Bligh, the older brother was aloof from we young girls. He and Aunty Betty had 3 boys, Philip, Richard and Peter, who were all some years older than we 4 girls (although it is amazing how 7-10 years disappears as the decades roll onward). Aunty Betty, Mum always thought, would have liked a daughter, as she sent us lots of colourful outfits that she bought when she and Bligh travelled for business. We added them to our dress-up collection. They lived in Sydney and we sometimes visited them when we stayed with the (Great) Aunts.

Uncle Lindsay and Aunty Rae were our favourite uncle and aunty. They both had a real zest for life and Uncle Lindsay was such a larrikin. Their children, David and Jill, were mostly at boarding school the few times we visited their beautiful farm at Junee, near Wagga Wagga in NSW. We loved our holidays there.

Lindsay and Dad both registered for the War Service Land Settlement scheme. Lindsay won a farm in the ballot but Dad didn’t. Both Lindsay and Dad had been jackaroos and farm managers before owning their own land.
I remember one time when Dad was very ill, we all had to stay somewhere until he was better. Uncle Lindsay and Aunty Rae collected Jane and myself. I remember clearly the trip to their farm at Junee. We were sitting in the back of the car, and Aunty Rae got out her hair brush and asked us to brush her hair as we drove along - she loved it. We took it in turns to brush her thick wavy hair.

I also remember playing with Aunty Rae’s old cosmetics, and dressing up for a tennis party - Aunty Rae made the most delicious little apple pies. I lost count after eating about 9 or 10 of them!