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Airdrie Desolie Kelf
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My Aunt,
Airdrie Desolie Petersen nee Kelf 1925 to 2022
was born in Sydney. She was the daughter of
Julia Nellie Gadsby and
Frank
Leonard Kelf. Her mother‘s parents Thomas and Selena Gadsby had brought Julia
to Australia from London in 1912 and Frank had immigrated from Norfolk England
in 1914. Julie and Frank married after the war. Airdrie’s aunts, uncles and
cousins were numerous and the Gadsby family were constant visitors to the home
at first in Undercliff and then other parts of the Eastern Suburbs.
What was happening in 1925? F Scott Fitzgerald published
The Great Gatsby in 1925 depicting a magical time of flapper fashion and
soirees. John Logie Baird successfully transmitted the first television
pictures with a grey scale image and film stars Paul Newman, Tony Curtis,
Richard Burton were born as were Robert Kennedy and Aussie Ruth Cracknell.
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Airdrie and Frank Jnr c 1926
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Airdrie had an older brother, Frank Trevor born 1923 and
10 years later in 1935 younger sister Marlene Jewel Kelf was born. At a very
young age she suffered from Scarlet Fever and was doing poorly until her
Grandmother Selina came to visit bearing a little watch with a white watch
band. Airdrie still remembered that watch in her 90s and needless to say her
recovery was speedy after receiving the cherished gift.
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A favourite past time
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In her teens Airdrie loved
horse riding in Centennial Park, ice skating
and swimming at various Eastern Suburbs locations such as Clifton Gardens, Nielsen
Park and
Bondi Beach.
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Iceskating with Daphne and Dora
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At the beach 1940s
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On what they call “Black Sunday” Airdrie was at Bondi
Beach. That day tragedy struck by way of powerful
tidal waves thundering towards the beach
sucking hundreds of swimmers out to sea. Airdrie was 13 at the time. That day
there were tens of thousands of people cooling off on a 40° summer day. It was
6 February 1938. Hundreds of people were rescued and five people died after the
biggest mass rescue in the history of surf lifesaving in New South Wales.
When she left school, she went into nursing training,
graduating after her nursing examinations in October 1946. She was a nursing sister at Crown Street Women’s
Hospital and War Memorial Hospital. Two eminent Sydney hospitals.
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Early nursing days
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It was at Crown St that she met Dr Catherine Hamlin and
her husband Dr Reginald Hamlin. The
doctors, specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology at Crown Street were a hard-working
and popular couple. Later they went to Ethiopia where their skills were very
much in demand. They were able to create
long lasting change to the women of this Third World country. They were well
recognised for their work with repairing labour induced fistulas which if left
untreated resulted in women having severe incontinence and poor life outcomes. Airdrie had always supported
the work of her friends through their incredible efforts to build facilities
and train staff. Airdrie still followed their work in her final days and was a
frequent supporter.
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Dr Catherine Hamlin
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I remember Auntie Airdrie saying she missed what was
going on in the family when she was away doing nursing training. I thought she
must have gone to train in the country but she said “No, I trained in Auburn”
-24 km away miles away.
In those days it
must have felt like the country. It’s not even the centre of Sydney today.
After a few years’ experience, Airdrie was set to travel
to England to further her nursing experience. However, at the same time her
mother became ill with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Airdrie decided to stay home and
nurse her mother until she died in 1954. So, England was put on hold.
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Airdrie, Frank Snr and Marlene at Frank's wedding
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Mother Julia before her death
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She was bridesmaid to her sister-in-law Betty Kelf nee
Carroll in 1949 and was bridesmaid at cousin Betty Wright and Ray Shortell’s
wedding in 1946. Finally, she was
bridesmaid for sister Marlene in 1955.
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At Marlene's wedding with Airdrie
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At the time the Kelf family lived in an apartment block
in Woollahra, 318 Edgecliff Road. About
the same time – a fellow called Frederick Peterson also known as Bryce had
recently become divorced. He lived in the unit block next door, 320 Edgecliff
Road and frequently socialised with
people in Airdrie‘s own apartment block. Airdrie fell in love with Bryce and he married
her in 1956. Airdrie moved into her marital home which had belonged to Bryce. She
remained there for the rest of her days until she needed the services of a nursing home in her nineties.
