In 1935, my grandfather packed up his family and moved from Tasmania to Melbourne in hope for a better life. They found a home in Richmond and in the same year my father joined the Militia. He worked through the day and did training of an evening.

In 1937 a family of three boys and one girl moved into the house next door. The house was a terris house with a brick wall joining the two together.

Dad’s younger sister Betty became friends with the girl next door, Dulcie. Dad took an interest in the girl because she had red hair. Dad loved red hair. He would ask Betty questions about her, so Betty told Dulcie.

Dad wanted to get to know Dulcie better so he asked Betty to ask Dulcie if she would like to have a coffee with him. Betty then would go to the wall and pass on the message. Dulcie was on the other side returning a reply. These messages continued until Dulcie and her family had moved to another house near by.

They began dating, married in 1939 and had nine children together. My father passed away in 2007 aged 88 years, leaving behind 23 grandchildren and 34 great grandchildren and four great, great grandchildren. He is still very much missed but often thought of with loving memories. As for me, I am dad’s youngest daughter telling his story :)