Studio photography is a wonderful and artful medium. Through it, history can be constructed in a very self-conscious manner. The professional photographer uses the fall of light to capture the subject in the most flattering way.
These pictures of Linda and Doris Northcott, with fine dresses and softly styled hair, were taken in an era far removed from instamatic cameras. The Northcotts were a wealthy family, and they used a professional studio in Lismore.
I am grateful to have such beautiful photographs of my Great Aunts when they were young.
(Great) Aunt Linda was always a kind and loving Aunt. She was bright and inventive. And a great cook. Dad always said her steak and kidney pie was the best he ever tasted. Linda would make the puff pastry and when it was cooked it was light and flaky. Mum said she made beautiful chocolates on a cold marble table.
| (Great)
Aunt Doris however was a very cranky lady. She had little time for
small children. When she was young she was an accomplished musician.
She was the official pianist for the Lismore Philharmonic Orchestra
and Orchestral Society, and she was invited to play overseas. Unfortunately
her Father William Northcott would not let her go. |
 |
Doris married late in life, but it wasn’t a happy marriage and they divorced. As little children we did not know why she was so different from (Great) Aunt Linda and Anne, who entered into our world of discovery and delight. (Great) Aunt Doris remained an enigma to us all.
From
left: (Great) Aunt Linda, (Great) Aunt Anne, (Great) Aunt Doris, Sydney,
c. xxx.