! To us all.
PHILIP ANDREW 26/5/60
Did we all remember Pip’s arrival! Firstly he was supposed to be “Little Mary aunty Amy” according to his doting big sister Helen. Well, he reacted by screaming and yelling for quite a while. The parents said it was colic, but we think he was just trying to he heard above the din!!! Pip was – depending on the day of the week- called Pippy, Pip the Drip, Rose the Pose diddley ox, Pip Squeak and Sloppy. Pip’s major life crisis arrived when his parents left him. Fortunately he found quarters at Sam and Gwens. Fishing and computers remain his major passion after battling bureaucracies and school curriculum boards. Tracy just strokes his brain when ever he becomes too bothered. Just remember to hide all the knives in the house when he gets angry.
EARLY MEMORIES OF STRADDIE
We got up at 5:30am, sunrise, drive through the streets to catch the Hayles Boat the Miramar, Chippy on a lease, all food and clothing in bags – Nana and Gonga seeing us off. This improved to, the removal of the back seat, kids sitting on blankets, pillows and sheets trying not to break the eggs!!!
Straddie in the early days was a world away from the realities of life – no electric lights, open-air busses that broke down, wood stoves, bottom-less toilet pits which us kids were sure we’d fall down into, the smell of kerosene, endless fish meals (just as well or we would have starved), piggy and tomato sauce sandwiches mixed with sand. One year when the food ran out the last few days were spent eating “farex” the baby’s food.
There were special people too, like old Mr. Spargo, Mr & Mrs Ransleebum and Ron and Beryl Moore. Happy memories for us all included the race down the big sand hill on Frenchmans (Nana and Gonga in tow), sleeping out under the stars at Camels Rock (the day we arrived 1 Day early), avoiding stampeding horses, and collecting many cowry shells in the rock pools.
There was the time we built the humpy on the beach as a shade spot for the babies, the challenge of lighting the Billy fire with only one match, playing for endless hours on the “sand hills of Europe” until we heard the bang on the bath tub tin.
ALBERT STREET AND HERBERT STREET
Henry received a promotion in the bank in 1963 and two happy and memorable years were spent in two very different houses at “Rocky”. Albert Street was a high set house, surrounded by tall mango trees and a grape vine at the back. Henry nurtured that vine tenderly only to have to leave all the maturing grapes on the vine when asked to vacate. The sale of the house had been facilitated by Annie’s handiwork with the paint brush. It was here that the family were once recorded having a meal around the table, “what a din!”
Herbert Street was a more elegant place, with many fruit trees in the back yard. However a challenge was offered to the children – fruit could only be taken from the trees by firstly running the ####### gauntlet!
David was away at boarding school in Toowomba during our stay here and it was his dog “Muffy” who became the family pet. “Duffy” joined “Muffy” sometime later as a stray dog that Maggie had compassionately brought home. Muffy was a sensible, graceful Kelpie, until Duffy arrived! Duffy was also a Kelpie but a little short on intelligence. He made up for this lack, with ingenuity by working out how to squeeze between and breaking the glass louvers in the laundry when they got in his way.
Annie and Henry had recently joined the Gideons and had gone to a meeting this particular evening, leaving Essie and Maggy in charge (both 16 year olds). Mum and Dad were due back at 10 pm and by 11 pm the girls were getting nervous. They thought they heard a noise outside. Being very brave Essie went to the opened window and demanded in a assertive voice “come inside if you are good looking”. Maggie, inspired by Essie’s seemingly courageous display, went to the blinds and peering into the darkness said in a that quivering eerie voice “I can seeee you’ and an even more ghostly voice was heard in reply “and I can see you tooooo”. Both girls lost 5 years off their lives.
It was at the AOG church run by Pastor Mitchell that we all learnt the “Story of Revelations” – backwards. Attending that church was the blind man and his dog, Mrs Cronnin and her outstretched hairy legs and the colored family whose front door was burned on the stove for cooking purposes. It is also the Christmas where we kids had to open our small selection of presents and give away to others one of our presents – what a decision for a young child to make!!
