Sepia Saturday has suggested that we explore Sisters this week and so my photo of my mother Vera Tansey (on the left) with her younger sister Hilda.
Vera was born in Geelong in 1899 and Hilda fifteen months later. But being so close in age Vera was held back so that the sisters would start school together.
But this lovely photo was taken in 1915 when they were living in Traralgon, in Gippsland. The photo was in postcard form and had been sent to a friend. So how did it come back into Vera’s possession ?
Vera has later added 1915 and Traralgon. I believe Hilda had written the original inscription. Who would they have sent it to, someone who Vera would see later in life for it to be returned. Before coming to Traralgon they had been living in Murtoa where they were friendly with Jack Findlay. He had come with them from Geelong to Murtoa but remained behind in Murtoa when they shifted to Traralgon. However he kept in close touch with the Tanseys and later he shifted to Traralgon and married a local girl, Fordyce Brereton.
Vera kept in touch with Fordie (Fordyce) for most of her life and I think it highly likely that was how the photo was returned to Vera.
A younger Vera (on the left) and Hilda had also been photographed while living in Murtoa, on this occasion dressed in fancy dress. Murtoa was also the place where Vera suffered from Scarlet Fever and was given daily twenty minute cold baths containing ice, as part of the treatment. Murtoa had recently acquired an Ice Works.
And we can follow the sisters further back to 1902 in Geelong where we have another photo of the two sisters together, this time in a family group.
Vera became a traditional housewife, caring for her husband and children. Hilda married three times, was a bookkeeper and was involved with brass bands as player, conductor and teacher.
Further examples related to this week’ s Sepia Saturday image can be found on their blog.
Photos are a treasure.
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Great photographs of these two sweet sisters. They look very much alike in the postcard. I though Vera’s proportions looked strange in the middle photo, then realised she must be kneeling,
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Beautiful photos, and you even managed to include a dog:)
I’m feeling sorry for poor little Vera, feeling ill and having to sit in an icy bath every day. I hope it was summer. How many weeks was she ill?
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I don’t know how long it lasted but further reading shows that things like oatmeal were added to the water to help relieve the itching.
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Lovely family photographs. I had never heard of the icy bath treatment for Scarlet Fever – what a horrible treatment!
Family History Fun
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A lovely collection of two sisters and a great match for the theme. Hilda’s musical dress has a very modern style print. Presumably her medals are awards for band contests?
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The medals belonged to her father, won at the annual South Street competitions in Ballarat.
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Those sisters sure did look alike as girls and young women. Good catch with them and the dog in one photo, but the one kneeling sure did end up looking like a midget…especially with a big dog next to her. I know she was the taller on, but that photographer kind of misrepresented her good looks.
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Amazing resemblance between the sisters…and their mother in the final picture. Was Hilda divorced or unlucky enough to be widowed twice? I love her musical skirt.
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These are wonderful photos and stories. I enjoyed this post very much.
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The photo with the dog is pure perfection, creases or not. I love it. And the dress with the horns is great!
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