My Family Tree

From Wendy May Faull notes in preparation of Doreen's funeral:

At around 15/16 years of age Doreen met Bob Faull. She was 16 when they married & Bob was 23. These were very tough times. But Bob provided by growing their vegetables, in fact that was his work – a primary producer.

Raymond was born at Ferntree Gully hospital, the 2nd child to be born there. They lived in Tecoma and Mum would tell the story of having to push Raymond and her shopping up Terry’s Hill Rd – it’s hard enough driving up there !!!!

John was born two years later at Ferntree Gully hospital. By then the family were living in Olinda, cnr Range and Everest Cres. Bob had a milking cow and had a wood business, as well as being a Primary Producer.

Wendy was born five years later at Ferntree Gully hospital. The story goes that Ray & John named Wendy as they had been to see a Peter Pan & Wendy pantomime. It must have been a stressful day for ob & Doreen as it was the annual Beach Picnic. Each year Bob would provide the truck and drive folks sitting on the hall seats, balanced on the tray of the truck, to the Sandringham beach. On this particular day, on the way to the beach, Doreen was heavily pregnant abd got ob to drop her off at the Ferntree Gully hospital. Later Bob managed to find a phone and rang to be told by staff that they had a daughter.

Doreen also worked at weekends, at the Log Cabin – the beginning of suburbians’ driving to the hills for Scones, Jam & Cream. The early days for Bob Doreen were very hard. Doreen would tell the stories of Bob always being able to provide potatoes and vegetables and milk, eggs etc for Doreen to cook. However, meat was scarce. So they would share a lamb lion chop. Bob would have the tender meat part and Doreen would have the fatty tail. It makes one appreciate what we have now in modern times!!!!!

They shifted across to Range Lodge, Range Road, where the children grew up. Doreen helped Bob with his fuel business from Range Road and the Potato production from the various paddocks on Ridge Rd and the Olinda State Forest. Doreen used to take thermoses and cakes and slices to Bob and the workers. One time while on her way in the State Forest, she rolled the car and was quite bruised and battered.

Talking about Doreen driving, a few years earlier, when Bob, Doreen and Wendy were out on a Sunday drive near Gembrook, Bob became seriously ill. He couldn’t drive. Doreen didn’t have a drivers licence. She had had only one driving lesson ever. So, to get Bob to help she got behind the wheel and drove to Monbulk, where fortunately in those days, the Doctor lived on site, at his medical clinic. Bob was rushed to hospital for surgery for stones in the kidney. As a side note, apparently Doreen organised the surgeon to remove his piles during the same operation and whilst recovering, Bob kept saying to her that he couldn’t understand why his backside hurt so much, because he had had a kidney operation!

Over the years Bob & Doreen contributed to the Olinda Community. Doreen was very involved with the school and hall committees and helped run Euchre and Beetle nights, dances and the yearly Olinda concert and of course badminton. Over the years great friendships were formed: Mavis Bartels, Margaret Holt, Beryl Lucas, Dulc Jones ,Kath Dodd, Bartlett, Noelle & Betty Boulter and too many others to mention.

They also leased out a front room to a visiting Dentist. In later years, when the room was vacated, the new Olinda state school infant teacher boarded there – Margaret Holt. Margaret would become a lifelong friend, until Margaret’s passing, some years back.