Women’s lives: a snapshot

In 1846 Thomas Clowes of “Woodside” married Louisa Tubbs: "The arrival of a mistress made a great difference to life on the station. But it was difficult for a lady reared in the closely settled English countryside to adapt to the loneliness and remoteness" (Ron Clowes).  Many women faced such difficulties. 

In 1858, Betsey Trewhella (nee Noall), also made the arduous journey from England with her children to join husband Ben on the Blackwood goldfields.  At Barry's Reef, in their 2-roomed hut, "Betsey learned to live in a virgin forest, cook and make jam over an open fire, cope with bush fires, bring in tubs of cold water from the yard, and kill snakes. Candles were used for lighting with a hanging paraffin lamp in the living room" (Ben Trewhella Jnr).

In 1859, Charlotte Robson (nee Withell) nursed the sick and delivered babies on her long voyage out, work she continued once settled in the fledgling Newbury community. "There was no help of a doctor, the nearest being at Kyneton, but no mother was ever lost and the only babies lost were those stillborn" (Mabel Trembath, granddaughter).

Daughters invariably provided family domestic support until marriage, with only a few becoming nurses or teachers.  When young primary school teacher Maisie Tressider married in 1925, she, like all female public servants until 1966, had to give up work.  Subsequently, in 1932, Maisie died giving birth to twins - encapsulating the realities women faced.

For many, rural life of the 1920s & 30s was little better than the 19th century.  "My poor mother worked like a slave. We had no mod cons – no washing machine, electricity, running water. Just a good spring nearby that supplied fresh water. She had a terrible hard life" (Frank Brady, Spring Hill).

Domestic routine was set, with or without 'mod-cons'.  "Monday was wash day.  The copper (washer) was lit early, filled with cold water.  As it boiled, my grandmother added soap made from fat and caustic soda. Clothes were scrubbed on a washboard, placed in the copper, stirred with a wooden stick, rinsed in the trough, wrung out by hand, or later the wringer, and hung on the wire clothesline.  Washing water was used to scrub the laundry and verandah.  Two irons were heated in front of the open fire, or later, on the stovetop for ironing" (June Moloney of her grandmother, Little Hampton).

In 1922 when the Trewhella Foundry supplied electricity to the town, extra power was produced on Tuesdays, "ironing day".

 Baking was Fridays: "scones, pies, jam tarts... Initially over an open fire, later a wood stove, then a slow combustion stove".   Sugar and flour were bought in bulk, in bags or drums.  Empty bags "were made into an apron, kettle holder, or protective cover for the head."

As the 20th century unfolded, postal services, and later telephone exchanges, offered employment for some women.  Olive Bruton notably drove her jinker in all weather to deliver the mail between Trentham and Little Hampton between 1933-36.  'Miss Madden' ran the Fern Hill Post Office for years until it closed in 1976.

During World War II, the Women's Land Army exhorted "If you can't fight, farm".  In our district there was little choice - agricultural survival depended on our mothers and daughters. 

 Women also increasingly found employment using their domestic skills.  "Mum was an excellent cook, making a good meal from limited resources.  She worked as cook at Trentham Bush Hospital and cleaned at private residences" (Jean Smallman's daughter Glenda).

After her 2nd husband's death, Kate Foster, superintendent of St Georges Sunday School for 45 years, ran a boarding house in High Street for young professional women.   "We always had a hot 3 course dinner, served in the dining room. At 6 o'clock sharp tea was served, soup and cold meat.  On Wednesdays, when the Castles man came to McKenzie’s shop, we had Cheerios (cocktail franks)!" (Margaret Scala, boarder 1956-7).

Interestingly, at this time, it was the Trentham women's football team, the Grasshoppers, that was providing “the best entertainment seen at the Trentham Oval in years” (Trentham Gazette, 25 July 1957).]

While the Trewhella Foundry maintained work post-war for local men (and 2 women, Kit Trewhella and Kath Moloney), between 1946-1963, the Austico Tie Factory provided 25 young women with full time employment: hand sewing, machining, ironing, starching to produce bow ties for major city department stores. "I got 4 shillings for the morning working in homes. At the factory I got £1.10.0 per week - it was a fortune!" (Ethel Patton).  

 Change was in the air.

Austico Tie Factory

Austico Tie Factory: Senior machinist Gwen Ryrie, watched by management, 1950s.

Grasshopper football team.