It was in a Bankstown picture theatre that Lorna met Dennis, the love of her life. They met on a blind date set up by her future sister-in-law. “I thought he was really cute,” Lorna said, smiling, remembering their first date. “We were married for 27 wonderful years and had four wonderful children together.”
Lorna was just 19 when she married Dennis. He was so shy that he had to ask his sister, Carol, to see if Lorna would go out with him. "Dennis was really shy at first," Lorna recalled, "but after that, we went out every Friday and Saturday night."
They enjoyed spending time together at the movies, at the beach, and going to Luna Park. "Dennis was three-quarters Aboriginal, and he had the most beautiful shoulder-length, black curly hair," she said, her face lighting up as she fondly reminisced, describing him as a very good and kind man, and her one and only true love. Sadly, Dennis passed away in 1994 from heart disease.
“My happiest memories were having my children - three boys and a girl,” Lorna said lovingly. And her most favourite memories, Lorna said, were those she spent with her late husband and children. “We went to the beach all the time, usually Manly and Cronulla. And the kids loved going to the Royal Easter Show. They always fell asleep on the train home, exhausted. But as soon as they got home, they ran to sort out their showbags. It was wonderful to watch them.”
Lorna was born in Georges Hall and grew up with four brothers and sisters. “I remember playing dress ups with my youngest sister Sue. Although we weren’t super close, it was definitely my favourite memory of her. I was closest to my older brother John. He was so outgoing and funny and he always used to make me laugh.”
At Christmas time, Lorna remembered her mum’s tradition of making fruit cake and placing coins in it. “We used to look forward to this, hoping we would find the coins. When my kids were young, we used to love decorating the tree, and Dennis and I would wrap presents when the kids went to bed.”
When Lorna was 14, her house burnt to the ground and she and her sister Sue, who was eight at the time, were placed into welfare homes. “We ended up being separated and I spent two years there before mum was able to come and get me, and Sue came home a few months later,” said Lorna, recalling the memory. “The matron took me under her wing. I liked her because she let me watch TV in her room, and let me help with feeding the younger children.”
This past year has been very hard for Lorna. She tragically lost her son Steven earlier this year, then a month later, her dearest friend passed away. “Steven had a special place in my heart. The last words he said to me were, ‘mum, I love you’. When he died, my heart was broken," said Lorna, her voice full of sorrow. She also spoke tenderly of her friend. “Debbie was my best friend in the world, we were thick as thieves and spoke all the time. She had such a kind heart. I miss her.”
At 76, SummitCare has now become Lorna’s home. “I love the staff and residents, it’s like a big extended family. The nurses and staff do a wonderful job. They’re just so good to us,” said Lorna smiling. Before bed, Lorna loves to read a magazine or book - usually murder and mystery stories, and James Patterson is her favourite author.
The most important thing in Lorna’s life are her family and friends, and she is proud of her 13 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. “My oldest and youngest children, Vicki and Shane, and grandkids come and visit me often - I really enjoy seeing them.”
Lorna’s advice is simple: “Love is the most important thing in the world, and you should always tell your family, your mum and dad, and friends that you love them.”
