My Nan - Esther Rose Lillian Rake

I have many wonderful memories of my nan, Esther and remember finding this painting in her garage when I was young. The portrait was part of a prize she had won for a school writing competition.  She was born 105 years ago today.

My parents were living at the back of Esther's house when I was born and lived there until I was about 18 months old when Mum and Dad moved into their own home at Smithfield. My sister and I spent many school holiday's at Nan's along with our cousins. I remember going with Nan to Paddy's Markets, fabric shops, and Vinnies. We also spent our summer holidays with Nan and Pop at Bateau Bay.

My paternal grandmother, Esther Rose Lillian Rake was born on 18 August 1916 at 16 East St, Redfern. She was the eldest child of Arthur Samuel Rake and Clara Lilian Phibbs who had married on 24 December the previous year.  29 year-old Arthur was employed as a steel worker was the informant, Clara was aged 28 years and you can read more about her here.

Esther was baptised a month later on 8 September 1916 at Cleveland Street St. Paul Anglican Church, which was built in 1848 and designed by Edmund Blackett. It is now the Greek Orthodox Church and is called the Cathedral of the Annunciation of Our Lady.

 Postcard 'St Paul's Church of England Cleveland St, Redfern' [Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences]

Her sister, Florence May Sarah was born 2 years later in 1918. 

In 1924, when Esther was 7 years old, the family went to England for a holiday travelling on the newly built, Esperance Bay, a passenger and cargo ship. For some reason, Florrie isn't recorded on the forward shipping records, but is recorded on the passenger list when they returned on the same ship in February 1925. I remember nan talking about this trip and also meeting her paternal grandmother in London.

On their return to Australia the family settled at 65 Premier St, Marrickville where brother George was born in 1925 and another sister, June in 1930. 

In March 1926 Esther's paternal grandmother, Sarah Ann Rake came on an extended visit with her son, William Rake on the Hobson Bay. They returned on the Osterley via Brisbane in June 1927.

Esther's father lost his job and their home during the Great Depression of the 1930s and travelled to Brisbane, Queensland in search of work. On 24 March 1933, his body was found floating in the Toowong Reach of the Brisbane River, near the Regatta Hotel. The post-mortem examination revealed that death was due to asphyxia by drowning. It is unclear if he took his own life or if it was the result of an accident, but the reports tend to suggest suicide. He is buried at Toowong Cemetery. 

After losing their home, Esther's family moved to 13 Rickard St, Turella, and were living with her Aunt May and her friend, Sarah Birch. It was here that she met her future husband, Alfred William Hails who lived around the corner at 30 Hannam Rd, Turella. Esther and Alf were married on 20 July 1935 and moved into a home at 11 Baker St, Merrylands. Their son, Trevor was born the following year. 

Alf, Esther, Trevor aged 6 months at 11 Baker St, Merrylands

Alf enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy just before the outbreak of WWII. He reported for duty on 27 August 1939 and was initially assigned to the Penguin II, the RAN's main naval base at Garden Island as an Able Seaman.  Alf later served on the Canberra which was sunk at Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands in 1942. You can read more about Alf's service here.

Their second son, Colin was born at home 4 months later on Christmas Eve.

Sons, Colin and Trevor, 1940

Esther and Alf separated during the war although their divorce was not finalised until 1949. Alf married again in 1952 to Lillian Mary Tapp nee Poulton, her son, John Tapp was a well known horse-racing broadcaster.

Esther worked at the Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Company during the war where she worked on damaged aircraft tanks. It was here that she met William Frederick Robinson with whom she had a long-term relationship until his death in 1974. He was known to everyone as Pat, and was Pop to Esther's grandchildren.  

'Pat' Robinson - Champion Boxer & Log Chopper

Pat Robinson, George Rake, Frank O'Reilly, Esther, Colin and Reg - day trip on the Hawkesbury River c1946

Esther was a very independent woman, drove a car and had her own home built in 1946 when there was a severe shortage of building materials. Below are a selection of photos taken in 1949 and 1950 with her sister, June, mother Clara and sons, Colin and Trevor. 

Esther outside her home at 2 Third Ave with June on the left and June and Clara on the right 1949

Colin with Blackie and Trevor with Zombie - Berala 1950

In 1950 Esther, her sister June and their mother, Clara, purchased land at Bateau Bay and over time with the help of Pat, her brother-in-law Frank, and son Trevor, they built a holiday house where the extended family were to spend many summer's enjoying being near the beach.  Colin and his cousin, Reg even joined the Surf Life Saving Club at Shelley Beach.

 

17 Elewa Ave, Bateau Bay - Colin's 1928 Chrysler and June's 1950 Austin A40 [c1957] 

I have several letters from her cousin Annie Howard in London, England that were written during the early 1950s.  Below is a page from one sent in 1951 concerning the estates of her two uncles, William and Edward Rake who had passed away in 1951 and 1950 respectively. 

