Shep's Place Family Tree

EMS does not know how they met. Husband Bert had been brought up in the country and was a blacksmith by trade but in 1912 when they married he was living with his widowed mother at the suburb of Torrensville. The marriage notice, which in those days only appeared in a newspaper after the ceremony, gave their then address as Northcote Street, Torrensville. The following year when Kathleen, their only child, was born, they were at Unley. In due course they purchased 33 Beatrice Street, Prospect, which was to remain their home for the rest of their lives.

Bert was stolid and kindly and described by his brother-in-law as a "Good old fellow". He happily left his wife to conduct their lives as she thought fit and she certainly looked after him and their child well on a small income. Her closest friends within the family were Jean and brother Blaine. There seems to have been enmity between her and Ada as is shown in the letter quoted below, and after the Great Split described in the section concerning Ada, Maria sent her to Coventry and Ada saw her once again, briefly, at their mother's funeral. Ronald, Stuart and Keith also had little or nothing to do with her, however, Blaine remained staunch and Walter, afar, felt no animosity.

Launceston, Tasmania,
Saturday April 31, 1934
Dear Keith,
Received your letter a few days ago and was pleased to see that Mum was doing all right. Well Keith, when I received that letter it did upset me and gave me a nasty heart for an hour or two. I knew I was a long way from home and could not get there very quickly if anything was wrong so thought I would get a wire through. I can tell you I was waiting for the answer. My word, how her Ladyship did perform in that letter and show off her temper. Ever since she knew I was going ‎(on the holiday)‎ she has been playing up and I told Mum she was going to make trouble and sure enough she did. Well, now I hope that Mum has had her eyes opened to them both. Kathleen has not a bit of love for Mum, I always told Mum that, but of course she wouldn't take any notice of me and she played up one Sunday when Jean was alive and I shut her up, then Mum took her part and went for me. Het has always been nasty to me and she makes trouble wherever she goes. Keep her out of your life if you and Vi want any peace. She was very nasty when I told her Ron was giving me the trip, it was nothing to do with her. I won't forget this lot I can tell you. I have had enough of it. I am very glad that you told her off, you Boys never knew what she was like. Neither she nor Kathleen came to say goodbye to me, but that didn't hurt me.

I am starting tomorrow at 10.15 for that five day trip. I leave Launceston and go by the East Coast to Hobart and return by the Great Lake. When I get back the next will be a boat from here to Melbourne and from there back to Adelaide. I am waiting on the Bank here, they close for a whole week at Easter. I am feeling better and by the time I am through with the sea I will be Some sailor. I did a beautiful trip to the caves yesterday and we did not get back until 7 o'clock. I was tired but pleased. I am going to Princes Square to see their fountain with the flood light on. I thought you might like to see this card. I hope everyone is well, and with love to all, Ada.

The above was written on "Strathaird" stationery that had a series of five pictures of the ship and cabins on the reverse side. It was a tourist ship of the Peninsular & Oriental Navigation Company. This letter of 50 years ago is included to show one side of a family squabble"first hand" as usually reports of such become twisted in the handing down to later generations. With so many strong minded persons in one family such differences were inevitable and rumours of some great verbal fights have filtered through which probably accounts for the retreat into silence of RRS in his latter years.

When in her 80s Hettie sent for Keith to make up and be friends again and he complied as did Stuart. Ronald had remained adamant. Blaine was her main standby all through. She had been at fault and this she admitted.

Hettie and Bert had the great sadness of losing their only child when she was aged 47. Bert lived to be 85 and died at home in 1962. Hettie's sight gradually deteriorated and realising she needed care arranged with Blaine's help to go to a nursing home at Prospect where she died in her 88th. year on July 25, 1969.