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Lillian c1925
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LtoR: Lillian, Robert, Mary c 1919
This information on Lil is provided by her Grand daughter Chrissy Armstrong who is Colleen's daughter.
Lillian Eunice Joan Morris was the youngest of nine children born to ROBERT HENRY MORRIS and MARY ELIZABETH CORNEY.
As a teenager, Lillian worked as a 'housemaid' for a Doctor & his wife on their property in Forbes, which is where she met her future husband Jack, who was working as a shearer.
Lil and Jack Mc Glynns marriage was not a happy one at all. Theirs was a volatile and violent relationship fueled by alcohol. Both Lillian and Jack were functioning alcoholics in that they both worked hard and held down jobs but they were also destitute and for some years lived in a tent at Asquith where Jack worked as a railway fettler. Later he was to become a train guard at Hornsby Station. Lillian was gregarious and got along well with people, particularly men and she worked as a barmaid for many years. Lillian often had a boyfriend on the side. Lillian was described 'as strong and stubborn as an ox and she could give as good as she got. She could drink any man under the table.'
Lil and Jack had four children together; Maureen Elizabeth (1937-2016), Colleen Mary (1940-2018) John (13/7/1948...) and Robert John (25/11/1951 - 3/12/2013). Maureen was born in Parkes. The family then moved to Orange where Jack had come from . He was one of thirteen children from a pioneering family. When Colleen was born Lil was ill with TB so Colleen lived with her grandmother Lydia on and off for the first few years of her life. Baby Bobby was brought home from the pub one night where Lillian had worked as a barmaid. Lil and Jack adopted him. The secret of Bobby's origins was kept late into his adulthood when Colleen finally revealed the truth to him when she was in her seventies and Bobby was in his sixties. Colleen had desperately wanted Lillian and Jack to tell him about his adoption as she thought it was very unfair that he didn't know, yet everyone else did. However, neither parent would do this.
Lillian's father Robert Henry also lived with the family for a while in the tent and Lil looked after him until he died in 1946, when Colleen was about six years old. It was Colleen who found him dead when she woke. In about 1951 the family moved into a house but sadly the drinking and problems continued. Jack was a very violent drunk and took it out on his wife and on his daughter Colleen particularly (while the other children were spared). A few years later in 1954 Lillian left her family to move into the pub with one of her boyfriends. Colleen who was only 14 was left to care for her two younger brothers; John, six and Bobby, three. She didn't really have a childhood, and took care of all aspects of their lives. Colleen could understand why her mother had left but wished she'd taken her children with her as living with her father was not easy. When Colleen was 16 she met Ken Giles and fell in love. Lillian and Jack refused to give consent to their marriage but Colleen was determined to get away from her terrible situation and went to see a policeman. The police were well aware of the problems in the McGlynn household and had a word with Colleen's parents who relented. Colleen and Ken were married.
Lillian Eunice Joan Morris was the youngest of nine children born to ROBERT HENRY MORRIS and MARY ELIZABETH CORNEY.
As a teenager, Lillian worked as a 'housemaid' for a Doctor & his wife on their property in Forbes, which is where she met her future husband Jack, who was working as a shearer.
Lil and Jack Mc Glynns marriage was not a happy one at all. Theirs was a volatile and violent relationship fueled by alcohol. Both Lillian and Jack were functioning alcoholics in that they both worked hard and held down jobs but they were also destitute and for some years lived in a tent at Asquith where Jack worked as a railway fettler. Later he was to become a train guard at Hornsby Station. Lillian was gregarious and got along well with people, particularly men and she worked as a barmaid for many years. Lillian often had a boyfriend on the side. Lillian was described 'as strong and stubborn as an ox and she could give as good as she got. She could drink any man under the table.'
Lil and Jack had four children together; Maureen Elizabeth (1937-2016), Colleen Mary (1940-2018) John (13/7/1948...) and Robert John (25/11/1951 - 3/12/2013). Maureen was born in Parkes. The family then moved to Orange where Jack had come from . He was one of thirteen children from a pioneering family. When Colleen was born Lil was ill with TB so Colleen lived with her grandmother Lydia on and off for the first few years of her life. Baby Bobby was brought home from the pub one night where Lillian had worked as a barmaid. Lil and Jack adopted him. The secret of Bobby's origins was kept late into his adulthood when Colleen finally revealed the truth to him when she was in her seventies and Bobby was in his sixties. Colleen had desperately wanted Lillian and Jack to tell him about his adoption as she thought it was very unfair that he didn't know, yet everyone else did. However, neither parent would do this.
