Person:Dorothy Menzies (1)

Jean was born 17 July 1915 in North Fitzroy to Maria and Harold Menzies. After the early loss of her father Jean and her mother lived in the family home with her much loved grandfather John Cousins who was larger than life and had a big impact on Jeans early years, he was a carter by occupation, there were stables in the back yard which housed draft horses regularly loaned to Carlton and United for 8 hour day parades. Jean often enjoyed jaunts in the cart with her grandfather, sometimes finishing up at the local hotel with Jean waiting in the cart with a lemon squash with the words “don’t tell your mother”.

Jean attended Princes Hill High School where she excelled leaving after her merit certificate to work at Foy and Gibson’s store in Smith Street Collingwood, it was whilst working here that she developed her love for her beloved Magpies much to the disgust of her Fitzroy and Carlton supporting family, she attended many games at Victoria Park and was surely a vocal supporter.

During these years Jean spent many happy times with the Thomas family who were great family friends, in particular Rona the eldest who was her closest friend but the whole family held an important place in Jean’s heart and when the youngest daughter Betty passed away recently Jean seemed to lose some of her vitality.

The four daughters of the family Rona, Gloria, Val Betty and Jean used to meet regularly for chooks day with all its laughs and fun. Jean kept in contact with quite a few of their children and always enjoyed hearing about them and their families, Joyce was a regular and Linda and Terri visited Jean at Christmas.

In the mid 1930s Jean met Edward Clarke a rather handsome blonde fellow from Liverpool now living in Melbourne and at the time in the RAAF stationed at Point Cook. After a rather lengthy courtship they were married at St Judes in Carlton on Australia Day 1942.

16th January 1944 was a in both ways a happy but sad day in their lives, their daughter Helen was born but tragically Jean suffered eclampsia and almost lost her life, Helen’s twin was still born. After a long struggle Jean miraculously recovered and rarely suffered ill-health again.

Their early married years were spent in Ascot Vale moving to Pascoe Vale in 1956 to unmade roads but a large block of land with abundant fruit trees which they both relished Jean created a lovely home and garden and Ed grew their vegetables and supplied the neighbours with eggs from his girls “the chooks”.

Jeans good friend for many years was a neighbour Eda Woodard, every Friday they would dress up to the nines hop on the train and “go to town” shopping all day but often coming home with nothing more than fish to cook for tea (it was Friday after all) plus a lemon meringue pie for sweets Eda and Jean also spent many afternoons chatting over a cup of tea or two. Jean was still receiving much looked forward to visits from Eda’s daughter Jan and they both enjoyed their time together.

Jean had a close relationship with her cousin Marie and Helen can recall many happy times spent during school holidays with Marie and her children John and Catherine at St Kilda Beach, the Botanical gardens and many other places. Catherine has also been a frequent visitor to Jean in recent times enjoying a chat over photos, news and memories.

Some of the most enjoyable times of Jeans life were the birth of her 3 granddaughters she was particularly proud of them and was heavily involved in their upbringing and was along with Ed a huge support to Helen and the girls after the sudden death of their father Geoff in 1977. Many happy hours were spent at Nanas learning to cook, knit and skip as well as just having fun. Jean a skilled dressmaker loved making clothes for the girls especially as they grew older and she was able to dabble in after 5 wear and bridesmaid dresses.

When Helen married Ken Jean and Ed welcomed him and his family, Jean became particularly friendly with Ken’s mother May and they enjoyed long chats when May visited Melbourne. When Ken’s son Stuart ,his wife Arri and children Genevieve, Penelope and Connor visited Jena always made them welcome

In 1988 Ed passed away and Jean spent several years living alone until 1996 when Helen, Ken and Fiona moved in with her. This was a happy time in her life as she was even more involved in the lives of the family with marriages and the birth of six great-grand children in whom she took particular delight and she developed a loving relationship with them all.

In later years Jean became close friends with Floss Brown and they travelled together many times on trips in Victoria NSW and SA, they also enjoyed their monthly visit to morning melodies at the Arts Centre.

Jean spent her final years at Craigcare in Pascoe Vale after severe arthritis reared its ugly head eventually confining her to a wheelchair she was very popular with the caring and competent staff and she had many happy times there.

1. ↑ Birth Certificate, in The Victorian Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages.
2. ↑ Death Certificate, in The Victorian Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages.
3. ↑ Verbal Knowledge.