Three Women

When I look at this painting, it takes me on a journey where I meet again three women who played a major role in my life.

I will start with the first woman, the actual artist of the painting – Dawn. Dawn was a housewife to Eric and had two late primary school children when I first met her in Canberra. She was one of the most gifted and artistic people I have ever met. She made rag clowns that she sold and I was blessed with being given one (I can’t recall who I gave it to!) In addition, she painted flowers in water colour. She was in her late 80’s when I last visited with her and she was in the process of moving into an aged care facility and cleaning out her cupboards. She asked me to choose a painting, and I chose the above.

Dawn showed me a CD she had that contained a file of collage of many of her paintings of flowers. It was to be printed in colour as a cover for her coffin for her funeral and buried with her. She didn’t want other flowers on her coffin, just the coffin covered with her prints. As I write she is still alive and when the time comes and I am at the funeral, I look forward to seeing that flower covered coffin.

Dawn could also turn her hand to jewellery making, patchwork quilting, knitting – you name it. She would also not follow patterns, but develop her own designs.

I often found myself in her kitchen having a cup of tea and being restored through caring conversation and being able to witness a woman who was utilising her gifts to benefit others with joy. She had her problems, but her art and craft healed her soul.

Also in Canberra there was Audrey. A very different person to Dawn. Audrey was social. She enjoyed engaging with others and ‘chatting’. She had a circle of friends and played golf regularly. Her husband was high up in the Public Service and the couple had moved to Canberra after Cyclone Tracey. I recall Audrey telling me that when she was playing golf one day one of the other players asked her was grade her husband was in the Public Service. Audrey had no idea. She was not interested in status. When Audrey couldn’t tell her, this woman then snubbed Audrey. At a later date, Audrey found herself at a function and this woman appeared. Remembering how important it seemed to the woman that she knew what status her husband held, Audrey went over to him and said, “Martin, the woman is here who wanted to know what grade you are. Can you tell me and I’ll let her know.” Martin’s response was to say, “Don’t worry, I’ll tell her.” I’m sure he did.

Audrey was the mother of two daughters and a son. One of the daughters was a colleague of mine when studying in Adelaide and it is a joy to me that we are still friends nearly 60 years later and see each other when we can. The other daughter is my daughter’s god-mother and likewise, we are still in touch through all the ups, downs, and changes in our lives.

Modest, self-effacing but generous to a fault. There were times when in Canberra that I did not get paid for a few months. I recall a time when I had even run out of soap, so on the excuse that as I only had a shower and would love a bath, I turned up to Audrey’s home for a good soak. Bliss.

The third woman was Maureen, in Glenelg, SA. When I married I dressed and left for the church from her home. She was very much the mother figure that I lacked in my life. She had a daughter just a few years younger than me and I managed to just slip in and be accepted. Maureen every evening when preparing the evening meal, would pour herself a glass of dry sherry. I found this at the time extremely sophisticated. From Maureen I learned the value of service to others. She volunteered at the Minda Home for the mentally disabled and each week would attend and hold ‘Sunday School’ with the residents. She was awarded the Order of Australia for this service.

Maureen was always on the move. Her mode of transport was to ride her bike. I don’t think I ever saw her drive a car.

All three women were women of faith who lived out their faith in different ways and enabled me to be supported, encouraged and upheld by them at different times and in different ways and I will always be grateful to them for allowing me to be part of their lives.