Letter from cousin, Annie Howard dated 27 April 1951

On the morning of the 7 May 1952 Pat boarded the train at Berala Station on his way to work as usual. However, disaster occurred when during dense fog, a city bound train from Liverpool crashed into the rear of the stationary train at the station.  Seven people died either on impact or during rescue efforts. A further three passengers later died of their injuries. Pat was not injured and continued onto work. 

Berala Train Crash - 7 May 1952 - photo by Colin Hails

In 1958, Esther's son, Trevor married Heather Jessie McLeod. 

Esther and Pat at Trevor and Heather's wedding, Carol and Colin on the right - 1958

Her son, Colin married Caroline Martin in 1961. 

Colin and Carol's wedding with his parents, Esther and Alf - 1961

Between 1958 and 1965 Esther welcomed, 5 five grandchildren - two grandsons, and three grand-daughters. The grandchildren often went to stay during the school holidays and it was not uncommon for Esther to have all five grandkids.  She had a pianola in the lounge room and we loved playing and singing along to the the many rolls.  Nothing seemed to phase her, even when I put my foot through the lounge room wall as we were all doing somersaults on the lounge! It was also quite a treat being allowed to go to Mrs Rollings shop which was just a few houses away, and get 10 cents worth of lollies!   

Esther also worked as a cleaning lady for two generations of the White family into the 1970s.  She was was also a great seamstress and could make anything she set her mind too. She had a stall every Friday at Paddy's Markets in the Haymarket where she made and sold pram and basinet covers and other bedding for babies and dolls, along with a variety of other haberdashery items. She worked there until they relocated to Flemington in 1975 and continued working at Flemington for a few more years. 

I remember going in on the train with Nan during the school holidays and loved helping to set up her display and assisting her with her sales.  Most of Nan's items were stored in a large crate on wheels that she would collect and then take to her stall.  I also remember the lady from the next stall, Mrs Hunter, who sold antiques, she always reminded me of a gypsy as she had long dark hair and dangly earrings! A big treat was an ice-cream from the 36 flavoured ice-cream van!  

Paddy's Markets - Haymarket, Sydney - c1960

Pat had suffered a stroke on the beach at Bateau Bay in January 1962 and due to it being such a remote location at the time, it was difficult to get medical help. As a result, he was left paralysed on one side and had severely limited speech. Pat died on 3 June 1974 and was buried at Rookwood Cemetery.

In the 1977 Esther was reunited with her ex-husband, Alf Hails and they lived together in Esther's home at Berala. 

Christmas Day 1977
Back: Steve, Trevor, Heather, Alf, Esther, Carol and Colin; Front: Jeff, Sandie, June, Marilyn and Joanne

Esther and Alf bought a caravan and over the next few years they had many holidays travelling to various destinations across Australia. 

 

They sold both their homes and built a new home at MacMasters Beach on the Central Coast where they were married again on 14 December 1980.

Esther and Alf's wedding day at their home at MacMasters Beach with Colin and Carol - 14 December 1980

A joint family get together to celebrate Carol's 50th birthday at their Northmead home in 1991. 

Vicki with her two grandmother's - Esther (left) and Helen (right) - Northmead 1991

Another family get together was organised to celebrate Esther's 80th birthday on 19 August 1996.

Vicki, Colin, Esther, Alf, and Carol with great grandchildren, Heather Marie, Bianca and Renee.

Esther and Alf lived on the coast until January 2000 when they decided to return to Sydney and purchased a property at Pendle Hill to be nearer to their growing family, with the arrival of 12 great grandchildren over the past 17 years.  

Esther became ill with pneumonia in July 2001 and while she recovered, she had become very frail and was discharged to a nursing home, as she required extra care. Esther was again admitted to hospital in September and passed away in Westmead Hospital on 21 September and was cremated at Castlebrook Crematorium.  

Family Tree and DNA Analysis

I've had varying success in tracing Esther's family history. Although her father, Arthur Samuel Rake was born in London, his paternal Rake and Shearstone families originated in Somerset and his maternal Cooper and Martin lines were from Oxfordshire. The Yeeles and Jestico families were from  Hampshire. 

Esther's maternal lines are from the Midlands area of England. While her mother, Clara Phibbs was born in Birmingham, her paternal Phibbs and Parkes ancestors came from Staffordshire and her maternal Plimmer ancestors were from Shropshire and I've been able to trace some branches of that family back to the 16th century.  Her Williams line has proven to be more challenging.

Esther's Family Tree - her genetically confirmed ancestors are indicated with the DNA symbol 

I've been able to confirm the genetic connection to most of Esther's 2 x great grandparents and hope that DNA will help find the identity of her unknown great grandfather!