Information provided with thanks by Phyllis’ daughter Leeta Burville.

Phyllis was born on 9 April 1916 in Wollongong, the first child to Ernest and Ellen and her early childhood was spent in Hurstville Sydney. She attended Hurstville School until 1928 and when Phyllis went to live with Aunty Jessie and her family at Upper Orara, she attended Upper Orara and Dairyville Schools. This move was because of her mother’s ill health. Her love of this area and the happy memories stayed with Phyllis for the rest of her life and she always a close bond with Aunty Jessie and her family. Phyllis and her brothers spent many a happy time with them during their early 20’s. As a child and young adult, Phyllis also lived in Newcastle and Quirindi as her family had many moves, which was part and parcel of her father’s job with the PMG.

Phyllis worked as shop assistant and a cook and had a reputation as very plain cook (Phyllis jokingly wondered if it was her cooking or her looks that were ‘’plain’’). One of her jobs was at a bakery at Quirindi and the Taylors who owned the bakery remained friends with Phyllis for the rest of her life. Phyllis was still writing to and visiting friends she had meet in her 20s when she died.

Phyllis met Albert George Raward (Bert) who was in the Air Force in Sydney at a dance; they married on 6 September 1941 in Burwood. Phyllis travelled to be with Bert at his different postings. As Bert was a tailor he was not posted overseas, instead he was stationed at the Stockton and Sandgate Australian bases. He mended and folded parachutes. Their first two children were born during this time Neil in 1942 and Paul in 1944.

When the war was over, they went to live in Armidale where Phyllis’s parents were living and where Bert returned to tailoring. They then moved to South Tweed Heads in 1947 where they owned 26 acres on which they grew flowers and had nursery. Life at South Tweed Heads was hard work enduring many floods. Dad went back into tailoring for a while. Their daughter Leeta was born in 1948. Bert then established two fruit shops and a wholesale fruit and veggie run from Brisbane Markets to the Tweed Heads area. Later they sold the shops but kept the wholesale run until he retired.

Phyllis wanted her children to share her fond memories of Upper Orara so she made a number of trips to this area with her children. They can also recall many a memorable time spent at Copmanhurst at Allan and Ada’s, at Nell’s at Friday Creek and Aunty Annie’s. Phyllis daughter, Leeta can remember whenever you arrived at Aunty Jess’s there was always a batch of scones in the oven or just coming out and a cup of tea to go with it.

Phyllis and Bert’s children all have very happy memories of growing up at South Tweed Heads with their parents and grandparents who lived next door. Phyllis was very active member in the Tweed Community including the CWA, RSL and other groups in which she had many friends, she also enjoyed gardening, also doing pottery and bonsai some of which her family still has.

In 1966 they moved to Currumbin where they had built a new house which Phyllis lovingly named ‘’Orara’’. Her family can remember Sunday trips out to the bush gathering rocks and cuttings until her beautiful garden was established. The garden was always a picture as Phyllis and Bert enjoyed their garden, and the many hours that they spent in it. Bert retired in 1970, they spent their retirement doing some traveling and both were still involved in the Community Groups.

Phyllis died on 19 June 1985 from Pancreatic Cancer. Phyllis’s husband Bert died on 31 July 1999. Phyllis and Bert’s Children all married and had 11 children between them. Unfortunately, cancer cut Phyllis life short and she did not live to see any of her grandchildren marry and have their own children.