Elsie Bain HOSCHKE was born on 24 Mar 1904 in Grafton, Nsw and died on 26th May 1994 aged 90 years.

The eldest child of Frederick and Clunie was born at Friday Creek and soon after that, Frederick selected land at Upper Orara. Clunie’s youngest sister [Ethel] used to come to Elsie’s place one week and take Elsie to school at Upper Orara (Dunvegan) it was through bush, next week Elsie would stay at Ethel’s home with grandma. It was a two-mile walk to school from Elsie’s place. Elsie started School when she was eight years old and left at nearly 14 years old. When the family was small, they used to go to Grandma Manson’s Christmas Eve to have dinner there and then come down to Grandma Hoschke for tea.

Elsie met Melbourne Malcolm McPhail whilst he was farming at Upper Orara. They married after a 5 year engagement and she became a Policeman’s wife.

They lived at Granville, Urila, Walcha Road, Picton and Campbelltown enjoying a good social life in the country.

After 20 years in the force they returned to Bellinger Valley where they had spent many holidays as Melbourne had a Tung Oil farm at Brierfield. Elsie enjoyed growing vegies, making jams and teaching her daughters to sew. Elsie lived to 90 years and she was the kindest loving Mum anyone could ever wish for. They had eight children.

Elsie married Melbourne Malcom McPHAIL in 1929 in Waverly, Nsw. They had eight children: Helen Mary, Daphne, Ruth, Ann, Heather, Freda Marion, Lachlan, and Malcolm.