Next door in a block of units at 318 her sister Marlene
who had married in 1955 had given birth to her first two children. As a young and
inexperienced mother who hated the site of blood how handy to have your very
own midwife and nurse next door. My mother was grateful that Airdrie was always
available when one of us had a mishap. I remembered one day my brother Paul
fell out of the cot. Dad was working away from home Airdrie was there to advise
when it was discovered he had knocked out his front tooth.
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Airdrie, Julie and Bryce at Julie's Chrstening 1959
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A little while later Airdrie had her own child Julie Louise,
born in May 1959. Julie was the apple of her eye and being an only child, she
developed interests similar to her mother- the arts and ballet. Airdrie and Julie travelled many times to Bryce’s
relatives in Malden in Victoria. They
kept in contact well after his death especially tracing the Petersen family
history.
Airdrie was a keen dressmaker and crafter. I recall the
clown she made me when long legged bed clowns were all the rage. He had purple
striped pants and raffia hair. Later she took up Stained Glass making. After we moved away Airdrie, Bryce and Julie would with meet up with us
in Centennial Park or Nielsen Park for a swim or picnic. Sometimes it was Sunday afternoon tea enjoyed
after a drive to Carlingford.
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The Kerrs visiting at Edgecliff Rd
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Airdrie and Julie (R) with the Kerr cousins Christmas Neilson Park
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Sadly in 1972, Bryce was killed in a car accident while driving to golf
in his beloved Peugeot.Widowed with a young daughter Airdrie returned to her
calling as a nurse to support herself and Julie. Recently the New South Wales Government had
introduced a community nursing service to people at home. Ideal hours for a
single mum with a child and a supplied car was a real bonus.
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Out with the workmates
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Airdrie did a Postgraduate Course in Geriatric Nursing in
1975 at the Repatriation General Hospital.
Her appointment was confirmed by the Health Commission
of New South Wales in March 1977. She enjoyed her job until her retirement. At
a family reunion in 2012, Carolynne, the daughter of one of Airdrie‘s cousins
reminded us that she was influenced to become a nurse because of the toy
nursing kit Airdrie had given her as a young child.
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Airdrie's Graduation class at Concord
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Also, Airdrie and Julie enjoyed weekends with her ex
sister-in-law Betty and nieces Jillian and Airdrie at Watsons Bay. The girls
were a bit older than Julie so I am sure they spoilt her.
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Dinner at Doyles
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Airdrie and Matthew
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About the time of her retirement Airdrie met
a fellow called Matthew who she kept company
with and finally made that trip to England with him.
They continued to spend time together until
she ended up in the nursing home at age 91.
Sadly, Matthew’s health deteriorated and Covid separated them. It was
lovely to see their eyes light up whenever they were together. Matthew
travelled to the nursing home often to have lunch with Airdrie.
Eventually operating from regular telephone
became too onerous and occasionally I managed to connect them via devices which
I brought to the hospital. Because neither of them could work an iPhone or an
iPad to FaceTime they snatched a few phone calls via the Nurses station.
The nieces and nephews at a family reunion in 2012
Chris, Airdrie, Julie, Robyn, Helen, Paul Missing Jillian
So good to have a nursing sister in the family. Once
again her nursing skills were are called upon when my Grand pop, her father recuperated at her place
after a Bowel operation in the late 70s. Again Airdrie had just retired
in 1992 when her sister Marlene was seriously ill with cancer. Regularly
Airdrie came to Marlene’s house to tend to her needs until she died 10 weeks
later. We very much appreciated that in our time of need.
A doting Mum, she dedicated her life to the apple of her
eye. They bonded over the arts, gardening, and cats. When Julie finished school
she went to study teaching and communication. She worked across a number of
fields including teaching, filmmaking, curating at Norman Lindsay Gallery and National
trust and organising exhibitions at
Mosman Art Gallery.
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Airdrie at Julie's Graduation
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Airdrie had a small gathering for her 90th birthday. Julie and Michael hosted at Julie's Paddington terrace and Matthew, Wendy, Chris and Robyn attended.
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Cousin Wendy at Airdrie's 90th
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Airdrie and Chris Kelf
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Julie then drew on her dancing background. She trained as a dance therapy teacher. Julie struggled with seeing her mother get old
and suffer ageing diseases. She saw how beneficial it was for older people and
saw it as a way of working in and improving life for the aged. Before she could
get really established she was cruelly cut down with an aggressive cancer and
Julie passed away at age 59.
After a knee replacement in her late 80s and respite care,
stairs in Julie’s Paddington residence and her Woollahra apartment it became
problematic. It became dangerous for Airdrie to live at home.
