|
a.
|
Note: n Carlton, Victoria (but this is not certain).
In 1942, when her husband Victor was overseas in the South-east Pacific area, and to aid the war effort, Winsome was employed at the Defence Ammunition Factory in Footscray. She worked in the top security area located down on the Maribyrnong River flats below Gordon Street. The loading of ammunition and packaging required meticulous cleanliness with cotton gloves to prevent any finger marks or grime which could well cause 'jamming' of rounds at a critical moment for a serviceman.
In 1945, Winsome learnt the enamel spray painter trade at Laughtons in Footscray and the two-part 'split' company name sign, on their main gates, was one of the results of her work.
When Victor had his heart attack in 1956 she worked early morning and late afternoon shifts cleaning at the T&G Insurance building in Collins Street, Melbourne. One morning, on the way to work , she was involved in a crowd scene at Flinders Street station where the film "On the Beach " with Gregory Peck and Ava Gardner was being made.
In 1957, Winsome's training in silk screening led to her employment on the drum lines at Rheem. A constant stream of 4 gallon drums from production were sent down a conveyor line where Winsome and her friend Shirley Gage would silk screen the customer's logo and details on them (Castrol, Shell, Ampol, etc).
The drums would then be lifted off and stacked for despatch. The addition of 44 gallon drums onto the line almost resulted in strike action. It was causing serious health problems for the women due to the heavy strain of handling the drums off the conveyor line.
Sense prevailed and an opera singing Italian labourer was assigned to the department to manhandle these heavy drums.
She resided with her daughter, Rhonda and husband, Peter, for the last seventeen years of her life before dying, in her wheelchair of heart failure, at 2150 hours in the living room of 18 Cumberland Crescent , Chirnside Park, Victoria. She was buried, with her husband, Victor, in the Lilydale Lawn Cemetery.
Born at the Royal Womens Hospital in Gratton Street, Carlton
Lilydale Lawn Cemetery, Lawn section D, grave D 064. Register #12444
Note: It is thought that Winsome was born at the Royal Womens Hospital (?), i
|
