This apron came to the Young Historical Museum from the estate of Mrs Ethel May West who died in 1980.
Ethel was born at Thuddungra in 1890 to John Jenkin Tiedemann and his wife Louisa.
She married Thomas Charles West at Thuddungra in 1916.
After marriage the couple ‘went on to the land at Bribbaree’.
Her husband was an active supporter for the Bribbaree Show Society and she also became actively involved.
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Ethel was also interested in the Country Women’s Association, holding the presidency of the Bribbaree branch ‘and it grew in strength under her active guidance.’ ‘
She was also widely known for her horticultural efforts’ and ‘was a keen exhibitor at shows and town flower shows.’
Ethel worked in the Women’s Fellowship of her church and became active in the auxiliary of Iandra Mansion at Greenethorpe when it was bought by her church.
According to the information the Museum was given at the time of donation, the apron dated to approximately 1880 which means that it probably originally belonged to Ethel’s mother, Louisa.
She was born at Young in 1868 to William H Louis Buschmeier and his wife Mary.
Mary’s death was registered in Newtown in 1876 and William, known as Louis, died at Young in 1914.
Their surname is spelt Bushmere on their death registrations.
Louisa married John Jenkin Tiedemann in 1888 at Maori Farm, Young.
The couple went to live at “Rose Farm” Thuddungra.
Their son Hubert Carson was born in 1889 and their daughter Ethel May on 5 December 1890.
Louisa ‘was one of the most highly respected residents of the district, both at Thuddungra and Young and was a great charitable worker in both centres, and she also took a keen and active interest in all functions pertaining to the Methodist Church.’
In 1915, when Burrangong District Hospital was in difficult circumstances, the committee sought to increase both country and town subscriptions to the hospital. Country subscription centres were formed and individuals ‘were asked to undertake the work of raising funds on behalf of the Hospital’.
The town was divided into four areas where ‘lady collectors’ would raise funds for the hospital. Louisa was allotted to the country area of Bribbaree.
At another fundraiser for the hospital, a ‘Linen Tea’ where donors brought a parcel of linen or contributed cash, Louisa contributed two sheets.
Another cause that Louisa contributed to was the Red Cross, which included donating items for the soldiers abroad. In March 1915, she is listed as contributing 4 pillows.
In about 1925, the Tiedemann’s moved into the town of Young and lived at ‘Winton’ on Wombat Street.
Louisa died at Young on 4 December 1940.
Karen Schamberger- Young Historical Society
