Myall River VIEW Club’s tribute to mothers

MEMBERS of the Myall River VIEW Club marked Mothers Day at their May meeting by hearing from guest speakers Rhonda Jurd, immediate past-president, and her daughter Audra Taylor.

Both have balanced being businesswomen and working mothers, and told the story of the women in their family from generations back, “stitched together like a quilt”.

Rhonda recalled long bus trips to visit relatives in Cessnock during which she used to sing at the top of her voice.

“I had believed that the noise of the bus would cover the volume of my singing – but not so,” she said.

Both her mother and aunt were nurses who had been forced to retire upon marriage, as was the cultural requirement of the day, and Rhonda’s maternal grandmother was governess to the children of the Arnott’s Biscuits family fame.

Further back in time, Rhonda’s paternal grandmother, Nanny Walsh, was raising four children while living in a tent beside the under-construction north-west rail line, then established her own catering business in Maitland, bought her own home, a truck, and a car in the 1930s, something unheard of at the time.

“For me, school was mostly uninteresting, except for history and German, and I felt like I didn’t need to go, so my report cards consistently stated ‘lacks concentration’ and ‘could do better’, as a result,” she admitted.

However, she went on to become an expert in her trade at the jewellery store, as well as selling Mary Kay skincare and cosmetics, building a business with a yearly turnover of more than a quarter of a million dollars.

“Not bad for a dope,” she said.

Audra recalled her own childhood memories, which had similar vibes regarding interest in structured education.

“While still at school, I was given a gift of $1000, which I [used] to start my own share portfolio,” she said.

“I went on to obtain a degree in accountancy.”

She is now a partner in the accountancy firm where she was first employed.

Another mother-daughter duo, members Dot Thomas and daughter Lyn Barton, acted as hostesses for the day.

The Myall River VIEW Club is part of a national network and is the largest community supporter of The Smith Family, which helps disadvantaged Australian children and their families.

The local branch meets on the second Friday of each month and guests are always welcome.

For further information, call Hilary or Lynne on 0423 789 986 or 0425 203 544 respectively.

By Thomas O’KEEFE