The Walker Clan who joined us all the way from Sydney. It was wonderful to meet you all!
KEN WALKER'S SPEECH DETAILING HIS MOTHER FLORA'S LIFE.
Flora was the second daughter born to Samuel McClymont and Elizabeth ( Bessie) Mary Goddard, at Newtown, Sydney. (a home birth). They returned to the family home, a sheep station 'Maxwelton' at Moree. Flora's elder sister was Elizabeth (Betty) and the younger sister was Heather.
Flora's mother Bessie passed away in January 1922 due to breast cancer, one month before Flora's 6th birthday. She was in her late 30's. Unfortunately, Samuel McClymont died the next year in November 1923 due to stomach cancer.
Flora and her two sisters went to live with their Aunt Annie Ensor in Bondi, Sydney. Annie was Sam's widowed sister who had three children of her own, Flora, Jessie and Tom.
Flora attended Bondi public school until she was thirteen, then went to MLC Burwood where she boarded for five years. At 19 she graduated and entered Sydney Teachers College to train for two years to be a primary school teacher.
Her first posting in 1938 at age 21 was to Kinchela school. It was here that she met the Headmaster's son Ocar Edward Walker. After a two year courtship they married at Bondi in 1940 while Oscar was on leave from the Army.
Flora was then posted to Minto and Wollongong schools and resigned in 1943 pregnant with their first son Kenneth Clyde, born 11.07.44. Ronald Cameron was born on 25.03.47, Ian Osborne on 11.04.1949 and Elizabeth Jeanette (Jenny) 21.01.56.
In 1945, Flora ans Oscar moved from their flat in Five Dock, Sydney to their home in Pennant Hills where the family resided till1997. Flora never returned to teaching and instead she was a stay at home mum, baking delicious biscuits, making lemon cheese, knitting gorgeous jumpers, helping various charities and creating a warm family environment.
Flora was widowed on26.06.94.
She moved to serviced apartment, then with deteriorating health to nursing care. She suffered from Osteoporosis and dementia.
She had 11 grandchildren and now (20100) 6 great grandchildren.
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