Gladys Murrell & Flora Wright - Late-1950s

L-R: Gladys Murrell & Flora Wright

Late-1950s

My mother, Flora Wright (R), with her sister, Gladys Murrell (both nee Glover), taken some time in the late-1950s. I seem to remember Mum’s stylish, double-breasted suit was a pretty shade of green. Mum was very fond of the colour green, as am I. 

Aunty Glad was born on 26 July 1906 and Mum was born on 16 July 1911.They remained very close throughout their lives. They grew-up at Crows Nest on Sydney’s Lower North Shore. Mum was the youngest of five and Aunty Glad was the middle child. Their mother, Louisa Mary (known as May) Glover was an asthmatic. Being the youngest, Mum lost a great deal of school in staying home to look after her infirm mother. After just three years at Willoughby Girls’ High School, she was sent out to work. 

Probably the most memorable of Mum’s early jobs was as a doll-stuffer in a doll factory in Sailors Bay Road at nearby Northbridge, where Aunty Glad also worked, sewing the eyes on the dolls. Sounds positively Dickensian, but at least it wasn’t heavy work and they were indoors, out of the elements. 

In the 1920s, the family relocated permanently to Narrabeen, on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, where they had holidayed for many years previously. It was there that Mum and Aunty Glad were to meet their respective husbands to be, Ray Wright and Eric Murrell, and live out the remainder of their days. Mum died on 19 November 1991 at age 80, followed just 15 days later by Aunty Glad on 4 December 1991, aged 85. Close even in death.

Flora Wright, Gladys Murrell & Kerry Wright - ca.1952

L-R: Flora Wright, Kerry Wright, Gladys Murrell

ca.1952

This photo was taken in about 1952. That's me, Kerry Wright, in the middle. Holding my hands is my mother, Flora Wright (L), and her sister, my Aunty Glad, Gladys Murrell (R). It was taken at my childhood home, 10 Mactier Street, Narrabeen, on Sydney's Northern Beaches. Mum and Aunty Glad were both very resourceful, resilient women, with strong personalities. They had an enormous influence on my upbringing. I would sit and listen to them chat for hours and never tire of what they had to say, occasionally intruding with an opinion of my own. When I did so, I was always listened to and made feel as though I had made a valuable contribution to their conversation. This was the case throughout my life, not only when I was a child. I continued to enjoy sitting in on their chats right up to the time they passed away. They had remained close throughout their lives and died within only a few short weeks of each other in 1991. I miss those chats.

Flora Wright, Gladys Murrell & Kerry Wright - 1950

L-R: Flora Wright and Gladys Murrell

with Kerry Wright in pram

1950

Way back in the dim and distant past of the 1950s, people dressed in their very best when visiting the city, even if it was only on a day-time shopping trip. And here's proof. This photo of my mother, Flora Wright (L), and her sister, my Aunty Glad, Gladys Murrell (R), with me in the pram, was taken in Sydney's Martin Place. The iconic northern facade of the GPO (now Westin Hotel) can be seen in the left background.

Mum and Aunty Glad would have taken the 190 double-deck Wynyard bus to "Town", from their home at Narrabeen on Sydney's Northern Beaches. They are both stylishly dressed, complete with hats and, in Aunty Glad's case, a fur stole. I am shocked to see they're not wearing gloves; though, that may be a pair of gloves Aunty Glad is holding in her left hand. Gloves were de rigueur fashion accessories for women in those days.

I seem to recall that Mum only ever visited the city a couple of times each year. One such trip was always in December, to do Christmas shopping at the glamorous department stores of David Jones, Mark Foys and Anthony Horderns. I don't remember my father ever accompanying my mother and I on such occasions. It wasn't something men did back then. The annual Christmas shopping trip also incorporated visits to each department store's resident Santa Claus, as well as viewing the stores' Christmas window decorations and all the Christmas decorations in the city. One particular year, after we'd visited several stores, I remember asking Mum why there were so many Santas. Mum explained that there was only one, but that he magically travelled very quickly ahead of us, so he could greet us as we visited each store in turn.

Gladys Murrell & Kerry Wright - 1950

L-R: Gladys Murrell & Kerry Wright

1950

My most dear and much loved Aunty Glad (my mother's older sister, Gladys Ann Murrell nee Glover) with me, Kerry Wright, in the garden of my home at 10 Mactier Street, Narrabeen, on Sydney's Northern Beaches. Aunty Glad lived not far away from us, towards the lake end of Mactier Street. Her house was more posh than ours and I loved the canopied mosquito nets Aunty Glad had draped above the beds at her place. As a child, I remember thinking how exotic and elegant they looked. In retrospect, I now realize they were an absolute necessity for lakeside living, to escape the nocturnal swarms of ravenous mosquitos terrorizing the residents. Exotic and elegant or just plain practical, I still would have loved to have had one of those nets draped above my own little bed. Even though we lived at the ocean end of Mactier Street, my bedroom was on a partially open verandah, and I copped my fair share of mozzie bites in my time. Aunty Glad lived with Uncle Eric (Eric Murrell) and their only daughter, my cousin, Dorothy (Dorothy Cynthia Shiels nee Murrell), who is my Godmother.

