Born in London as one of 12 children, Eliza smiles as she remembers a noisy childhood. “There were eight boys and four girls. But by 1939, the war had split us up. Six of us were sent to the country for safety. We were away for 4 years - I was 10 at the time.”
Eliza described feeling strange at first and a little lost but she learnt to adapt. “My two sisters and I were billeted with a lovely couple who treated us like family. I actually ended up enjoying my time there. I was the eldest, so I had to behave myself and be strong.”
At 14, Eliza returned to London and started work as a seamstress. “Mum wouldn’t let me sit at home doing nothing,” she said with a chuckle. Eliza worked until she married Stan, who she met at a dance hall. “He was my sister’s friend’s brother. We enjoyed dancing and became good friends, then fell in love.”
Eliza and Stan moved to Australia in 1967, in search of a better life for their children. “Four of my brothers were already here and telling us how good it was. Wanting that for our family, we made the move.”
When Eliza found time, her favourite pastime was reading. “I enjoy books on history because I love learning about the past. And I like romance novels, but it has to have a good story behind it - no silly, sloppy stuff.”
When asked about Christmas traditions, Eliza smiled, “There were so many of us that our family met the week before to celebrate. The girls would decide who would host the Christmas celebration and each year was at a different house.”
“I would say that I’ve definitely lived a happy life - I have no complaints. My advice would be to live life as best you can, and face everything as it comes along, the good and the bad.”
At 94, Eliza is determined to outlive her father and brother, who both lived to 95. “I have to beat them and get to 96!” she said with a smile.
