MUM 1922 - 2022

 

Eileen Frances Bardon was born in Milman , about 30k out of Rockhampton, on the 19^th July 1922, the fourth child and second daughter of Albert and Sarah Hall. They went on to have nine more children in the coming years. ( Isabel, Joseph, Albert, Eileen, Noel, Hazel, Cyril, Len, Bill, Marie, Phil, John and Marg

She was always tiny – the shortest in the family – and was affectionately known as “Bub” or occasionally “Bubby” her whole life. Right to the end her mother often called her “Bubba” and she was known throughout the family as Aunty Bub.

As in most big families Bub was actively involved in caring for her younger siblings and generally helped her mother around the home taking an active role in washing and cleaning both the home and the children – often chasing up the boys who had run bare foot all day and making them wash their feet before they went to bed ! She also lined up the boys to cut their hair.     

Over the years the family moved around the Rockhampton area living in Glenmore, then in a leanto hut with dirt floors built by her father during the hard years of the depression. By the end of 1934 there were eleven children in the family and though times were very tough, the children formed strong family ties and were happy and healthy. Eventually their fortunes improved and the family moved to a house in North Rockhampton.

Bub left school during Year 8 without completing the Scholarship year in order to get a job and contribute to the family coffers. As was done in those times almost her whole wage was handed over to her father to help with family finances. Albert generously purchased a bicycle for her to ride the several miles to and from her work. Eventually she moved away from home to work but continued to help out financially as best she could for several years.   

          Marriage

When World War II broke out Eileen and Hazel joined the WAAF, working in munition factories and then clerical work throughout the war years. 

                                 

At the end of the war while waiting to demob in Brisbane a handsome, returning Airman called George Bardon sighted her at a dance. She and Hazel were having a cup of tea and always the charmer, he approached them and bought them another cup of tea. The girls were fiercely protective of eachother and George soon found if he wanted to take one out he had to take the other along too, so he took them both out to dinner ! Obviously he passed the first test and the next date was just with Eileen.

The next test was to meet the family and this one was crucial…and the Halls – numbering 14 children by now- would have been a confronting bunch, but the introduction went well and they were married in Rockhampton three months later on 9/2/1946. 

Life

Not long after George and Eileen were married, as was the way in those times, George’s Uncle Lionel offered the newlyweds jobs in his hotel in Mareeba. George became the Licencee of Dunlop’s Hotel and Eileen helped Aunty Ray with the daily running of the hotel where she learned the fine points of table setting, catering and refined her considerable cooking skills in the hotel kitchen.

After Helen was born they moved from Mareeba to the Metrapole Hotel in Ipswich once again running the hotel for Lionel and Ray until Bruce was born and they decided that a hotel was no place to bring up children. Another uncle, (Harry who was married to George’s Aunty Marj) saved the day by offering him a job in his fruit shop in Taringa.

Before long George had moved on from living behind and working in the fruitshop to joining his uncle as a buyer for the chain of shops known as Suburban Wholesale Fruiterers.

Eileen and George moved to a house in Taringa then later to Figtree Pocket and both of these homes were always filled with family gatherings of the Hall clan.    The strong connections of the adult siblings were passed on to the children and still remain today.

In their later years George and Eileen moved to the Gold Coast. The grandchildren spent many happy holidays with them there.

Their final move was to Hervey Bay -first to their own home, then to Fraser Shores Retirement village where they enjoyed many new friendships and activities for 10 years, before moving into The Waterford Aged Care Facility for their final 5 years.

George remained her rock throughout the 75 years of their marriage. They had two children – Helen and Bruce, five grandchildren –and nine great-grandchildren – 

Eileen was always a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

A month before she passed away Eileen celebrated her 100^th birthday. Hair specially set and wearing a new outfit she looked a million dollars and had a great celebration.

Eileen lived a long, happy life, always gathering the people she loved around her and supporting them all throughout their lives.

 She was an active, vibrant person. A little pocket dynamo !

She will be missed by many.

R I P