Royal Easter Show 1948

L-R: Robert Wright, Gladys Murrell, Alan Wright, Flora Wright

Royal Easter Show

1948

One of the few photos from the collection of my parents which records a date. On the reverse of this photo is written "Royal Easter Show 1948". It shows my mother, Flora Wright (R), with her sister, Gladys Murrell (Aunty Glad) and my brothers, Robert (L) and Alan (R) Wright. 

The Royal Easter Show is an annual event held at Easter each year, where Sydney's city folk get to experience, albeit tentatively, various aspects of rural life. Farmers and graziers from across country New South Wales bring their animals and produce to the city, to exhibit them in such variously diverse categories as "Best Bull" to "Best Lamington" and everything else in between, vying for the highly sought after and much prized ribbons and accolades awarded to the winners. 

As well as the animals and produce, there are also sideshows, rides, and junk food in abundance, all set amidst the bustling, manic atmosphere of Sydney Showground at Moore Park (since relocated to Homebush Bay in recent times). 

For children, one of the most exciting aspects of attending the Royal Easter Show is collecting show bags. At the time this photo was taken, show bags notoriously contained cheap toys, lollies and assorted tat, but were highly prized by children. My mother can be seen holding a couple of such show bags in this photo. Their more upmarket, modern equivalents are still available at the Show to this day. 

My little family group shown here would have travelled from Narrabeen on Sydney's Northern Beaches for their exciting big day out. Though a return journey of just 46 kilometres (28 miles), and easily negotiated today, in those days it would have been an intricate undertaking, involving multiple bus/ferry/train commutes over several hours. An exhausting exercise for all concerned, but certainly not to be missed.

Gladys Ann Murrell & Robert Harry Wright - 1937

Gladys Ann Murrell & Robert Harry Wright - 1937

Aunty Glad (Gladys Ann Murrell nee Glover) holding my brother, Robert (Robert Harry Wright). They are in the front garden of my maternal grandparent's home at 8 Mactier Street, Narrabeen, in Sydney. My parents lived next door at No10.  Mactier Street runs East to West, with the eastern end terminating in the Pacific Ocean (literally) and the western end skirting Narrabeen Lake. No's 8 & 10 were near the eastern, ocean end. Aunty Glad lived not far away, also in Mactier Street, with Uncle Eric (Eric Murrell), near the western, lake end of the street. Though Uncle Eric was somewhat reclusive, Aunty Glad played a prominent part in the lives of all of us. We saw much of her and loved her dearly.

Gladys Ann Murrell - 1930s

Gladys Ann Murrell - 1930s

My mother's sister, my most dear and much loved Aunty Glad, Gladys Ann Murrell nee Glover (1906-1991). Aunty Glad looks very vamp here, in the height of fashion of the day. And she always smelt lovely too, my Aunty Glad, her favourite perfume being Yardley's "Bond Street". 

Flora, Gladys & Colin Glover - ca.1918

L-R: Emily Flora Wright nee Glover, Gladys Ann Murrell nee Glover, and Colin James Glover, ca.1918.

Flora, Gladys & Colin Glover - ca.1918-1988

The photo at right (L-R: Gladys Murrell nee Glover, Colin Glover & Flora Wright nee Glover) was taken in my Uncle Colin's garden at Northmead in Sydney in 1988. I had taken my mother, Flora, and my Aunty Glad, to visit their brother, who was very ill at the time. Uncle Colin died on 1 March 1988, shortly after this photo was taken. My mother and aunt were not long to follow him on 19 November 1991 and 4 December 1991, respectively. The photo at left shows them in ca.1918 (L-R: Flora, Gladys & Colin Glover), just as they were setting out upon their lives. Seventy years separate the two photographs. 

Gladys Ann & Emily Flora Glover - 3 July 1913

L-R: Gladys Ann Murrell nee Glover & Emily Flora Wright nee Glover

3 July 1913

My mother, Emily Flora Wright (known as Flora) nee Glover, was born on 16 July 1911, at Royal North Shore Hospital in St Leonards, Sydney, Australia. The date on the reverse of this photograph is 3 July 1913, meaning it was taken just before Mum's 2nd birthday. 

Mum is on the right here and her sister, Gladys Ann Murrell nee Glover, is on the left. Aunty Glad was born on 26 July 1906, meaning she was soon to celebrate her 7th birthday.

They remained very close throughout their lives and died within weeks of each other in 1991.