Florrie lived in Pakenham for 72 of her 98 years.As a young woman Florrie enjoyed tennis, church activities and gymnasium classes in her spare time.Florrie Thomas had a long association with her family’s newspaper business, proofreading until she was 91 years old.Pakenham said goodbye to Florrie Thomas last week. She spent her life creating a loving family and a media institution. The Gazette pays
tribute to the life of a respected woman.
FLORRIE Gefferson Thomas called Pakenham home for 72 of her 98 years, witnessing first hand the evolution of the district as documented in the pages of her family’s newspaper, the Pakenham Gazette.*
An enduring image for many of Florrie’s colleagues is of her sitting at the newspaper’s proof reading desk highlighting spelling and grammatical errors with a red pen.
She was 91 when she finally retired her red pen.
At a thanksgiving service last Friday, 12 August, one of Florrie’s grandsons recalled her picking out similar mistakes each day in her avidly read copy of the HeraldSun.
Florrie’s long life came to an end when she died at Millhaven Hostel in Pakenham on Tuesday, 9 August, surrounded by her loving family.
Florrie Aisbett was born in Invermay, just out of Ballarat, on 5 May 1907.
She was only two when the family moved to Toorak Road, Burwood.
Together with her only sister, May, Florrie enjoyed a carefree lifestyle on the family’s property.
They had a poultry farm with 44,000 birds and their father also did carpentry work.
On a tape recorded by her son, Ian, Florrie reminisced: “We lived a mile from the school.
“We walked there each day, meeting up with friends along the way.
“Of course, there were paddocks all around us in those days.
“We had four teachers and as we got through to sixth grade (qualifying certificate) and eighth grade (merit) we were given more responsibility to look after the younger pupils and run errands for the teachers.
“With the cemetery opposite the school, often on the way home we saw a funeral – with horses pulling a carriage, on which the coffin was mounted.
“In the earlier days there were no trams but I was at school when trams were first introduced and we got a half day off to see the first trams run.”
Florrie enjoyed tennis, church activities and gymnasium classes at night in her spare time.
She also recalled fondly the zoo her father set up with numerous animals and birds and also the many enjoyable hours spent in the swimming pool.
After completing her schooling and obtaining her merit certificate, Florrie had a brief period at home before studying at the College of Domestic Economy, which later became the Emily McPherson College.
But with three aunts (her mother’s sisters) in the nursing profession, she was destined to follow that course.
She carried out her training at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
“They were happy days and we formed lasting friendships,” she recently told her family.
Long after her nursing days and right up to the turn of the century Florrie retained a keen interest in the Royal Children’s Hospital League of Former Trainees and Associates, taking out a life membership in the year 2003.
“The pay wasn’t very good – 5/ a week in the first year, 10/ in the second and one pound in the third.
“We lived in the nurses’ quarters and it was a wonderful time during my lifetime,” she said recalling her early nursing days.
Florrie went on to complete a course in gynaecology at the Women’s Hospital followed by nine months work in midwifery.
As her training drew to a close, the matron of the Royal Children’s Hospital wrote to her, inviting her to take up staff duties at that hospital.
Throughout her lifetime she commented that this was one of the greatest things that ever happened to her. She went on to be second in charge, taking over from her superior when she was off duty.
These were the Depression years.
“We had very little for fares but we could walk to the city and it cost sixpence for the cheapest seats in the pictures, sixpence to travel to St Kilda beach and one shilling to ice skate.”
During the period between 1932 and 1933, Florrie’s lifestyle was about to change.
Relatives who lived at Pakenham Upper asked if they could bring two friends to Florrie’s parents’ home in Burwood and the two people turned out to be Florrie’s future husband, Herb, and his sister Trixie.
It was an enjoyable day, swimming and sitting around the pool, but nothing more than that – so Florrie thought!
Several weeks later, when Florrie visited those same friends at Pakenham Upper, there was the fleeting remark by one of the hosts: “I bet Herb Thomas will turn up today.”
Sure enough, soon after, he arrived on his motor bike. The rest is history!
They were engaged in 1932 and married on Saturday, 15 April, 1933 at Burwood Methodist Church.
The following morning they made their long trip to Healesville for their honeymoon which lasted at least 15 hours because Herb had to be back at work first thing on Monday morning to help print the family newspaper.
On a quarter acre block of land at 49 James Street, Pakenham, which had been given to them as a wedding present by Herb’s dad and mum, the newlyweds built their home.
The builders camped on site, completed the house in three weeks, for a cost of 455 pounds – and debt free.
As was the custom in those days, Florrie had, with some reluctance, given up her nursing.
