Diary unveils insights into Kenilworth life, 100 years ago
100 years later Winnie’s niece and local historian, Lenore Meldrum, pictured, has brought local history back to life.
by Janine Hill
ONE hundred years after it was written, the diary of a Kenilworth woman has been published for all to read.
Published as Winnie Grace’s Writing from 1924, the diary of Winnie Grace Sims documents the then-22-year-old’s daily life and happenings in the area.
Publication of the diary by the Kenilworth & District Historical Association has been overseen by Winnie’s niece and local historian, Lenore Meldrum.
Lenore said the diary was particularly significant as it recorded the opening of the Kenilworth’s first shop which launched the town’s commercial area.
The daily entries of about 50-100 words paint a picture of 1920s life in the area where Winnie’s family ran a guest house and she was engaged to an entrepreneurial young man, Arthur Tanner.
She writes of the opening of Arthur’s shop on 2 January and his takings of 16 pounds one day and 200 pounds in a month, a dance in a barn decorated with electric lights run off a lorry, and the arrival of a telephone.
“We got a ring and Ern answered it. He couldn’t manage too well so I took the receiver and we didn’t make too much of a success of it. At tea time we thought it was our ring again and Ray answered it and interrupted two people having a yarn,” she wrote.
The guesthouse was the only place for travellers to stay in the area and so meal times could be big affairs.
“We had 21 for dinner, but enjoyed it,” Winnie wrote on 19 January. “Dorrie saw a snake in our room this afternoon. After a good deal of worry, Harry M. killed it under the house, on the sleeper.”
Winnie and her sisters were often busy with housework and spare time was sometimes spent just resting.
“We washed. It was very hot. We only had 14 pairs of trousers to wash after an early dinner,” she wrote on 28 January.
“Lil and I took the men’s dinner down. We had a few grapes on the way back, then lay down on the flat for a while, then walked for the cows.
Winnie mentions buying suede shoes and silk stockings in Brisbane, men digging tonnes of potatoes, and her mother baking biscuits for the Kenilworth Show in October.
“I was disappointed that Mum didn’t get more prizes, she got 16 blues and 11 reds. I didn’t get any prizes. Ern and Dad did well.”
The young woman was excited about getting married. “I overhauled my glory box. I have twelve towels, 8 tea towels, 2 pr of sheets, 2 table cloths, a pile of fancy work, 3 nights, 2 singlets, 1 pr cami-knickers, 2 camisoles, 2 pr of pillow-slips, 2 pr bloomers etc,” she wrote on 1 July, later recording the gift of a block of land as a wedding present from her father late that month.
Winnie continued to keep a diary until her death in 1939 in a car accident on the way to Brisbane. She left behind a son, Ed, aged only 4.
Lenore was given the diary by Ed, who had already transcribed most of his mother’s handwriting and asked that it be published before he passed away.
“Reading it, I realised Ed had got to know his mother by reading her diaries,” she said.
Lenore was able to match some old photographs in her possession with some of the diary entries, including one about a picnic in the Brisbane Botanic Gardens.
She baked and raffled Christmas cakes to cover most of the costs of printing the diary.
“I sold 900 raffle tickets,” she said.
The 68-page Winnie Grace’s Writings from 1924 is available for purchase at the Kenilworth Historical Museum or the Kenilworth Information Centre for $15 ($20 with postage) or may be ordered by email through winnies1924diary@gmail.com.
Read some of the diary entries from 1924 ...
Sunday 13 January 1924
Dick, Ern, Hal and Ed went over to fix the Reo (motor vehicle). They went to Kenilworth and brought the mob down. We had 21 for dinner, but enjoyed it. Dorrie saw a snake in our room this afternoon. After a good deal of worry, Harry M killed it under the house, on the sleeper. We got milking done early and played football and hockey on the green. Lil found a hornet’s nest in the lamp but it still wouldn’t burn.
Thursday 17 January 1924
I wasn’t well all day again today - took four doses of soda, one of chlorodyne and one of “castor oil”. Arthur milked a couple of cows this morning for me. I cut out a tobralco shirt [black striped] for Arthur this afternoon. Edna and Martha were here today. The men have dug over eight tons of lovely potatoes. The boys are carting all their time with the Reo.
Tuesday 22 January 1924
Uncle Fred (Pickering) came in the morning and stayed for dinner. He talked a lot about the Labor Party – running it down – also roads. He has been on the Enoggera Shire Council for 20 years. Mum wasn’t well today. This evening yesterday’s traveller came back, also Mr Trist and Mr Smith from Shambler’s and Mr Partridge. Mr Smith’s aunt was a great friend of Arthur’s mother in Reading. They were a lively crew at tea time. It took us 1 hour 20 minutes to have tea.
