 |
| Beatrice Wells 1911 |
 |
| Beatrice Wells on her wedding day 9 September 1912 |
 |
| Beatrice Macdougall 18 January 1924 |
 |
| Beatrice Macdougall 21 July 1937 |
 |
| Beatrice Macdougall |
Autobiography of Beatrice Helen Louise Macdougall
– written 1974.
Reading
my beloved husband’s diary has led me to write this biography.
I – Beatrice Helen Louise – was born of Christian
parents, Harry Edward Wells of Northamptonshire and Elizabeth Saunders of
Buckinghamshire, England. They were
married at St John’s Church of England, Launceston on November 8th,
1887 by the Rev Champion (Rector). My
birthplace was Formby, now known as Devonport on the North-West coast of
Tasmania – in the year 1888, on September 9th.
My only
sister, Winifred Alice, was born at Leith, on September 20th, 1890
and my only brother, Gladstone Gordon Thomas, saw the light of day at St Mary’s
on December 2nd 1896.
I
attended the State School on attaining the age of 5 years. Among our playmates were the Trethewey family
who lived three doors away and Jessica Cramp, two years my senior and with whom
I have never quite lost sight of through the years – always remembering each
other at birthdays and Christmas.
My
parents were Church of England people.
At St Marys the Church of England service was held at 7pm. The morning service of that denomination was
at Cullenswood – 2 miles away – a beautiful little church (endowed) and it was
there the Rector lived (Rev James L’oste).
The cemetery was in the church grounds.
We only occasionally attended this church however. My father took Winifred and me to the
Methodist church at St Marys each Sunday morning and we attended the same
Sunday School during the afternoon. Rev
William Wykes was the minister and we often went to the Parsonage to play with
‘Pussy’ Wykes. Mrs Wykes died while at
St Marys and the
memory of her funeral is still with me.
The Sunday School scholars marched in procession at her funeral to the
Railway Station. I carried a Christmas
Lily. She was buried at
Campbelltown. We attended as a family
the Church of England each Sunday evening.
Later, a
new and beautiful Church of England was built at St Marys and Gladstone was the
first baby to be christened in it by Rev J L’oste (the windows not yet in it).
The baby was presented with a large Christening Bible. (This bible was lost in New Guinea during the
evacuation.) Soon afterwards, Rev Wykes
left the Methodist Church there and we attended the Church of England and the
Sunday School was formed regularly.
Mother took Winifred and me with her to the Mother’s Union Meetings
often. It was while we were at St Marys
that I began to learn the violin. Mr
Glasson was my first teacher. After he
passed away, I became the pupil of Miss Edith Wardlaw who later married Mr A D
Leckie, School Teacher and Sunday School Superintendent at the Methodist
Church. He became the Presbyterian
Minister in Hobart and Melbourne.
One
incident which stands out in my memory as a child at St Marys was as
follows. Winifred and I were invited one
afternoon to play with our friend, Claribel Todd. There was a creek nearby and we were warned
not to go near. However, in our
excitement and playing near, I had the misfortune to slip one leg in the
creek. Nothing was said at home on
returning but it was the custom for my Father to polish our boots each morning
for school. It was in the days of
“blacking” and they would not shine, so Father made enquiries of me as to what
had happened. I was afraid and told him
I did not know. Then he asked Wyn and
she told him that I slipped one leg in the creek and had told her not to
tell. Father gave me the thrashing of my
life with a willow birch before I was dressed that morning. I did wrong not to own up, but I would have
caught it just the same – for disobedience.
Another
thing which often happened was that Mother’s little dog, Tan, was sent to bring
us home from church when we attended with Mother. Father stayed at home with baby brother. The dog would go to one church and should we
be at the other, the dog would come there to find us.
On 20th
March, 1900 we left St Marys for Ulverstone on the north-west coast – a large
flourishing town. The railway to Burnie
was opened about this time. Our friends,
the Tretheweys, were transferred there and we often exchanged visits during
school holidays. When we went to
Ulverstone, Winifred and I were sent to a school for Young Ladies, conducted by
Misses Janet and Clara Lungley – middle-aged ladies of quality whose father had
been a ship-builder in England but suffered reduced circumstances. We owe a great deal to these ladies for our
training. They were good Christians and
it was while attending their school I gained the Good Conduct Prize presented
by the Rector Canon de Coetlogan. I also
passed the Junior Public (4 subjects).
My violin teach was Mr F A Finch and he linked me up with the orchestra
of the town (1st violin).
This orchestra provided the music for the Opera Company of Devonport –
traveled also to Burnie for the same company.
Our
Sundays were busy days. There was
morning Sunday School prior to church service, afternoon Sunday School and the
evening service which we always attended.
