Memories of Mammar

Today would have been my Grandmother’s 98^th birthday. I consider myself very fortunate to have experienced the love of grandparents, something that many people including my husband Russell never have. So today’s post will be all about my Grandmother who we called Mammar.

Elenor Jean McLean, (known to her family and friends as Jean) was born in Portland, Victoria on the 9^th November 1910. Her parents, Hugh (46) and Elenor (28) were married in the January of 1910. Her mother was warned by her family that marrying an older man was foolish as he would die and leave her with a young family to raise on her own. Unfortunately the reverse happened and 8 days after giving birth to the youngest son, Elenor passed away at the age of 34. Grandpa McLean lived to the ripe old age of 96! Mammar told us of how she was dressed all in black and even wore black ribbons in her hair for many months. She went to live with her mother’s two spinster aunts, who reared Jean, Ian and Irvine, with Angus moving to Melbourne with another relation. Auntie Sis and Auntie Jeanie (who I can remember) were dressmakers and lived in Camperdown. Mammar told us many stories about her early childhood memories of growing up but I particularly like this one. Mammar had very long hair. In fact it was that long she could sit on it. Her aunts would spend lots of time brushing it for her, and when her father came to visit he would plait her hair. Once it was 14 pieces into one plait – especially done for a family portrait and the photographer left it at the back and not over her shoulder as planned. Back to the story…… well Mammar was a teenager and bob hair cuts were all the rage. She visited a friend and came home with her hair bobbed off. Her Aunts were horrified (in fact one didn’t speak to her for week!) and threatened with the time old saying….what til your father sees it! Grandpa McLean said something along the lines of moving with the times and that it looked nice.

She met and married the love of her life – Alexander John Scouller – on the 15^th August 1934, and celebrated 60 years of marriage in 1994. Three children came along, Elenor Lillian (my mum), Kenneth Alexander and Arthur John (who was killed in a hit and run in 1971 at the age of 30). My siblings and I would spend every school holidays with Mammar & Grandad, and I have fond memories including:

• Playing in the garden and under the huge old Bunya Bunya tree in the front yard.
• The outside toilet - complete with spiders.
• Chooks, chooks and more chooks plus budgies, canaries, parrots etc.
• Taking the dogs – brown curly retrievers – fetching sticks and swimming in the nearby dam.
• Being allowed to stay up late in front of the open fire.
• Watching TV Ringside; World Wrestling (with Haystack Calloon) and Turf Talk (racing tips) with Jim Coglin; Midday movies – Ma & Pa Kettle, Jerry Lewis & Dean Martin & Elvis Presley; Days of our Lives & The Young & the Restless (we only ever watched the soaps during the holidays but could always keep up).
• Saturday morning trips to the TAB for Mammar’s weekly flutter on the horses (50c each way!)

So very many more but I won’t go on and on.

I have really enjoyed writing this post and I hope that I haven’t waffled on too much. Maybe we should all take the time to write these types of memories down and reflect on happy times before they are lost.

Linda   :)

Comments

[Evonne]

Hi Linda, I have enjoyed reading this post. Thank you for sharing you precious memories of your dear grandmother with us. Best Wishes, Evonne xx

[Christine]

Serendipity! I just Googled "Mammar" because that is what my grandchildren call me and found this lovely little blog.
Hope they have lovely memories of me as you do of your Mammar x x