TURLEY, Emily Anna

Emily Anna Burt was born in Ouyen in the Mallee region on the 19th of September 1926 to her loving parents Daisy and Frank Burt.  Emily was called Anna by everyone from a young age.  Anna was the second child born to Daisy and Frank with one older sister Gladys and 5 younger brothers followed, Frank, Les, Bob, Don, and Kevin who are now all deceased.

Anna attended school at Gayfield Primary until age 12-13 which was the done thing back in those days, very few children went on to any form of further education unless they were from wealthy families.  She used to walk with a group of friends and they had to walk through pickle bushes to get there, some of the kids had no shoes so the ones that did have shoes used to piggyback the others across the paddock.  Anna used to run through the paddocks with bare feet, she was carefree and audacious.

They used to get a lot of dust storms at particular times in the Mallee and the kids would be told by their teachers "Dust storm coming kids," "get on your horses and ride like hell."  If you get caught get down low and don't be under a tree.  Anna had a wonderfully happy childhood with fond memories of her father fishing for Murray Cod in the river and local families all gathering on the banks of the Murray River to celebrate Australia Day and the Queen's Birthday, they would all bring a picnic and play games.

When Anna was age 11 her mother passed away, she was only 28 years old.  She went to see the doctor about a condition she had and sadly never returned.  The family was split up, Anna went to live with her grandmother and Uncle Jim with a couple of the other boys and her baby brother Kevin who was only 18 months old went to live in Nhill with the Merritt family.  This was a very distressing time for all of them.  Anna's childhood was stolen, she had to grow up quickly to help support her brothers.

In her early 20s, Anna went to live with her dad's sister Suzie for a time in Melbourne, she used to go to the local football matches with Suzie who followed McKinnon Football Club at the time.  It was here that she was introduced to James William Turley, she was very fond of James, or Jimmy as she called him, and they were to be married a few years later on the 4th of January 1951 in Ballan.  When they were first married, they lived in Brighton in Melbourne for about 12 months before moving to Barkstead near Mollongghip, where they built a house to be near Anna's sister Gladys who was living on a farm nearby.

In their courting days, they were regulars at the local dances.  Anna and Jimmy were beautiful dancers and she used to love particular venues because they had a good dance floor.  Her favorites were the old Army Barracks which is now Dan Murphy's and the Victorian Railway Institute Hall opposite the North Star Hotel on Lydiard Street.  

Anna and Jimmy shared the love of four children, Robert, Jenny (Dec), Graeme, and Gayle.  She was a beautiful nurturing mother, homely, warm, and welcoming, she loved to please, and nothing was ever an effort for him, Jimmy and the kids were her fortunes in life and she never looked for anything more.  She was totally content with her life.  She never drove a car, Jimmy tried to teach her once but that wasn't successful, so she kept her two feet firmly on the ground and walked everywhere or caught a bus.  She was a very proud wife and mother, she kept a very tidy home and took great pride in her own appearance.  Her kids never left home without a full tummy and her saying have you got a clean hanky !!!

Sundays were a regular routine, the kids all had to attend Sunday School at Dean Hall and after Sunday School, they would get home, their dad would have mowed all the lawns and they would enter the house to the smell of the Sunday roast cooking and the homemade mint sauce.

In her mid-50s, Anna started playing tennis and she loved it; she continued playing well into her late 70s early 80s.  When Jimmy retired they bought a campervan and traveled around Australia.  Anna and Jimmy's lives were enhanced as their grandchildren started arriving, they loved the grandkids and look forward to their visits, they were always interested in what they had been up to and were so proud of all of their achievements.  

In 2003 Anna's world crumbled when her life partner and Jimmy passed away.  She took this very hard, she was only 77 years old.  They were probably living their best life at the time, she was denied the opportunity to simultaneously love and annoy each other into their dotage years.  She continued to lead an active life, filling the void with family visits and catchups with friends.  She was a member of the CWA, Country Womens Association in Molliongghip and they used to have regular meetings that she would attend.  

At the age of 82, she had a knee replacement but other than that she led a very healthy and fortunate life.  She remained in her own home until 2021 when at the age of 94 she went to live at the Royal Freemasons Aged Care facility.  Even in a fortunate life, there is always a misfortune.  No mother ever wants her children to die before her.  In 2021 Anna's eldest daughter Jenny passed away suddenly and this really broke Anna's heart.  There is probably no greater grief for a mother to lose a child is so cruel.

Leading up to her passing Anna has grown tired and was ready to take her final journey to eternal rest.  On the 1st March 2023 at the age of 96, she closed her eyes for the last time and passed away peacefully at the Royal Freemasons in Ballarat East.  Anna had touched many lives over her journey.  Her legacy will live on through her family and friends and she will be fondly remembered for all her endearing qualities.

Anna is buried with her beloved Jimmy at the Ballarat New Cemetery in Lawn K Row 17 Grave 19.

Thank you to her family for these kind words.