Women's History Month: Lilian Evelyn Galbraith


Lilian Evelyn GALBRAITH b, 22 October 1911, d 7 June 2006. She was known as Lily.

Lily was born at 97 Regent Street, Camperdown and was the second of 10 children born to Eveline Maud JASPER and Arthur Alfred Victor GALBRAITH. She was baptised on 22 November 1911 at St Stephen's, Newtown.

Lily attended Erskinville Public School, as her mother had. In September 1924, she was confirmed at Holy Trinity, Erskinville. The family was living in Erskinville, where the council chambers now stand.

She worked in a boot factory and later Allen's cake shop, at Erskinville, becoming life-long friends with the daughter of the owner and dating one of the sons. Sadly he committed suicide.

In 1945, Lily married Cecil Henry Gullen, a widower and they had one child. Cecil died of cancer, caused by being gassed in World War 1, leaving Lily a widow, with a three year old child. 

In 1954, Lily married Matthew Henry Abberton, a mate of her first husband, they also had a child. Matt passed away in 1958, leaving Lily a widow, with a three year old child, as well as her child from the first marriage.

Life was tough for Mum, she cleaned houses to supplement her merger pension.

Mum was a fantastic knitter, everything from dolls clothes to jumpers, she was always knitting. Once she was knitting socks for the troops, whilst in the public gallery of parliament House, Canberra and was asked to either stop or leave as she was making to much noise with the needles!  

Blessed with two children, Mum saw us both married, buy our own homes, (something she couldn't do), and start our families.  Being a Grandma was the best and the four grandchildren were spoilt by her and loved her so much.

In 2003 she became frail and went into a nursing home, passing away in 2006.

Her legacy, 2 children, 4 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.
 

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