| [Index] |
| Viola Janet (VJ) HANSEN (1893 - 1987) |
| Children | Self + Spouses | Parents | Grandparents | Greatgrandparents |
|
Frank Arthur Ernest ELWORTHY (1919 - 2000) Living Living Living Robert Fitch Ross ELWORTHY (1928 - 1990) Macarthur Arthur James (Cookie) ELWORTHY (1933 - 2008) |
Viola Janet (VJ) HANSEN (1893 - 1987) + Frederick Arthur ELWORTHY (1891 - 1967) |
Frank HANSEN (1856 - ) | ||
| Hannah Maira Ellen FITCH (1871 - 1927) | Edward FITCH (1830 - 1910) | William FITCH (1790 - ) | ||
| Elizabeth (FITCH) (1792 - ) | ||||
| Janet Elizabeth MACKAY (1832 - 1907) | George MACKAY (1794 - 1855) | |||
| Ann MUNRO (1797 - ) |
|
|
| b. 18 Apr 1893 at New South Wales, Australia |
| m. 03 Apr 1918 Frederick Arthur ELWORTHY (1891 - 1967) at Gundagai, New South Wales, Australia |
| d. 06 Aug 1987 at Wynnum, Queensland, Australia aged 94 |
| Parents: |
| Frank HANSEN (1856 - ) |
| Hannah Maira Ellen FITCH (1871 - 1927) |
| Siblings (2): |
| Olive Agusta HANSEN (1895 - 1967) |
| Frank Edward HANSEN (1898 - 1955) |
| Children (6): |
| Frank Arthur Ernest ELWORTHY (1919 - 2000) |
| Robert Fitch Ross ELWORTHY (1928 - 1990) |
| Macarthur Arthur James (Cookie) ELWORTHY (1933 - 2008) |
| Grandchildren (19): |
| Events in Viola Janet (VJ) HANSEN (1893 - 1987)'s life | |||||
| Date | Age | Event | Place | Notes | Src |
| 18 Apr 1893 | Viola Janet (VJ) HANSEN was born | New South Wales, Australia | 35781/1893 | ||
| 03 Apr 1918 | 24 | Married Frederick Arthur ELWORTHY (aged 27) | Gundagai, New South Wales, Australia | 6508/1918 | |
| 30 May 1919 | 26 | Birth of son Frank Arthur Ernest ELWORTHY | Gundagai, New South Wales, Australia | ||
| 1927 | 34 | Death of mother Hannah Maira Ellen FITCH (aged 56) | 12100/1927 | ||
| 13 Feb 1928 | 34 | Birth of son Robert Fitch Ross ELWORTHY | Crowther, New South Wales, Australia | ||
| 16 Aug 1933 | 40 | Birth of son Macarthur Arthur James (Cookie) ELWORTHY | Gundagai, New South Wales, Australia | ||
| abt 1934 | 41 | Separated (Frederick Arthur ELWORTHY) | |||
| 23 Jan 1967 | 73 | Death of husband Frederick Arthur ELWORTHY (aged 75) | Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia | 13924/1967 | |
| 06 Aug 1987 | 94 | Viola Janet (VJ) HANSEN died | Wynnum, Queensland, Australia | ||
| Personal Notes: |
|
On the eve of their marriage on 03 ApI 1918, at St John's CofE, the rector, wardens and parishioners gave Vi a handsome canteen of cutlery in appreciation of her service as organist. Her daughter Betty Logan still has the canteen.
It was considered 'bad form' to have elaborate weddings in wartime particularly when close family members were in the forces. Fred and Vi had a very pretty wedding featuring Fred's regimental colours of white and blue - but the reception was limited to the two families. Fred's sister Eileen De Salis lent her wedding veil, sister Doris and Vi's sister Olive Hansen were bridesmaids and Fred's best friend D. McCaig was best man. The honeymoon was spent in the Blue Mountains, Jenolan and the Yarrangobilly Caves then Fred and Vi lived at Maitland until transferred to Albury in August. Peace was finally declared and the young couple returned to Gundagai for a rest. Whilst out driving near the end of January 1919 they had a lucky escape, duly reported in the Times. "They were driving down Learys Hill when the pony toppled over,the impact snapping off the two shafts close up to the springs. The pony hardly moved a muscle and as the body of the sulky swung forward, the occupants quietly stepped to the ground without suffering any personal inconvenience whatsoever." Vi was five months pregnant and it could have caused more than personal inconvenience! They must have really liked the town of Albury (where Vi had lived from 1902-06). Fred applied for the job of Secretary of the P & A Society but alas, came second to a bank manager in a field of forty. On 14May Vi was at Gundagai to greet her brother Frank Hansen returning after two years at the front and six months leave in England. Maybe the excitement was a bit much or maybe she'd planned to be with mother for her first baby. In any case Frank Arthur Ernest arrived on 30 May 1919. Later he took mischievous pleasure saying he was born in Gundagai gaol. Technically he was - his grandfather Hansen was the town constable and his residence was within the gaol walls Following the separation from Fred, Vi and the children stayed on at Burrenderry here she continued to take care of her bachelor brother-in-law Jim and also do the farm's books. One by one the children went away to school or work and when war came in September 1939, only the two youngest Rob and James, remained at home. Many years later Vi commented that never again did she have all her family together under one roof - at least one was always missing. For many years she worked for patriotic organisations in Gundagai such as the RSL and Red Cross and was an enthusiastic supporter of the CWA. Vi was a foundation member of Gundagai RSL Auxiliary, for 15 years directing its affairs as President and later becoming Patron. Shortly after son James married Rosemary Carmichael in 1965, Vi left the home she had lived in for more than 30 years and stayed a year or two with her daughter Nancye Mackenzie at Norfolk Road, Epping, then moved up to Queensland to be near daughter Betty who, with her husband Ian Logan, owned and ran a nursing home in the Brisbane bayside suburb of Wynnum. She found a comfortable unit in Bride Street with views of Waterloo Bay and later, when the steps became a bit much to manage, she moved to a ground level unit just one block away in the same street. She was an alert and mentally active lady who read widely and kept up with current events on television and ABC radio. She loved to shop, especially at David Jones where she'd had a charge account for more than 50 years. To acknowledge the half century, the company sent champagne and flowers - with a personal note from Charles Lloyd Jones! Her Bride Street unit was directly opposite the Anglican Church and in her later years when kneeling was difficult (but not impossible as she always knelt for her evening prayers), Vi derived great pleasure just sitting at home absorbing the music of the well-loved hymns she had played so long ago as organist at St John's, Gundagai. Because she kept her finger on the pulse of her family's lives and knew all their doings, her children jokingly referred to her as MI.5 (Britain's espionage headquarters). She was also called VJ and Mama. She didn't ever forget anyone's birthday and wrote regularly to each of her six children. But woe betide anyone who didn't respond promptly! Until she was just past 90, she lived alone, entertaining friends and doing much of her own cooking. Sadly she suffered a stroke and moved into Betty's own home but finally needed full time nursing care. Her last four years were spent in The Wynnum Nursing Home where she died peacefully on 26 Aug 1987. VJ now lies in Portion 8, No 276 of Hemmant Lawn Cemetery. |
| Source References: |
| 2. Type: Book, Abbr: Devon to Downunder, Title: Devon to Downunder, Auth: Bettie Elworthy, Publ: Bookbound, Date: 1997 |
| - Reference = 202 (Name, Notes) |