Vale Ida May Cameron

St Mary's Church North Sydney, July 15, 2019

My name is Sally Cougle. I grew to know Ida in the later years of her life. I shared weekly Communion with her at Archbold House in Roseville for a number of years.

Ida was also able to share several Christmas lunches with my family at my home in Lindfield.

I am delivering this short eulogy on behalf of Ida's niece Joyce Nash. Joyce and her husband Rex have travelled the significant distance from Eugowra to be part of this morning's Mass.

I know that Ida very much treasure her time with Joyce and Rex when they were able to travel from the country to visit her at Archbold House. Ida also appreciated the guardian and protecting role that Joyce played in Ida's later years.

What I am saying about Ida's earlier life is based upon notes provided by Joyce and also from Ida's reminisces during my communion visits with her.

Ida was born on 12 May 1924 at Eugowra.

Ida was the second-last of nine children born to her parents, John and Ester Cameron.

Ida was also the last living of her siblings Robert, Leslie, Florence, Ella, William, Ronald, Jack and Coral.

Ida's childhood and early teens coincided with the Great Depression and, as with much of Australia at that time, living conditions involved hardship.

In the case of Ida's family there was also additional difficulties in that Ida's mother left the family when Ida was aged seven, and her father needed to travel away regularly to obtain work as a shearer.

This meant that the family was largely organised and raised by Ida's older sister Flo, who was also Joyce's mother.

Going through school at Eugowra Ida aspired to be a teacher.

That was not affordable, but Ida managed to secure a position as a telephonist at Eugowra on leaving school.

The war years were a time of great disruption and change for Australia, and so it was for Ida.

Ida married in those years, moved to Melbourne and joined the Women's Australian Air Force.

Ida served as a WAAF for approximately four years, and that is a time that Ida reminisced with great fondness.

As with many women of that time, there was opportunity to provide valuable wartime service outside the domestic home.

Following her discharge from the Air Force, Ida ultimately moved to live in Sydney where I understand she worked as a telephonist for many years with different employers.

During these years Ida took up the game of golf.

Ida mentioned the Monash Golf Club to me and with a little internet research I found that she in fact had been a club champion and a seriously good player. I understand that Ida made many friends through golf.

Later in her life Ida became involved with the church here at St Mary's and at some point joined the Catholic faith.

I understand that Ida did housekeeping work at the church and undertook many tasks connected with the day to day activities of the church and parish.

Ida spent time working with Lifeline and also acted as an Acolyte here at St Mary's when it was uncommon for women to participate in church life in this way.

In August 2014 Ida was 90 years of age. Whilst still razor sharp of mind, it was time for her to obtain some assistance. And so, with the help of the Veteran's Affair Department, Ida moved to Archbold House in Roseville.

Ida lived at Archbold House from 2014 up to the time of her passing away. Up until very near to the time of her death Ida remained a keen reader and kept up to date with happenings in the world through listening to her radio.

I have very much enjoyed the friendship that I shared with Ida in the course of giving her communion and hearing about her interesting life experiences.

Joyce would like me to express special thanks to Sarah and all of the staff at Archbold House who provided such wonderful and loving care during Ida's final years.

Joyce would also like to express gratitude to the staff at Royal North Shore Hospital who provided care in Ida's final days and to Father Daver and St Mary's Church for the arranging and celebration of this service. Thank you.

There are many nieces and nephews of Ida, and their families, in the Eugowra and Forbes area (and other places as well) who survive her.

Ida passed away July 6, 2019.