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Note: IN686
Note: MOIRA GROVER(1907 - 1988) William Lamfield Sayle (1905-1970)
Moira (Bee) was born in Melbourne on the 18th.June 1907 and was the youngest daughter of Montague (Monty) MacGregor Grover, and Ada Sara Goldberg. 'Monty' was an outstanding journalist who after a career in Sydney, came to Melbourne and started the 'Sun News Pictorial'. He was editor in chief for many years. Most of Moira's childhood was spent at Bondi, Sydney, and her schooling was at Subiaco Convent.
William (Bill) and Moira married at 'All Soul's Church', Bay Street, Sandringham on 12th.November 1927. William's mother, Florence, was of the opinion that they married too young. This possibly was the start of a certain amount of antagonism between them. Moira had two sons, William Osler (Peter), and David.
Bill's first chemist shop was in Hampton Street, Hampton, and later he took over his father's business in Melrose Street, Sandringham. There is a photo of the shop in the W.O. Sayle family collection. In 1936 his father purchased a newsagency in Mildura, and together with Bill's parents, his sister Osler, and brother John, all six moved up there. They lived in 8 Palm Avenue (now Chaffey Avenue), next to the railway line and opposite the Chaffey family home. ( As can be imagined with six adults and two children living in the house, it would be so easy for friction to fester, especially as there was never a close relationship between Moira and her mother-in-law.) There had been considerable problems over many years between Moira and Bill, so one day she packed her things, and together with her two sons, flew out of Mildura without telling anyone, except her father, Monty, who met them at Essendon Airport. It was during the Second World War. When Moira arrived in Melbourne she and the two boys travelled to Cobden, (in Victoria's Western District) to stay with Moira's sister, Dolly and her husband Arthur Cannon, and their children Michael, Jill and Dina. After many months they were on the move again, this time to Mildura to stay with 'Dor' and Bob Chaffey and their two girls, Jeanette and Gwendy. (By this time the 'Sayle family' had sold the Mildura newsagency and moved back to Melbourne.) Moira obtained a position in charge of the Mildura University canteen. Once again Moira and the boys moved, this time into rooms at 245 Williams Road, South Yarra, and Moira purchased a lending library in 'The Village' Toorak and ran this successfully for some years. Later they moved to Tintern Avenue, Toorak, and later to 89 Alexandra Avenue, South Yarra, to live in one of Monty's flats on the corner of River Street.
Later Moira had a clerical position with Commercial Union Insurance Company, and was living in a flat in Pine Avenue, Elwood. As this was close to the beach she enjoyed an early morning swim every day.
In later years she lived in Elsternwick and did voluntary clerical work for the Southern Memorial Hospital.
Moira had a stroke in the early 1980's and was eventually admitted to "Rothsay" Nursing Home in Bay Street, Sandringham, only about one hundred metres from where she had been married sixty years previously. A malignant tumour was discovered, and she died in Bethleham Hospital on the 29th.July 1988. Her body was cremated and the ashes scattered at Springvale Crematorium.
Reference J125 & JC159
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