10 / 20
10 | iNarrabri Magazine
Feature
How long have you lived in the Frank Young
Retirement Village?
Daphne:
We came a day apart. I think I came
about the 17th of April. I came for 8 weeks
respite.
How long ago was that?
Daphne:
2014
Eveline:
We came a day apart,
but we palled up straight away - two newies!
And you’ve adjusted well to your new life-style?
Daphne:
people are very friendly and staff very
kind. We can get a hot or cold breakfast and
generally the meals are very nutritious.
Eveline:
some kind volunteers take us up to the canteen
at the hospital every Thursday where we have a
lovely morning tea.
Where did you live beforehand?
Daphne:
I came from Queensland. I grew up
in Darlington Point in NSW. When my husband
and I retired, we went to Queensland in 1990
and lived at Redland Bay. He passed away 12
years ago and I stayed on.
Eveline:
I walked
over! (laughs)
Daphne:
She’s a ten pound Pom!
Eveline:
I am. I paid ten pounds. I was thirty.
I’d been in the WAAF in the War in the Forties.
I was a cook in the Liberation Army. I served
4 years in the WAAFs then I was discharged.
I was living with my elder sister, Maisie, in
Liverpool and paying 3 pounds a week rent.
The house had no kitchen, just a scullery with a
gas ring and a fire in the lounge room. I came
to Australia for the adventure. There were 4 of
us in the cabin- two Mollys and two Evelines,
but I was the only Irish one. When I landed in
Australia, I worked for the Norwegian Consul –
General in Melbourne. I was housekeeper there.
I stayed with them until they moved back home.
I would have gone back with them if I could!
So, how did you get from Melbourne to
here?
Eveline:
I thought I’d take a tour around Aus-
tralia! I came to Narrabri and met Jack Miller,
and here I stayed! Jack was a carpenter and he
ended up working for the council.
So, here you were in Narrabri, both just
moved into the Retirement Village...
Daphne:
Yes- I said I wanted to go for a
walk, and I did for a few days by myself. Then
someone said “Oh I know someone who likes
to walk” and that’s how we started walking
together- and we’ve done it ever since!
You can often be seen walking over the Nar-
rabri Creek Bridge...
Daphne:
We walk around our complex, then
over the bridge and back.
Eveline:
When we get
across the bridge we sit down. We always bring
some cold water with us. We sit down and have
a little rest at the picnic tables. We have a drink
of water and watch the trucks. We hold our
noses when the cattle trucks go by! (Laughter)
Daphne:
And one day a wide load was com-
ing. We just stood and a policeman sings out,
“Move over girls!” and gave us a big smile. So
we moved over- and it was a wide load!
Eveline:
It came over the walking rails! One time a big
load came over the bridge when we were on
it and the bridge shook! (Laughs) We were
shivering!
How are the magpies treating you?
Daphne:
They haven’t attacked us.
Eveline:
They don’t bother with us at all!
What activities
are on offer at you Village?
Daphne:
If they have something going in the
bus, we always go to that. We think that if they
try to provide activities, we go. If no one goes,
they won’t offer anything else.
How often do they have bus trips like that?
Eveline:
It’s usually on a Wednesday.
Daphne:
Usually once a month.
Eveline:
We’ve been to
Wee Waa.
Daphne:
To the Bakery. We had a
look around Wee Waa. We had a look around
some gardens there. It was nice.
Eveline:
It was
very nice. We’ve been to Coonabarabran.
Daphne:
Yes, that was last week when we went
to Pilliga Pottery. And we went to Bingara where
there’s the Roxy Theatre. It’s all been done up.
We had morning tea in the café and a look
around.
Eveline:
Then we went to the Returned
Servicemen’s Club for lunch.
Daphne:
We go to
the Crossing Theatre. They go to the movies,
but there’s not many of us – only two tor three.
We went once, but we didn’t go to the movies.
We had lunch. We’ve been to Sawn Rocks for
morning tea, too. All the wattles were out. It
was beautiful!
What else do you like to do?
Daphne:
I have pots with some plants in them
and that’s quite colourful at the moment. I like
to puddle.
Eveline:
Daphne gets a lot of the sun.
I get the morning sun, but that’s all. It doesn’t
matter, because I’m no gardener!
Daphne:
And
we love to go to the markets. We go there on
Saturdays when they’re on.
Do you play Bingo?
Daphne:
Oh, yes!
Eveline:
We love to go to the
Bingo! We play for chips and chocolate. And
some people play dominoes.
Daphne:
Rose
McNamara is the champion. She’s 101.
Do you watch much TV?
Eveline:
I like ‘Midsomer Murders’
Daphne:
No,
I’m not into TV all that much. I’ll watch cricket or
the footy.
Eveline:
Yes! We love the footy!
What team do you go for?
Daphne:
Broncos.
Eveline:
I’ll go for anyone, but
if the Broncos are playing, I’ll go for the Bron-
cos!
Daphne:
But I’d like to see the Cowboys
win, because they haven’t won a premiership
before.
And you like the cricket too?
Daphne:
I love the cricket! I like one -dayers -
all of the cricket.
And what about the Poms beating us- do you
two fight over the cricket?
(Laughter)
Daphne:
As far as I’m concerned,
the best team wins on the day.
Eveline:
When
the Poms are playing Australia, I barrack for
Australia.
Daphne:
She’s been in Australia now
for over 60 years! Longer than she’s lived in
England!
And, Eveline, have you been back to Ireland?
Eveline:
Yes, twice.
Has it changed much?
Eveline:
No! The old clock is still in the centre of
the street. My cousin is still over there in Portad-
own. It’s wet and cold, but not icy like the north
of England.
You two have been friends from the day you
moved into the Retirement Village. What
makes friendship so special?
Daphne:
Eveline’s always making jokes and I’m
jokeless! (Both laugh)
Eveline:
She gives little
sly laughs. You don’t know until you see her
shoulders shake!
Interview by Craig & Jill Jollow
A beautiful friendship
Daphne Wheeler, 94, and Eveline Miller, 92,
believe that jokes, laughter and walking con-
tribute to a beautiful friendship. Residents of
the Frank Young Retirement Village, Daphne
and Eveline continue to live life to the full,
finding it’s the simple things that count.
photo: john burgess