1916-1989
Father
Mother
Siblings
Gertrude, Mary Rebecca, Elva Myrtle, Ethel Bedelia, John Samuel, Arthur Joseph, Edward Milton, Dorothy Isabel
Married
Children
Joyce Gwenneth, Margaret Lorna, Beverley, John Charles
Gwen’s Life
Gwen was born in Kingower, Victoria on March 31, 1916 the eighth child and fifth daughter of John and Bedelia Strudwick.
Gwen was just 11 years old when her family moved to Tullamore to take up land on the Alagalah Road which was purchased in a land ballot when Bercham Station was sub-divided in 1926. Her brothers arrived in Tullamore in February 1927 and the family followed.
Her two eldest sisters, their infant babies and her maternal grandmother all passed away in 1919 after contracting influenza during the Spanish Flu pandemic in 1919. Her other two sisters remained in Victoria as they had already married.
Gwen and her sister Dorothy (Doss) commenced school in Tullamore. A charming story appeared in ‘The Farmer and Settler’ Newspaper in August 1931, headed ‘A Girl From Victoria’.
“Gwen Strudwick (Tullamore) – We came to Tullamore from Victoria four years ago, and we like being here very much. I always read the Junior Page and find some very interesting letters in it. Our home is five miles from Tullamore. We have a tennis court and enjoy good games. My sister still goes to school on her pony “Topsy”. We used to go together until I left so that I could help mother at home. We grind our own meal for porridge, and make our own butter, and have three cows milking which is a great saving. We have a creek to cross to go to Tullamore, and several times this year the creek has been so high that cars have been stopped in the middle and have had to be towed out. I am very fond of reading, especially books written by Mary Grant Bruce. I often go and help Dad to bring in the little lambs when he is bringing the sheep to the yards.”
Other newspaper articles depict Gwen as a ‘charming singer’ as the queen in the operetta “Queen for all Seasons”, mention Gwen and Dorothy playing a pianoforte duet that was ‘splendidly rendered’ – Western Champion Parkes September 1932.
At 1927 Tullamore Show Gwen was placed 1st in Knitting and 2nd in the Artwork Section for ‘Brush Work, specimen from Nature and Original Design” in the Western Champion, August 1927.
Western Champion July 1931 reports of Gwen winning the women’s doubles final and coming second in the mixed doubles finals at the Tullamore, Church of England Tennis Tournament.
A very well-rounded young country woman.
Gwen married Charles Oliver Doust in 1937. Charlie and Gwen made their home at Gwenola where they bought up their four children. It was a welcoming home of great hospitality to family and friends alike. They hosted the annual Pinefield School Christmas concert which was much looked forward to and well attended as well as many other family celebrations.
Gwen and Charlie moved into Tullamore on their retirement. They moved into Bedelia and John Strudwick’s (Gwen’s parents) home where they entertained and provided the same hospitality as Gwen’s mother did over many years.
Gwen was a kind and loving mother, grandmother, aunt and friend.
Authored by Leah Burnheim in collaboration with Lorna Rees