I still have prizes won at this Sunday School and later I became a
Sunday School Teacher. Winifred and I
were confirmed while at Ulverstone by Bishop Mercer. There came a time when there was no
competition at ‘Maitland House School’ and for a short time I attended the
Convent School at Ulverstone.
Later, my
Father chose for me my line of occupation.
I became a pupil teacher at the Ulverstone State School. I never really settled down to teaching.
In 1906,
Father was transferred to Zeehan – a large mining town on the west coast of
Tasmania. Owing to this transfer, I sent
in my resignation to the Education Department as my parents would not consider
me going to the Teachers’ Training College now opened in Hobart. However, when we reached Zeehan to my
surprise my resignation was not accepted, but I found myself transferred to
North Zeehan State School.
The
Headmaster was Mr H E Downie. I
continued teaching for some months and then sent in my resignation and entered
the Emporium of Mr Sam Newman to learn Millinery. I was in my element here and in this work. As long as I can remember I have been
interested in hats, even to making doll’s hats in paper. Mr Newman’s business was the largest of its
kind in Zeehan and great were my opportunities.
Amongst those I worked with were Miss Knights and Miss Ripper (head
milliners), all from Melbourne. Miss Hilda
Eddy, Muriel Bruce, Alma Thorne, Alice Dunn (showroom). Miss Kathleen O’Sullivan, Miss Tolley (fancy
goods, etc) both from Melbourne. Mr Tapell
(Manchester), Mr Sagasser (Mercery) and others.
In addition to my millinery training, I had a good insight in
bookkeeping and when Miss Combe (Mr Newman’s sister-in-law) the cashier was
away, I always took charge of the cash desk and accounts, etc. Things were booming in our early days at
Zeehan, later things
slackened somewhat and often other girls in the showroom (millinery and sales)
were given “holiday”, but I was never once “put off”. I suppose there was the relieving at the cash
desk to keep me.Mr Newman
was a Methodist and many of his staff also.
We were Anglicans and I was in the church choir and teacher in the
Sunday School.
Winifred
took advanced music lessons from Sister Ambrose at the Convent – we both had
painting lessons and singing lessons from Sister Ambrose. We had always been very strictly brought up
and rather confined. As far as I can
remember, we never expected to go anywhere for amusements. No playing cards were in our home and dancing
was not approved of. However strangely
enough, after being at Zeehan for some time, things in this way changed
somewhat. Mr Tom Davey was a great
freemason and also a friend of my Father’s, as Mrs Davey was to Mother. Mr Davey was like a father to me. He was a Methodist and a great friend of Mr
Newman’s. Mr Davey would come into the
shop very often and bring sweets for the girls.
I went to his home for tea each Saturday as we had late shopping in
those days! We also visited his home
where we played cards and later drifted into our home also. A dancing class was started in the Masonic
Hall. It was very select and Tom Davey
persuaded Father to let us go. He
promised to see us home (how or why Father allowed this, I don’t know). We had to be home at a certain time. It was a mixed dancing class.
Up to the
present, I have not mentioned gentleman friends. In the Education Department was a certain
young man named Gordon Harris of Burnie who was attending the Training College
in Hobart and we began to correspond and see each other on my visits to the
Tretheweys at Burnie. Another young man
became very interested. In fact, so much
in love that a proposal of marriage was made – and more than once. However, I had Gordon in mind and told Rex I
could not give him all my love so I could not think of marriage with him. His mother was most keen. I never encouraged Rex. Gordon came to Zeehan relieving and visited
our home, then on his departure to his home at Burnie (he was teaching there
now) his correspondence with me suddenly ceased. After lapse of several weeks, he wrote and
said he could be nothing but a friend to me.
I was heartbroken and never revealed my state of mind to him.
Previous
to this lapse of corresponding, I had accepted an invitation from Gordon’s
mother to spend Easter with them in their beautiful home in Burnie. I went and had a very nice time with Mr &
Mrs Harris. Gordon was away at Training
Cadet Camp. He returned home later and
his mother had a party in my honour. A
young lady, whom I later knew Gordon was interested in, was not invited. Gordon and I had a few minutes together and I
asked him what made him write such a letter, letting him think that I had only
thought of him as a friend. However, at
the time, it was hard. I am sure the
young lady suited him better than I would have done as they were both singers
and she could accompany him, etc. She
visited me in hospital when Dorothy was born and when we were at Westbury some
years later, Mrs Gordon Harris was the pianist in the small orchestra in which
I played and Leslie conducted. Gordon
was Headmaster of the State School at Westbury.
