Dora Estelle HAYES ~ 1891 - 1941
married 1924
John Albert NAIRN ~ 1888 - 1968
Dora Estelle
Dora Estelle Hayes was born 12 August 1891 in Tooborac to Edward and Sarah Hayes. She was born to a family of two sisters and two brothers. Mary Jane (10) & Evelyn (2) would have enjoyed their new little sister. Big brothers were Mark (7) & Eddie (5). Winifred arrived two years later but she died at 3 years when Dora was five in 1897. That would have been a distressing time for them all. Meanwhile baby Jack (John Stitchell) had arrived in 1896. Leslie came along in 1898 and finally another sister, Violet, at the turn of the century in 1900. Dora was now the big sister at nearly nine years of age.
When she was 17 years old, the family moved into their new home, "Mimosa Glen". |
Jack
John Albert was known by all as Jack. He was born the day after Christmas, 26th December in 1888 in Burnley, an inner suburb of Melbourne. Jack's father was Robert Nairn and his mother was Emma Flore (nee Barber).
Musician
Jack was an accomplished violinist. On the census records for 1912 & 1913, Jack is recorded as being a musician. Much later in life, family members recall him playing at family gatherings in Camberwell in the home where Dora's parents settled in their retirement. He was often accompanied by Dora's sister Evelyn on the piano as he played his violin. The family were spell-bound into an attentive silence as they listened.
Military Hospital Service
As 1916 began, Jack enlisted in the army. On his service record it states he was living in King Street in Hawthorn and working as a gardener. He started with a medical on 21 January, then was enlisted into the newly formed 14th Australian General Hospital unit 14 February. This hospital unit trained him up in Royal Park before departing Melbourne 19 August 1916. They disembarked in Suez on 20 September and the unit set themselves up at Abbassia (Cairo) as well as at Port Said in Egypt.
WW1 Australian General Hospitals were large base hospitals with 520 or 1040 beds. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 14th AGHs served overseas; the others were based in Australia. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 14th were all eventually upgraded to the maximum size. Jack was promoted to Lance Corporal on 3 November 1917. On 16 November 1918 he was promoted temporarily to Lance Sergeant for the next seven months until his rank reverted. Jack suffered at least one bout of pleurisy and had his appendix removed July 1918 while serving in this military hospital. Eventually he was signed off by the Military as TPE (Termination of Period of Enlistment) early. Jack sailed on the "Ajana" on 7 August 1919 from Egypt to England before heading home to Australia. He was awarded the British War Medal in 1921 and the Victory Medal in 1923. |
Wedding Bells
Home from the war, Jack discovered Dora and a romance ensued. Dora was 32 years of age when she married John Albert Nairn, while John was 35 years old. They were married at the Wesley Church in Melbourne on 5th January 1924.
Health Food ShopJack worked in a Health Food Shop in the inner suburbs of Melbourne at some stage. Due to some unusual legal issues, he had to move on.
Orchardist
Having been a gardener before the war, Jack established an apple orchard in Somerville in 1924. Unfortunately, their ten or so years here ended after a drought and economic struggles. The orchard had to fold and by the 1937 census, we find the family in the suburb of Auburn.
MaxBaby Maxwell John arrived 2 August 1925 to Jack & Dora in Somerville.
Max worked as a mechanic for Ford most of his life. This company sent him to many interesting places. He married Marjorie Radford 20 November 1948. They enjoyed the blessings of a son and daughter. He died 25 July 1997 at age 71 years in Labrador in Queensland. Warehouse-manThe family moved up from Somerville to Auburn then Camberwell where Jack took on a position as Warehouse-man after they sold the Orchard.
Early DepartureThe family were greatly saddened at the unexpected death of Dora at only 49 years in 1941. They were living in Hawthorn and Jack was now working as a Warehouse Employee, according to her probate announcement. The family struggled to come to terms with this tragedy. Their son Max was only 16 years old at the time.
She was cremated and interred at the Springvale Necropolis. Myer Lift DriverJack settled into a daily routine of managing a lift for Myers for many years. He had a pleasant disposition and greeted his passengers, announced the contents of each floor and assisted folk in and out of his lift.
Jack Passed AwayJack died 1 August 1968 in Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital.
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