Life had changed and she immediately helped with the proof reading from home and assisted on publication days.
In those times the Gazette was printed on Thursday nights, but often they didn’t finish until 2 or 3am on Friday.
The office was part of Goldsack’s mill site, opposite Shankly’s Hotel, and 300 yards from the Thomas senior’s home west along Main Street.
Production night was a team effort. Herb turned the flywheel by hand on the printing machine, Trixie fed the blank sheets into the machine, where they were collected by Grandpa Thomas and taken to the family home where Florrie and her motherinlaw did the folding and wrapping of the 600 newspapers. By 1935 the new office at 100 Main Street had been built.
In those days Florrie’s interests included golf (at the course between Pakenham racecourse and the highway), tennis (on the church courts next door) and outings in the family car.
Florrie also helped local doctor George Farrell with first aid and home nursing classes at Gembrook each fortnight and at similar classes at Pakenham Shire Hall in Main Street.
During World War II Florrie volunteered to spot enemy aircraft.
From a tower next to the scout hall in James Street volunteers took their turn 24 hours a day, noting the number of aircraft and which direction they were travelling.
Asked if she spotted any enemy aircraft, she replied: “No. Well I don’t think so. I think it was probably a waste of time.”
She recalled that the war years were difficult years. Many prominent people enlisted and many lost their lives. She remembered the charcoal burners on cars, the blackout of houses at night, the food coupons and ration books, and making handmade soap.
Then the war ended, and bells were rung and there was jubilation in the streets. It was a time for celebrations.
By this time the Gazette had changed from broadsheet to tabloid.
Pakenham East was still a small country town. Although the Main Street was bituminised, there were earthen drains either side and still many houses along Main Street.
There were two grocers, a smithy (next to the post office), several of the oldstyle milk bars, a bakery, the police station, a hotel and a shire hall – and not much else. At that time eggs sold for sixpence a dozen.
Florrie and Herb welcomed a son, Ian, in 1934 and daughter, Margaret, two years later.
The family enjoyed holidaying at Marysville and Phillip Island. They then graduated to a coveredin trailer for camping and later caravanning interstate.
Later on, Florrie and Herb enjoyed holidays overseas. Even after Herb’s death in 1979 Florrie enjoyed some wonderful overseas holidays, boat trips down the Murray River and coach trips interstate.
During her children’s years at Pakenham State School and Dandenong High School, Florrie was always involved in the school’s affairs and worked hard on the support committees.
After they left school Ian joined the family newspaper business and Margaret took up teaching.
With more time to herself Florrie still helped with the proof reading but she also involved herself more in the Presbyterian Church, the Ladies’ Guild, the Church Tennis Club, Pakenham Garden Club, Pakenham Red Cross and PakenhamBerwick Historical Society.
She went on to be a life member of the Historical Society and only two years ago received her 50year service medal from Pakenham Red Cross.
During those years she was very supportive of her husband, who served as Pakenham Urban Fire Brigade secretary for more than 33 years.
With the arrival of the five grand children – Kerrie, Helen and Paul Thomas and Andrew and Stuart Barber – Florrie always proudly followed their progress.
Then in 1979 Herb passed away suddenly. For 12 months Ian managed the business, with the help of his wife Dorothy who had given up her teaching career, before taking over as proprietors.
In the 25 years that followed, Ian described Florrie’s encouragement, generosity and support as outstanding.
She retained the role of proof reading – and continued to serve in this position until she was 91 years of age.
Two years ago Florrie went to live at Millhaven Hostel in Pakenham. She loved the staff and made many friendships with the residents.
Asked in the interview in the year 2000 whether she had enjoyed her life she replied: “I’ve had a wonderful time. I would not have wanted to do anything differently. It’s all worked out.” That was Florrie’s philosophy. Make the most of what you have got.
Fifteen months ago Florrie bounced back after being very seriously ill.
However, the sudden death of her daughter, Margaret, on 11 July last year was another major setback.
In latter years she continued to skite – in a nice way of course – about the achievements of her grand children and six great grand children. She loved nothing more than sitting around the family pool and watching Tom, Ben, Kate, Simon, Hannah and Will having lots of fun. She loved grand parents’ day at the school, family outings to Marysville and birthday celebrations.
Florrie Thomas was farewelled at a thanksgiving service held at Pakenham Uniting Church on Friday, 12 August, following a private burial.
She is survived by her sister May, her son Ian, daughterinlaw Dorothy, soninlaw Dick Barber grandchildren Kerrie, Helen and Paul Thomas and Andrew and Stuart Barber and six great grandchildren.
•The Pakenham Gazette, now part of the Star News Group, is still owned and managed by the Thomas family.
