Sarah Hannah Harvey (as remembered by her granddaughter Verna)

I can still visualize my maternal grandmother (whom I called Ma) as clearly as if I saw her but yesterday, although it is 36 years since she died. The reason for this is that to me she looked exactly the same through all the years I can remember her.

She was a small featured lady of medium height with slightly faded red hair drawn into a tight "bun", from which a few whispy curls always managed to escape. She had a very fair skin, which, because of her way of life, was never blemished by the sun.

She always wore long sleeved, black or dark brown dresses, buttoned to the throat, and long enough to reach the top of her black button up boots. (The latter were long out of fashion and very hard to procure, but she had to have them!) When doing the housework, she always wore a black sateen apron. The dresses never altered one iota in design. I well remember being sent to Ma's house for several days in a row to make couple of new dresses her and each time cutting out the garment using an old one pattern.

She was always referred to as "frail", because from before I was born she never ventured beyond her gates. (That is not quite true, for once she came to our home - about five minutes walk - but that time my father drove her each way. That was the only time to my knowledge she ever ventured into a car or visited "Wongrabel".) That must have been a great disappointment to my Mother, who was so proud of her magnificent garden.

As a child, I could never understand why she didn't try to "go out", but later I realized she lived that way, by choice, rather than dictated by her health. That way she could live as she felt she should - almost like living in a cloister. She really was not a "frail lady". Every day, weather permitting she would sweep the backyard and the wide lane that went the full length of the house. (There was a large grape vine trained to cover a trellis across the back of the house and also a big oak tree, both of which gave her plenty of excuses for sweeping.) She surely pushed that straw broom with gusto! Roma and I for many years had the unenviable task of delivering a billy of milk to Ma on our way to school each morning. No matter what the season or the weather, Ma was always in full flight at that early hour.

Outsiders always referred to her as "a sweet old lady". She gave the impression of being "flattery" but she was really a very strong willed person and in her own quiet but invincible way, ruled the household.

She was certainly very devout - her only diversions were to read the Bible, the War Cry, and the daily paper; in that fixed order!She still belonged to the Salvation Army (in early married years having been in the Corps), although she no longer attended services. By the time I remember them, the family were all staunch Methodists - but not Ma.

She was very nervous of "modern inventions". I remember very clearly when electricity came to Beechworth to replace the gas that provided our light etc. I was at Ma's house when the electrician finished the installation, and I can remember the great persuasion it took to get Ma to switch on the electric light in the kitchen. I can still hear her little nervous giggle when the light came on.

I often wonder how she coped with her youngest son Roy going to Queensland as a jackaroo, and another son Bert marrying a Roman Catholic lady who smoked a great deal, and used a lot of make-up. To her credit, she played her parental role well in these instances.

I am sure she was never lonely, for her widowed daughter Elsie lived with her. (She was married only one year when her husband was killed in the 1914 - 18 war.) Also Ruby, the daughter who lived just around the corner, spent every afternoon of her life there. My mother visited at reasonable intervals - she found the conversation somewhat limited!

I must admit I cannot remember ever hearing Ma speak an angry word, or on the other hand display any great affection. We always treated her with great respect, because she was our "Ma".

William Samuel Harvey (as remembered by his granddaughter Verna)

Grandfather Harvey, whom we called 'Father', was a small man, always immaculate, his clothes spotless, and his curly hair and "handlebar" moustache neatly combed. He was much a less dominate character than his wife. I remember him as a gentle man.

In their early married life he was a Salvation Army Captain and I understand they resigned because as the family increased, the money they received was not sufficient for survival. (They had seven children, one of whom died soon after childbirth.)

Until my mother (who was the eldest) was almost six years old (I think!) they lived in Ballarat and then shifted to Beechworth where they spent the rest of their lives.

I understand "Father" made various attempts into business, none of which were very successful. I know at one time he owned a "boot shop". So at no time were they very financial. For as long as I can remember my parents gave them a regular weekly sum, as well as gifts in kind.

However grandfather had other abilities. He was a wonderful gardener - a gift he passed on to my mother and two of his sons. He played the cornet. I guess in those days to be useful in the Salvation Army, you played a brass instrument or shook a tambourine or collection box! He also had the gift of drawing - specially animals. Several framed pencil drawings of his hung in the kitchen and dining room and they were excellent, especially those of horses.

I always felt he was the "lesser" partner, but I am sure he was happy with that role, as they were with each other.