A nursing home placement was sought. Julie moved her mother into a place called St Brigid’s
Green at Maroubra.
In late 2018 Julie rang me to say she had terminal cancer
and that Plan B was going into place. I was to pick up as Airdrie’s executor
and I had to take the baton with regards to Enduring Guardianship and Power of
Attorney. The New South Wales Administrative Tribunal transferred Julie‘s Power-of-Attorney
and Enduring Guardianship to me after
she died in early 2019.
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Julie Louise Petersen
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Matthew continued to visit Airdrie at St Brigid’s until
his ill-health stopped him. In fact it was Matthew who was carried out of the
Nursing Home on a stretcher after he fainted while visiting Airdrie one day. Wendy
her cousin, arrived for a visit, saw
a man with a big pair of shoes lying on Airdrie’s bed. There were a lot of
panicked people Thinking the worst she saw Airdrie sitting there quietly
observing their nursing practices and scoring them on their effort! It was
Airdrie from her chair who was suggesting to keep him warm with a foot blanket.
Upon making the decision to move to the home Julie had
had to sell up their family home and dispose of possessions that Airdrie would
not need in the nursing home. I was
thrilled to get Airdrie‘s sturdy sewing machine for a lovely African refugee
and a couple of cherished items. My cousin Chris got the dresser which was made
for my grandmother by my grandfather and I got the chairs which are mixed bunch and in much need of
repair.
After moving in to
the nursing home at age 91, Airdrie remained there under the care of their
lovely staff, throughout covid and lockdowns. Covid made it difficult to travel
to St Brigid’s and even as late as pre-Christmas in 2022 we were being asked to
consider our need to visit in order maintain all precautions to prevent the frail
residents from catching Covid. She remained until a month before she would’ve
turned 98. She ended up being a long-term resident!!
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| At St Brigid's |
From the time of her daughter’s death Airdrie’s cognitive
ability diminished although she continued to watch television and read the SMH
each day. She enjoyed art therapy and
animal therapy and the delicious food especially the icecream. Once she needed a wheelchair she ceased the
outings. The littlies of the extended families sent her letter, postcards and
drawings to display in her room , Wendy sent letters and I wrote family stories
for her. My last face-to-face visit with Airdrie was more successful than
some previously. Occasionally local
school children visited with pot plants and cards.
My last physical visit was more successful than most. I
had got to see an “awake” almost talkative Airdrie and even a smile. Interestingly Airdrie loved the zoom
technology and my last visit to her was a virtual one on the Friday before she
died as I had Covid and could not visit. Because of the Covid I wasn’t able to visit her for her last
hours for risk of infecting everyone. Thankfully the staff at St Brigit’s took
care of her and kept me and the family informed.
Sadly, within hours of Airdrie‘s death on 20th December
1922, I found out that Matthew had
passed away some time in 2021 and weeks
later I found that her niece and namesake Airdrie had passed away in 2021 also.
Airdrie is survived by her cousins Betty, also 98 and devoted cousin Wendy who wrote to her all through Covid and snuck in
chocolates for years before that. Wendy reminded everyone of Airdrie‘s good advice to her
geriatric patients – eat a banana every day.
Those who remember
her are her extended Gadsby, Kelf,
Kerr and Peterson family, especially her two nephews Paul and Chris, two nieces
Robyn and Helen and her daughter‘s partner Michael.
A private cremation was held and
the extended family and friends mourned her by lighting candles all over
New South Wales Queensland and Victoria at the time of the cremation. Airdrie you
will be remembered for your kindness and professionalism. Fly high to join Julie, Bryce and Matthew and Rest In Peace lovely lady.
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Music and candle with the Currans at Orange
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Memorial on Cremation day- Alstonville
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Rip Airdrie, Julie and Matthew- Memorial Kanahooka
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I bet she’s having a cup of tea and a long earned catchup with her friends
Marge Morton, Elsa Cohen, Catherine Hamlin, her siblings, cousins and her
parents.
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Airdrie and neighbour Elsa Cohen
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Marge Morten, Airdrie and Betty Wright
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If you would like to donate to Catherine Hamlin’s Fistula
Foundation go here https://hamlin.org.au/ or buy a scarf or artisan gift
supporting local craftspeople and women
in Ethiopia https://store.hamlin.org.au/
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Airdrie in her Rehab Office "Eat a banana a day"
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