Brenda was born in Sydney April 17, 1923, the second daughter to Elsie and Os Trevanion and a sister to Ethel.
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The family moved to the Monaro in 1925, firstly to Jincumbilly for a farming way of life.
In 1929 another daughter, Joan, was born. The tree sisters slept in one bed, with Joan in the middle when she was older. Ethel and Brenda used to recite poetry to her until she fell asleep.
In those early years horse and buggy were the usual means of transport and as there was no school near their Jincumbilly home, the little formal education they received came by correspondence with Mrs Helmers giving a guiding hand.
Occasionally Ethel and Brenda stayed with Grandma Bruce at “Five Chimneys’ in Keys Street, Bombala and attended Bombala Public School, which was then located nearby in Wellington Street.
Around 1933, the family moved to “Wongalara”, Ando where Ethel and Brenda attended Ando Public School. These were free and easy years and we have the impression Ethel and Brenda did get into some mischief.
Except when younger sister Joan, who had a hole in the bedroom wall to spy on her sisters, quickly reported them to their mother.
In 1933, a baby boy Bruce was born, but died three weeks later. It wasn’t until 1938 that Carl was born, followed five years later by Robert.
Always keen on sport, Brenda played hockey in her teens with Ando-Bibbenluke team. Despite the Great Depression, they travelled widely by car and train.
Brenda has mentioned playing in competitions at Bombala, Cathcart, Delegate, Canberra, Sydney, Murwillumbah and Mt Buffalo in Victoria.
It was once said that Brenda was a very “enthusiastic” player. That enthusiasm stayed with her through all her sporting activities – tennis, golf and finally lawn bowls until her husband Des’ health declined to the point where she became his fulltime carer.
With the coming of WWII, Brenda worked in the Bombala Hospital kitchen before leaving to join the Women’s Australian Auxiliary Air Force (WAAAF’s).
Doing her training at Preston in Victoria before being stationed at Bankstown Fighter Section in Sydney.
After serving for 12 months, she was given permission by her parents to marry Des Preston, son of their next-door neighbour at Ando.
In 1944 they were married in St. Matthias church, Bombala. Afterwards taking the train to Sydney where they honeymooned at Cronulla.
Electricity supply had not yet extended to the Monaro and economically things were tight following the depression and with WWII entering its final stages.
Most tasks were hard manual labour. Clothes were washed/ boiled in a copper, water for bathing was heated in a bucket over the open fire in the dining room where many a stew also simmered.
Butter and soap were homemade, sugar and flour were purchased in 25-pound bags, a kerosene lantern lit the living room at night.
The refrigerator was also kerosene burner. In addition to these regular tasks, Brenda held the lambs at marking time and at shearing she cooked morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea for 6-7 men.
At night with all chores finished for the day, she took up knitting needles making many a jumper for family and friends.
In 1945 a daughter Janette was born, followed by Geoffrey in 1947 and Patricia in 1950.
In addition to raising her own family, at times she boarded the local school teacher and cousins Ron and Allan Bruce stayed to attend Ando School.
In 1953 with wool selling for one pound ($2) for a pound, Brenda and Des were able to build a new home. The plans based on her own design. Electricity supply to the Monaro was installed soon after.
Her mother Elsie, died of breast cancer the same year. This was probably caused by a errant gene which also caused the death of her sister, Ethel in 1967. Brenda herself suffered breast cancer in 1979 and bowel cancer in 2010.
Brenda became the mother figure to her two younger brothers after their mother’s death. Ethel and Joan had both married and left the district. She was also often called upon to help with nieces and nephews during time of illness.
Brenda always kept a stack of chooks and for years sold eggs to her regular customers in Bombala. She also raised roosters, turkeys, ducks and geese which the family helped pluck while she did the dressing.
Most years she raised several poddy lambs and occasionally a poddy calf. She kept a flower garden and a few vegetables, which were all grown on natural rainfall in the early years.
Tragedy struck the family in 1964 when Janette died as a result of a car accident. She was only 18 at the time.
When Brenda’s brother-in-law reached out to comfort her, she stepped back and said, “don’t touch me, I can’t afford to cry, I have two living children and Des. I must be strong and help them”.
And strong she was, making sure Geoff found work in Canberra where he still lives.
She had to work a little harder to push Pat from the nest, but eventually found her work in a bank at Cooma, where she finally settled and married, raising two sons Ben and Craig, who brought a lot of happiness into Brenda and Des’ lives.
Brenda cared for Des at home as his health failed with him only spending his last few months in hospital. She went on to live alone for 11 years before finally agreeing to go into Currawarna.
I think everyone who has known Brenda would agree, she has been ‘One very tough lady.