In the meantime, Rex was most persistent and I was perfectly horrid in
my treatment of his attentions. I
thought much of him and his mother was fond of me too. Winifred teased me a good deal. Rex was a good young man – a church man – a
Warden in the Church of England. Rex was
delivate – an asthmatic. He was always
in love with me. In later years my Mother and Wyn met
his mother and asked after Rex and whether he was married. Mrs Wathen said “Rex will never marry. The girl he loved would not have him.” Wyn said “Was it Beatrice?” and the answer
was “Yes”. Poor
Rex. What a life of sadness for
him. He died from illness - pneumonia -
while my beloved and I were on our last visit together in Hobart (8th
February 1940). Leslie showed me the
announcement of his death in the morning paper.
Among
other male acquaintances were the sons of the Presbyterian Minister at
Zeehan. One became very interested in
Winifred and the second son sometimes saw me home on our late Saturday nights,
also attended the dances we went to.
Vernon informed Wyn that his father objected
to them rushing off after their Presbyterian service to meet us from the Church
of England.
Other
friends of ours at Zeehan were Mr and Mrs Alabaster and their companion, Miss Amy
Neylan – a particularly close friend of mine (now Mrs Alf Morrisby). Wyn and I went to a ball in the large Gaiety
Theatre with Mr and Mrs Alabaster and we had a delightful time. Mr Arch Douglas, the son of the Town Clerk of
Queenstown was there. Wyn had previously
met him when staying with friends at Strahan.
He flattered me by telling me “that Wyn was not in it with me”.
Clifford
Trethewey, Bank Clerk, second son of the family at Burnie came to the National
Bank at Zeehan. Cliff was exactly 12 months
my senior. Always a close friend, he
came each Sunday to our home for tea, attended church with us and later
returned to play the piano (hymns).
Always good friends and I never thought of Cliff in any other way,
although when I became engaged to LSM, his sister wrote to her mother, who was
staying with us at the time and said “there was no chance for Cliff now”. Poor Cliff died of wounds during the first
World War (August 11th, 1918).
I must
not forget that while at Zeehan, a mission was held in connection with the
Church of England in which I was very interested. I attended the meetings on several occasions
and was greatly blessed. Canon Bryers of
Launceston was one of the leaders.
In the
meantime, Winifred had met a young man (who turned out to be “her fate”). It happened this way. Regular progressive euchre parties and dances
were held in the Church of England hall.
Arthur Tregear of the AMP, and relieving at the Zeehan Branch, attended
to lay euchre and say Wyn’s name on his euchre card. He decided at once that he must meet Miss
Winifred and so things proceeded which ended in happy marriage on November 8th,
1911. Mr Tregear was an old friend of
my husband’s in the early days, when teaching at Leslie House School, Newtown,
Tasmania. Arthur visited Wyn at Easter
1911, and when returning to Hobart on Easter Monday (April 17th),
Mother and I traveled back with Arthur to Hobart.
Leslie
Stuart Macdougall was a passenger and Arthur introduced Mother and myself to
him – and so our courtship began. (Read
Diary by LSM.) I was alone in the
railway carriage when Leslie entered. He
asked if the carriage were reserved. He
told me later I smilingly answered “no”.
I also learned later that when the train reached Rosebery and the
gentlemen got out to get refreshments, that Leslie asked Arthur if I were
“unattached”. It evidently was love at
first sight on his part. Mother remarked
to me later on “how he would look at me”.
A young lady by the name of Miss Maude Ray – school teacher at Zeehan
was also a
passenger the following day as we journeyed to Hobart and it appears that Mr Tom
Davey heard later from her “how interested Mr Macdougall was in Miss
Wells”. Mr Davey told me of this but I
would not let myself think of Mr. Mac.
Mr Davey was very friendly with Mac as he called him having a good deal
in common, as Leslie was thinking of becoming a freemason. Leslie was working for his BA Degree and he
wrote to Tom Davey saying that with success the passing would make him all the
more a confirmed bachelor.
I perhaps
was presuming too much, but as far back as I can remember, I had said I would
marry either a Minister or a doctor.
However, I tried to shut thoughts of Leslie out of my mind, yet praying
God’s guidance in the matter that if I should marry, things would work out with
His blessing.
Leslie
was stationed at Queenstown and exchange of pulpits was made between Rev C C
Dugan of Zeehan for special services. I
saw Leslie sometimes on these occasions at Tom Davey’s and went out
with him only once and that was to a concert at the Presbyterian Church when he
and Charlie contributed to the program.
I might
mention that soon after our meeting, Leslie asked if he could see me home. (I was in the cash desk and thanked him and
said my brother would be meeting me.) In
those days, shops were open till 10 pm on Saturdays.
I believe
Leslie had a confidential talk with Mr S Newman. They were old friends and were in the same
Bible Class in Launceston at one time.
Mr Newman reminded Leslie that I was not a Methodist and also that on
many occasions I was in full charge of all cash, etc – thus giving me a good
recommendation.
