MARY Lockhart wouldn’t be comfortable with all the fuss.
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The 75-year-old was devoted to her family, garden and music – and while passionate about many things, lived a quiet, private life with her husband, Peter, on the family farm at Wedderburn.
The couple’s 33 acre property was their sanctuary, and it was there the couple shared a love of gardening and collecting.
Mary and Peter moved in to ‘town’ from their 1500 acre sheep and grain farm at Nine Mile eight years ago to retire, but that didn’t slow Mary down. She was a woman who never stopped.
Mary (nee Fitt), grew up in Bendigo with her parents, her sister Patricia, and brothers, Des (dec), Ken (dec) and Geoff, who were all involved in the earthmoving industry in Bendigo. She worked at Coles, Myer and Mount Alvernia hospital.
She married David Holmes and together they had five children: Maree St Clair, Paul Holmes, Rosalee Clark, Greg Holmes and Cheryl Bailey. Mary’s family grew to include 13 grandchildren, one of whom has passed away, and seven great grandchildren. Her eighth great grandchild is expected to arrive before Christmas.
Mary later married Peter, and the couple was soon to celebrate their 31st wedding anniversary.
The family remembers Mary’s home filled with the music of Foster and Allen, their mother’s beautiful singing and plenty of food. They were always served morning and afternoon tea, with a delicious selection of home made goods including preserves, sauces and jams.
Every member of the family would receive a homemade Christmas cake each year from the woman they knew to be a ‘beatiful cook’.
“She was just such a kind person,’’ Paul said.
Mary often performed with her youngest daughter, Cheryl – singing her favourites Maggie, After all These Years and Amazing Grace.
Her home was lined with glass cabinets displaying the many and varied trinkets Mary had collected during her lifetime. Arnotts biscuit tins, dolls, teddy bears, pencil sharpeners, badges, thimbles, crystal depression glass, old electric jugs, photos … ‘everything she found beautiful’.
Her family remembers Mary often saying ‘that’s lovely, but it’s too good to use’.
She appreciated beauty in everything.
Mary also liked to be busy. Whether tending to the garden, knitting or crocheting, Mary always found something to do.
But it was her family that always came first and her walls were lined with photos.
“She was a woman who doted on her children and her grandchildren,’’ Paul said.
“No one missed out on a birthday card.’’
So special were birthday cards to Mary that kept every one sent to her children from the day they were born. They all have scrapbooks filled with birthday cards.
“She just loved the family being around,’’ Paul said.
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