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Lynette's birth

Ian's birth (my father)

Rosemary's birth

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Norma, Lynette, Peter Degotardi, Charles

Norma Dunlop Peard was the eldest daughter of CHARLES SYDNEY DUNLOP and FLORENCE VICTORIA PEARD.  Born in Grafton, she had an elder brother Douglas Victor (23/12/1904-23/5/1937) and two younger siblings, Neville Raymond ( 12/1/1910-15/4/1913) and Laura Ruth ( 3/7/1914-5/1/1981).  The three older children were born in Lismore where Florence's family lived.   Both Norma's parents were teachers, although married women could not work in the public service (until 1966) so Florence did not teach for long and Charle's career dictated where the family lived.  When he was located in Forbes, Neville contracted typhoid and died at three years and three months.  Not long after the family relocated to Auburn where LAURA RUTH DUNLOP was born.    Both Douglas and Norma became teachers also, Norma a kindergarten teacher.  Laura (known as Ruth) became a commercial artist.  When Norma was only twenty years old and Ruth only fourteen years old, their beloved mother died of breast cancer.  A  year later that their father remarried and Norma and Ruth were both 'train bearers' at the wedding.  How hard that must have been for them to see their mother replaced.  Douglas is not mentioned in the  guest list but Mr Charles Barker and Mrs Barker (I assume Grandad's mother) were present.  It is likely that Grandad knew Charles Dunlop and his new wifey d as they were both active in the presbyterian church which Grandad's family were also involved with.  Perhaps Norma and Charles met at their wedding, or maybe they were already dating.  Regardless they married on 23/12/1931 in the Presbyterian Church.  They had three children; Lynette Florence, Ian Mclelland and Rosemary Edith.  See CHARLES MCLELLAND BARKER for more details of the children as well as their home in York St, Epping and 16 Myoori Ave.  After Cyclone Tracy when we went to stay with Grandma and Grandpa, (I was 9), I remember Grandma was teaching special needs children who would come to the house for tuition. 

Both Grandad and Grandma were very frugal and Grandma abhorred food waste. One incident was unforgettable when we had  fritz and salad for dinner.  I hated fritz and couldn't eat it.  The next evening everyone had something else for dinner but in front of me was the same plate of fritz and salad from the night before.  I still couldn't eat it!  Even now my stomach turns at that plate of fritz, its edges hardened and the limp lettuce, soggy tomato and wilted cucumber.  It must have been difficult to be invaded by five children and feeding them.  I don't remember a lot of warmth from her.  She was very close to our cousins who called her Narni but she was always Grandma to us. 

Now I understand that they would have both experienced World War 1 as children, then gone through the depression as a young married couple, not long after experienced World War 2.   These events would have impacted on their  lives significantly and contributed to their austere outlook. 

Later in life Grandma suffered from rheumatoid arthritis which left her crippled and in pain.  Grandma was also very close to her younger sister Ruth.

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