We became
engaged on November 10th, 1911, two days after Wyn and Arthur’s
marriage which Leslie performed and indeed it was to be, for there was no other
who would have understood me and loved me as Leslie Macdougall. Leslie always said our marriage was made in
heaven. Things were not always easy for
me. I had no training in conduct of
meetings or leading in church matters.
With all Leslie’s learning, he never made me feel ignorant in our life’s
calling, unworthy though I might be. But
without boasting I made everything a matter of prayer and I was helped in every
instance.
Leslie’s
aim in life for me was to make me happy and to provide a home for me at
retirement and he was happy in doing this.
We retired in April 1945 to our own home in Comer Street, East Brighton.
As early
as 1943, Leslie had trouble with his right arm.
After many seasons of x-ray therapy, he entered hospital in July 1948
and his right arm and shoulder was amputated.
He learned to write with his left hand, exercising great patience and
continued tutorials at Queen’s College and Haileybury College up to the time of
entering hospital again for further x-ray therapy. From this time he did not continue with his
daily diary.
Leslie
was in hospital for 8 weeks. He was
happy to come home on 15 Jan 1949 – but oh so weak. Dr Waddell attended him and I nursed him – he
never complained and was most patient in all his suffering. He gradually became weaker and “entered into
rest” on February 8th, 1949.
It is sad
that my beloved was not spared in health to share with me the comfort of the
home he so wisely provided.
He still
lives! And I hold him in very loving and
honoured memory. No one can realize the
sad loss to me but I have learned and am helped in counting my many blessings
and thank God for our lives together.
PS I lived on at 20 Comer Street alone for 10
years. My sister came from Hobart after
the passing of her husband to be nearer her family – Enid and Ken. Wyn and I went for a trip abroad in 1958
visiting my brother and his wife – our first cousin – in Kent and also meeting
other cousins on both sides of the family.
It was a wonderful experience. We
were away for seven months.
In
August, 1959, I sold the house in Brighton and bought a brick veneer home at 67
Rowen St, Burwood, to be nearer to Winsome and Margaret. I left behind many kind friends and had to
make new ones
of the younger generation at the Ashburton Methodist Church. However, I again have no regrets. My old friends have mostly passed away. My sister died in November, 1969. I still miss the talks which we had of our
youth each fortnight. We visited each
other throughout the years.
The three
daughters of our marriage are very thoughtful of me – Winsome (Mrs Allan
Petfield), Margaret (Mrs Walter Fraser), both married by my Beloved and told of
in his diaries, and Dorothea married later to the man of her choice (William
Hitchings) on 28th July, 1970 and lives in Sydney.
Winsome
and her husband have had three trips abroad, Margaret and Wal one and Dorothea
has been on three trips – the first alone, the second with Dr Gladys Wade and
the third time to England and Scotland with Bill since their marriage. On the latter’s return, we had a lovely
family gathering at my home in Burwood in October 1971.
Since
writing this, other events of interest have happened. I must mention first my grandchildren. Joy, Winsome’s eldest daughter is married to
Peter Olney and they have 3 children Darren Stuart, Adrian Craig and daughter
Robyn Gai. Dawn is married to Lindsay Bevan
McLean and have a fine son Andrew Bevan. Dawn is an outdoor girl and a great
horse rider having ridden at the Royal Melbourne Show.
Ross
Stuart Fraser, Margaret’s eldest and married to the daughter of Rev Keith and
Mrs Ditterich. They have 2 girls – Megan
Elisabeth and Jacqueline Louise. Anne
Margaret Fraser went abroad with 4 other girls and met her fate in Barcelona,
Spain. Michael Murphy is a Canadian –
they both came to Melbourne for a holiday and Christmas of 1972. They have since settled in England – for the
present.
In June
1972, I sold my house at 67 Rowen Street, Burwood and bought a unit – No. 6
“Linden Lea”, 693 High St Rd, Glen Waverley.
The garden in Rowen Street was
too big for me to care for after 13 years there. I now have a more leisurely time with just
enough out of doors work to keep me amused.
I love gardening and my garden is very gay with easily grown and hardy
plants. Winsome and Allan are next door
in No. 7.
Winsome
and Allan have had another trip in 1973, this time by air and Joy went with
them. I had care of their wonderful cat
which unfortunately is no more. He
became very sick and had to be put to sleep.
I live
very quietly and unfortunately am in the doctor’s hands following an attack of
diverticulitis. Now I have regular
visits for injections pernicious anaemia.
Winsome and Margaret take me by car.
I might mention that Margaret and Wal changed their address at the time
I did in 1972 and are happy in their unit at “Vista Court”, Johns Wood Road, Mount
Waverley.
If you have any corrections or comments please contact the author, Joy Olney via email: joyolney@gmail.com
If you have any corrections or comments please contact the author, Joy Olney via email: joyolney@gmail.com
