Although our general meeting on Saturday 9th June was a good one, there was a hint of sadness in the air as we said farewell to one of our long time and much loved members, Diana Wheeler. The honour of presenting Diana with a token of our esteem and best wishes for the future was given to ‘her twin sister’ Di Christensen, of course. This is what Di said:
It is a sad day today as one of our friends is leaving us.
Diana has been a member since July 1997 since moving here from Wagga Wagga. In her years with us Diana has been a very committed member of our team.
She has been Vice -president, Treasurer, Away Days Coordinator, Supper Hostess and Research Officer. At one stage, and some will remember this , we had three D’s at the desk out the front. Di, Diana and Debbie McMahon (who now lives in the States).However, one of her most important roles was to organise our Around the World Christmas Lunches. These ranged from Indian at Hallam , Mexican at Narre Warren, Italian at Berwick South, Lavender farm at Longwarry and our own Aussie Christmas Lunch at Jenny Hayes’ new home.
Diana’s Christmas happenings for our December meetings will be long remembered – Cinderella and a few years down the track Cinderelder. How did she con us into performing? I don’t know but I think our audience was amused. Other Christmas evenings included many very difficult quiz nights -we were very tired but the nights always ended in laughter.
Diana has a great sense of humour. One of our friends at our Cornish Association meetings often asked us both , or one or the other, “now where is your sister today”?????????
Now we all know that second children are given the same name as the first if the first dies. Well we are both here and what mother would call both of her daughters by the same name?
And who could mistake Diana’s fair English Rose complexion for mine, sunburnt and wind blasted.She regaled us with events from her trip to Cornwall some years ago, telling us of having afternoon tea at st Michaels Mount-with the owners.It was where her father was born. The present owners, Lord and Lady St Aubyn were very friendly. Other Royal visitors havebeen Queen Victoria and the Queen Mother !!
Diana shocked the Cornish Record Office in Truro by notifying them that she had found the records for St Michaels Mount in the Estate ofice on the Mount. It took a traveller from overseas to enlighten them. Truro office had had no idea where they could be found.
Diana’s most recent contribution towards our newsletter was in sending the info from the Garfield local newsletter in regard to the stolen headstone, which was offered for sale on Ebay. The final episode will be included in the next edition of Spreading Branches.
We all hope that Diana’s health will improve very soon, and that she and her daughter and grancdhildren will settle happily in their new home. We will all miss our friend Diana , and thank her for her contribution to the NW&DFHG over the past fifteen years.
And so say all of us!