Audrey with two of her three children, Judy and Richard.
When Audrey Morgan grew up in Chelmer in the 1920s and 1930s the suburb was largely dairy farms. It was also so quiet the bell at City Hall could be heard chiming every hour.
Audrey has fond memories of those days, including her schooling at Graceville State School and St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School. And now, a lifetime of memories later, Audrey has celebrated her 100th birthday at her home across the river.
Audrey marked her September 24 birthday during a party with family and friends. The party was at the house which she and late husband John bought in 1955. Back then the house was one of the first in the suburb, surrounded by paddocks and on a gravel road.
Audrey and John married in 1956 after meeting 14 years earlier when Audrey was 17. The pair met at a picnic in Brookfield and were friends for many years. When asked why it took so long to marry, Audrey joked: “I didn’t want to have to do the washing up”.
Soon after marrying, Audrey and John moved to Goondiwindi where they owned an electrical retail store. They returned to Brisbane when Audrey was expecting their first child Richard in 1958. Her second and third children, Peter and Judy, were born in 1960 and 1962. In 1969 the couple opened a jewellery and gift shop in Alderley, with John carrying out many jewellery repairs. John passed in 2014, age 90. “He was very polite and had a lovely manner,” Audrey said. “He was very happy when he was working.”
Before family life and after finishing school, Audrey joined the National Bank of Australia. “It was nice working in the bank because everyone was very friendly,” she said. She also liked to attend society events, often featuring in photographs in the social pages of the Courier Mail. After placing in the Miss Queensland Pageant Audrey, at 21, became a candidate in the Miss Australia Pageant, placing third.
Audrey also travelled abroad before marrying, visiting England for eight months on a working holiday with a friend. Tennis was also a favourite pastime with Audrey playing at the same tennis club in Chelmer for 47 years until she gave up the sport in 2010. “It is a great game,” she said.
Jubilee Community Care also wishes our client Walter M a happy birthday. Walter turned 102 on September 30. Congratulations Audrey and Walter.
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