Monday 28 January 1924
We washed. It was very hot. We only had 14 pairs of trousers to wash after an early dinner. Lil and I took the men’s dinner down. We had a few grapes on the way back, then lay down on the flat for a while, then walked for the cows. Dorrie saw another snake just outside our rooms – he wasn’t killed. We have to keep our eyes open tonight for him but haven’t seen him.
Sunday 10 February 1924
Mattins. Harry, Ern, Bert, Harry K., Arthur Lil and I went to church. On the way home Arthur called at Houston’s and took me with him. It rained and we had dinner there. Mrs Purdon was there and she has a Diamond Disc. It was lovely. Heard Clara Butt and her husband in a duet, also speech by King and Queen and others. Had a feed of grapes in the afternoon. Arthur had a pain after tea and I gave him chlorodyne and put a stove plate on his pain. It rained 80 points.
Thursday 14 February 1924
Woke up to the noise of Harry Gordon’s two lorries coming here. They took 12 bags of potatoes each. Tom Sharry came and took 12. The Reo took 18 and Humphrey came and took 17. Ern drove the Reo. He got home first. I finished the inset for the bread-cloth yesterday and did a crochet edging round it today. Had a feed of grapes this afternoon, the flat is very wet. Ginger is still here. The last three nights have been glorious.
Tuesday 19 February 1924
Mum and Mrs Potter went to Kenilworth in the lorry and got stuck in the river for about two hours. It took Hector, Arthur, Ginger, Wilf Ward, Len Wells and Bob Tyrrell all their time to get it out. Dick took Ginger to Imbil. It rained before he started for home so Dick sent a wire to say he was staying in Brooloo. Alf took a horse over. I fringed two towels for Arthur and crocheted one side of a cake cloth.
Wednesday 27 February 1924
Dick came down in the lorry at about 4.30 and said he would take us to a surprise party at Murtagh’s. Arthur came down and we all set off with seven bags of potatoes for Beatties. I wore my black net and crepe-de-chene dress. We had a 36 by 16 floor to dance on. We had a good time and got home at 1.30. Arthur was in great form, he is feeling very well – Krutchen salts. He is in high spirits. His takings for the month is 200 pounds. Mr Brown came to Murtaghs with us and sang.
MARCH 1924
Wednesday 5 March 1924
Harry Boreham left on the coach. He is leasing a piece of Frank Pearce’s for bananas. We were expecting Dolly Pickering on the coach but she stayed at Bert Pearce’s: we were ironing all day: we used over a bottle of benzine. Arthur came on the lorry with Dick and Jack. Arthur’s takings in cash for Tuesday and Wednesday were 16 pounds. He asked me what sort of a ring would I like. He said I was his ideal woman.
Monday 17 March 1924
We did a tremendous wash. Will and Harry cut timber for their house. Lil Keylar and three boys caught the coach early this morning. Hannah went also. Gilbert Sutton went down and back with Humphrey. Mr Partridge came tonight. Jack went up with the boys yesterday, so did Ed. They were to come down tonight but they didn’t. There is a L.P.A. meeting. Dad and Will went. Will is Secretary.
Tuesday 1 April 1924
Ed woke up in his usual trim for fooling. Dad caught the boys nicely with the milk. He also caught Humphrey with a letter. Dad was happy all day, I suppose on account of the good news from Mum. Mr Phillips came tonight. He tells great stories of his experiences. The boys did a little towards cleaning the garden. Alf came down for pigs. I wrote another letter to Mum tonight.
Thursday 17 April 1924
Went in again in the 10 train and didn’t get home till the 6.25. I gave Mum the injection yesterday and again today. We were all over town shopping. We bought material for a black dress each. We met Mr Locus. He knew us first. We are both tired tonight and are pleased we are going home tomorrow. We got all the necessary things to carry on the insulin treatment. Great Uncle Walter (Sanders) came this morning.
Monday 5 May 1924
Oh it was a glorious day - we beat St. Andrews 4-2. The B grade played a draw 0-0. They played very well. We played 35 minutes each way. Their side was completely knocked out. Three were reduced to tears. Our girls can stand much more than they. There was a tremendous crowd at the dance. They left at about 11.30. We collected over 9 pounds. Arthur is a flirt.
Friday 16 May 1924
We went to a dance in Chas Cole’s barn. It was in aid of the Kenilworth township hall. The lorry came down for us and Ern, Lil and I went. I took a suit of clothes for Arthur but he was already there in his working clothes. They had the barn decorated with streamers and balloons with electric lights from Willie Gray’s Ford lorry. We had a good time. Lil won 4 lbs of lollies and Alf 2 lbs., donated by Arthur.