Fond farewell for Sylvia

By Jim Mynard
SYLVIA Nobelius died peacefully at the Berwick Private Nursing Home on Wednesday, 12 July 2006.
She was born Sylvia Harmer on 23 May, 1914 and was never to know her father who had enlisted at the outbreak of war.
He was wounded at Gallipoli and died of his injuries in Malta one month later.
Sylvia’s parents moved to Australia from England in 1913.
Her mother was a nurse and after the loss of her husband returned to her profession as a private nurse at Leongatha, later working at Tarwin Lower and then at Dandenong.
Sylvia was educated at Tarwin Meadows State School, Dandenong State School, and Dandenong High School.
She married Jack Nobelius at St John’s Church, Cranbourne, in 1941 and later became postmistress at Narre Warren Post Office where she worked for three years.
Sylvia became involved with a wide range of community activities and Sylvia Lane between Malcolm and Rebound Court is named in her honour.
She worked through those early years with the knowledge that her father died in the First World War and her husband Jack was away fighting in the Second World War.
On his return he became postmaster and they built a modern post office and residence at Narre Warren where they lived and worked.
The couple retired to Berwick, but along the way built a large and strong circle of friends.
They travelled extensively interstate and overseas
Sylvia was a keen gardener and won many prizes for her roses and dahlias. She was a keen horse rider, car driver, swimmer, and home entertainer with her hobbies gardening, sewing, reading and bowls.
She made an enormous contribution to the community through Guides, and Rangers, serving as a district commissioner for Narre Warren North Guides for seven years.
She served as secretary of the Hallam Valley and the Narre Warren schools Mothers Club, Berwick PreSchool treasurer of Berwick Anglican Ladies Guild, charter secretary of Berwick Inner Wheel, member of the Berwick RSL Ladies Auxiliary, and president and secretary, was a life governor of the Royal Victorian institute of the Blind, member of the Narre Warren Auxiliary to Dandenong Hospital member of the Masonic Lodge Ladies Auxiliary, Narre Warren CWA, member of the Liberal Party, charter member of the Berwick Ladies Probus Club, and assisted with fundraising for many projects in the district.
The Narre Warren Fire Brigade presented her with a plaque in recognition of her services.