Lillian's father Robert Henry also lived with the family for a while in the tent and Lil looked after him until he died in 1946, when Colleen was about six years old. It was Colleen who found him dead when she woke. In about 1951 the family moved into a house but sadly the drinking and problems continued. Jack was a very violent drunk and took it out on his wife and on his daughter Colleen particularly (while the other children were spared). A few years later in 1954 Lillian left her family to move into the pub with one of her boyfriends. Colleen who was only 14 was left to care for her two younger brothers; John, six and Bobby, three. She didn't really have a childhood, and took care of all aspects of their lives. Colleen could understand why her mother had left but wished she'd taken her children with her as living with her father was not easy. When Colleen was 16 she met Ken Giles and fell in love. Lillian and Jack refused to give consent to their marriage but Colleen was determined to get away from her terrible situation and went to see a policeman. The police were well aware of the problems in the McGlynn household and had a word with Colleen's parents who relented. Colleen and Ken were married.
Jack and Lil on their wedding day 1937
Jack and Lil McGlynn around 1970
Lillian and Jack divorced in 1962. Lillian was a fabulous cook and in 1967/1968 Lillian went into business with her eldest daughter Maureen and Maureen's husband Mac. They opened a Chinese restaurant in Hornsby, 'the Golden Peacock.' It was next to the pub. Lillian's signature dish was Curried Prawns which were very exotic at the time. Colleen also helped out, working in the kitchen and waitressing. However, at some point there was a dispute between Lillian and Maureen over money and the restaurant was shut down. They didn't talk to each other for many years.
Lil was an amazing cook and in 1967, she went into business with her eldest daughter Maureen & her husband Mac. They opened a Chinese restaurant in Hornsby called 'The Golden Peacock.' It was next door to the pub she had worked at. Her specialty dish was Curried Prawns which was very exotic for that time and place!
Somewhere around this same time, in the mid to late 60's Lillian bought herself a new car & her own home unit in Hornsby, which she kept immaculately clean & filled it with lovely family heirloom furniture, including an antique dining suite which had belonged to her parents Mary & Robert. When Jack was in his 60s he had a stroke and moved in with Lillian who cared for him. There were no more fights between them, the rage had subsided and they would sit around the table for Sunday lunch alongside Lillian's current boyfriend. Jack died in 1996. Lillian's last job was as a cook for the nuns at the Our lady Mercy of Home. at Waitara, Sydney where she worked until she died five years after Jack in 2001.
Lil was an amazing cook and in 1967, she went into business with her eldest daughter Maureen & her husband Mac. They opened a Chinese restaurant in Hornsby called 'The Golden Peacock.' It was next door to the pub she had worked at. Her specialty dish was Curried Prawns which was very exotic for that time and place!
Somewhere around this same time, in the mid to late 60's Lillian bought herself a new car & her own home unit in Hornsby, which she kept immaculately clean & filled it with lovely family heirloom furniture, including an antique dining suite which had belonged to her parents Mary & Robert. When Jack was in his 60s he had a stroke and moved in with Lillian who cared for him. There were no more fights between them, the rage had subsided and they would sit around the table for Sunday lunch alongside Lillian's current boyfriend. Jack died in 1996. Lillian's last job was as a cook for the nuns at the Our lady Mercy of Home. at Waitara, Sydney where she worked until she died five years after Jack in 2001.
Ken and Colleen Giles March 12th, 1960
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Maureen and Mac's wedding. At left - Lillian behind Colleen's daughters Christine & Sharyn (flower girls), then is the groom Mac, bride Maureen, Colleen, the best man (unnamed), Garry (Colleen's son). Jack McGlynn. Bobby and John are shown at the back.
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Leader (Orange, NSW), Monday 9 June 1941, p 2
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