HEATHER BRAY’S EULOGY

Read by Sue, Michelle and Karelyn at the funeral.

Mum was born on 24th November 1941, to Ken and Marion Shepherdson, being the eldest of 2 daughters. She was born just prior to her dad going off to the second world war in New Guinea, leaving Nana to care for baby Heather in a rented flat in Brunswick near Papa’s parents who ran a convenience shop.

When they sold the shop and moved to Carum, Nana and Mum moved with them until Papa returned from the war in 1946 suffering with war neurosis. Mum’s sister Margaret, was born after the war, 5 and a half years after Mum. Mum always said she caused the war and her sister, Margaret ended it. The family moved to a newly built house in Frankston where mum loved swimming in Port Philip Bay. The family then moved to Wangaratta, seeking a drier climate for Margaret mum’s sister who was quite ill as a youngster.

Mum attended Wangaratta High School and enjoyed swimming in the Ovens River, and riding her bike out to the Warby Ranges with friends. Mum was a Girl Guide and we believe “Be Prepared” became her life motto. Possibly also influenced by her family’s experience of the war years, Mum was always prepared for anything. She constantly had the biscuit barrels full and enough food stocked in the cupboards, fridge and freezer to last months – we always said if there was another World War we would head to mum and dad’s as there’d be plenty for all. Mum finished school in Year 11, achieving high marks in all subjects and topped her class in maths every year of high school.

She won the Book prize awarded to students with best results in examinations 4 years running. Mum worked as a check-out chick at Permewan and Wrights until she was old enough to study nursing, winning a bursary to study at Wangaratta Hospital. Mum loved her nursing, winning an award for Theatre Nursing during her early career. Mum was part of a class of eight who had many reunions, staying in touch with many of her nursing friends right to the end. Mum really valued her nursing knowledge and practical skills, to the extent that we rarely needed to visit the doctor as kids as she always had the solution or the medicine in the cupboard.

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At 17 years old, the young Nurse Shepherdson was spotted by a young army guy, Carl Bray, who had just been posted to Bandiana after returning from 6 weeks jungle training in Queensland. They both fell madly in love, and mum married her darling soul mate in 1962. As newlyweds they moved into a flat above a shop in Boxhill with fifty pounds to their name. The first things mum bought were a rubbish bin, an axe and some food: something to keep the place clean, something to keep the place warm (for chopping firwood) and something to fill their tummies. Mum and Dad absolutely adored each other every day of their 61 years of marriage. Even if they didn’t always agree with each other, they were always finding ways to spoil each other. What an awesome example for us 3 girls who came along afterwards. Mum loved to sing and had a wonderful soprano voice. As a young girl she sang in Eisteddfods and sang in many church choirs and musicals, even being a valued member of the choir at Beleura Retirement Village right to the end.

Mum inherited her paternal grandfather’s amazing green thumb, knowing the names of thousands of plants and growing fruit and veggies for the table, even in the smallest of gardens like their current one. We always marvelled at the productivity of mum and dad’s garden. Mum was an artist and inherited our Nana’s amazing needlework and craft skills. This often involved recycling textiles or cards to create new ones, not wanting to see anything wasted. She was an adventurous artist trying out various styles and methods: China painting, Oil painting, Quilling, you name it. Mum was the master-designer of calisthenics costumes when we were young being called upon to create the initial designs and patterns for other mums to copy. She designed hundreds of animal, character and national costumes including Russian, German, and Indonesian costumes. Mum donated her time and talents throughout her life: volunteering for meals on wheels, red cross, Lions Ladies, church events and fundraisers. For many years mum sewed thousands of pencil cases and clothes and compiled gift boxes for Operation Christmas Child.

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Mum was extremely astute right to the end, loving her Sudokus and Kakuros, the latter, the rest of us are still trying to work out how you do. Mum was increasingly frustrated with her increasingly frail body not keeping up with her. Mum, was an amazing, caring mum to us three determined that we would have every opportunity in life. Both her and dad worked so we could go to better schools and have great holidays together. Mum sewed our clothes and bought in bulk at SSW so we always had money for extra special things. As a Nana, Mum could never get enough of her five grandchildren, Ami, Missy, Sophie, Bailey and Kate.

If she could have arranged it, she would’ve spent every minute with them: admiring them, barracking for them, celebrating every one of their achievements. Mum had a strong Christian faith right to the end, and enjoyed her church life and friends, assured that one day she would be reunited with them and her parents. Mum, we miss you so much already! Your big, strong loving hugs. Your gorgeous smile, laughter and sense of humour. The clang of your walking stick as it falls to the ground for the umpteenth time. Your deep deep love for dad and us that bound our family together. Your strong faith in God and belief that everything would aways turn out OK if we had each other.

We love you lots Mum!