1911-1993
Father
Henry Charles Younghusband
Mother
Minnie Louisa Billings
Siblings
Doreen Amy, Clifford, Floyd, Harold (Buzz), Mary Melva, Roy Eric, Hedley, Vaughan (Nino or Snow), Lionel Clarence, Garnet (Jacky)
Married
Children
Lyall Strudwick
Vida’s Life
Vida was born in 1911 in Tarnagulla, Victoria to Henry Charles Younghusband and Minnie Louisa Billings. She was the fifth child of eleven children in the family, the second generation of Younghusbands born in Australia.
Vida’s grandfather Thomas John Younghusband, born in Cumberland, England in 1830, arrived on the ‘Shooting Star’ from Liverpool after boarding on 15 November 1856 and arriving in Melbourne on 26 February 1857. Her grandmother, Bridget Elizabeth O’Brien, born in County Clare, Ireland, had been a passenger on the same ship, their occupations cited as labourer and servant respectively. They married on 17 August 1861 at St Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Heidelberg, Victoria. They soon took up land new Newbridge in Victoria and had ten children, the youngest being Henry Charles.
Vida went to school at Arnold and grew up on the family property “Golden Grove” which was 3 miles away, hence they walked to school.
At 24 years of age Vida was working at Deer Park explosives factory, home to ICI for several years outside of Ballarat.
In 1936 Vida travelled to Tullamore to help cook and housekeep for her four brothers at harvest time where upon she met Milt who was already a firm friend of the Younghusbands.
In around 1938 Vida worked at the Lithgow Small Arms factory assembling Bren Gun parts before the war, which started in 1939.
She also managed to meet Milton at times who was based at Cowra serving with the Militia, looking after the POW’s.
On the 28th September 1942 Milton (who was still in the Army) married Vida at Inglewood.
Milton served another 2 years with the Militia while Vida boarded with a couple in Cowra who were to become life-long friends.
They settled at “Rossmead” Now known as “Rosemead” Tullamore and after several years a son Lyall was born in 1947.
Vida’s hobbies were gardening, knitting, playing tennis and when older playing bowls.
An active member with the CWA, Red Cross and long-time worker and member of the Tullamore Show Society for several years.
Over the years several trips were made back and forth to Victoria to visit her mother and family members.
A highlight for Vida was a trip to Dubbo in 1954 to visit the Queen on her tour.
Some of her sayings: “If you’re going to do something, do it properly or don’t do it at all” and going crook on Milton for not being on time.
I remember my mother being a damn good cook – orange cakes, chocolate, puddings at Christmas with coins in them.
Looking back at when Mum cooked for the shearers, the tucker would go on the old “Canberra” stove at 10:00am for a 12:15pm Meal!!! The wool classer “Bert” D’elboux would arrive at 6:30.am, and plonk himself at the kitchen table yabbering all the time waiting for his cooked breakfast! Mother use to go crook about “Bert” coming in before 6:30.
Vida loved her two grandchildren and gave them plenty of advice and love.
She passed away at Tullamore Hospital on the 6th of March 1993 aged 82 years, 6 months after their 50th Wedding Anniversary.
Authored by Lyall Strudwick