Zelma Caddey's memory board

Wife of Joe (dec'd). Mother of Annie, Kate, Bernie, and Bill. Zel passed away peacefully at Fronditha Aged Care Facility, Mayfield, Newcastle. Zelma Mary Ada Therese EGAN- Aka- Zel, mum, nan, big nan, chicken, chookie Born 17th June 1926 in Braidwood. Her parents were Amy and Johnny Egan and she had 3 elder siblings Kit, Pat and Maisey. Mums early years were spent in Nelligan where she was mostly raised by her dad, sisters and brother following the early death of her mother when mum was 4 yrs old. Life was good for mum with lots of extended family to care for her and friends like Madge Collins, Stella Fitzgerald and Winnie Heycocks . When mum was still at school they moved into Batemans Bay where her dad had a small dairy farm. Mum finished her schooling with the Nuns at the catholic school in Batemans Bay. Following her schooling mum began working at Moruya Hospital and moved to a career in nursing when she followed the footsteps of her sister Maise by joining the WAAF in 1944. Mum spent the final years of WW2 caring for returned soldiers and airmen at the repatriation hospitals at Concord and Jervis Bay. She bought much joy to these men and not only cared for their injuries but their spirits as well. Upon discharging from the WAAF after the war, mum and her friend Stella embarked on a travelling adventure of Australia, picking up work in many places. They started in Melbourne where they applied to be tram conductors but unfortunately Stella was too tall and mum was too short so that wasn’t going to work, so it was off to the KIWI Shoe Polish Company where they put lids on polish tins. From here the moved on to nursing jobs in Bourke, Adelaide and Hobart. These were wonderful years for these footloose young women, with dances, parties, dates and picnics. After a few years mum moved back to Moruya where she began nursing again at Moruya Hospital. Mum lived at the Nurses quarters but was able to keep in touch with family in Moruya and Batemans Bay. Matron Harris, a typical country hospital matron, took young nurse Egan under wing and introduced her to not only good nursing habits but also the odd flutter on the horses. So again the social life became an important part of her life with more dances, parties and a connection with the local surf club. She formed a good friendship with a young local lass, Nella Knight. Nella began stepping out with a bloke named Arthur Bown who she married and they moved down the coast to the small town of Tathra. It was at a surf carnival when mum was catching up with her friend Nella that Arthur introduced her to a strapping young man from the Tathra surf club named Joe Caddey. Things went well from there with a few courting trips from Tathra to Moruya, fishing excursions and more surf carnivals. Mum and dad were married at Sacred Heart Church in Moruya on the 8th January 1955. Matron Harris made sure that the wedding went accordingly and mum was given a fond farewell by all the hospital staff as they set off on their honeymoon to Beaches Hotel at Meriwether. Mum and dad built their home at 106 Bega St Tathra on land given to them by Nan and Pop Caddey. Mum, was a person who saw opportunity in new circumstances and after a bit of a shakey start with the mother-in-law she embraced the Tathra community. Anne & Kate were born in November that year (yes- do your maths)- twins which were the toast of the town. They were soon followed by Bernie in 1957 and me in 1959. So in a short time, mum had 4 young children under 5 yrs . She was busy, but so were other mums in town so in no time lots of mums and kids were getting together at the beach. Searls, Watersons, Bowns, Stewarts to name a few. Often our dads were involved in the surf club so the mums became involved in the Womens Auxilary. Growing up in Tathra with mum was like having a big cuddly rug wrapped around you. There was tennis, fishing at White Rock, church (with hankies on our heads), beach and nippers. When school time came it was off to St Pats in Bega where mum was an important part of the tuckshop committee. In 1966 when we were all at school, mum reentered the workforce firstly behind the counter at Norris’ Bakery in Bega, then as a long term receptionist for Doctor McKee and Dr Long. Mrs Caddey became the face and the voice of the surgery and she was known throughout the Bega Valley for her warm smile and friendliness. When we finished school, mum was so proud of our life choices and achievements. Our studies, our careers, our interests and adventures – mum embraced them all. She could be very opinionated at times and had been known to give our partners a bit of a hard time- maybe you just weren’t looking after her children well enough. Nan loved her grandkids- there was no more special time for her than pushing the billycart, making caramel slice, playing dress ups or just cuddling on the lounge. Although she was a nan and aunt to our immediate family, she became Aunty Zel to a much broader community. Long term friends like the Hergenhans, Bowns and Searls all refered to her as Aunty Zel, and she became a matriarch to the to our extended family of Hares and Dayballs. In Tathra she was the one people would turn to when they need some medical advice, some flowers for a wedding or in many young married womens case just someone to have a cuppa, a cuddle and a good cry. She made people feel loved, cherished and appreciated. Mum was always busy- she was always doing something or going somewhere. Cooking beer battered flathead, caramel slice, ANZAC bickies or curried sausages. If someone popped in , there never seemed a problem at stretching out the meal to cater for all comers. I’m sure we’ll never forget nans prawns cooked on the kitty litter smoked BBQ and mistakenly smothered in sugar instead of rock salt. Mum loved pottering around in her garden. Whether it was the vege patch down the back, the orchid house or the eclectic mixture of pots, plantings and pinched cuttings that filled the front yard. Nan knew no bounds when it came to acquiring a good plant cutting. Rarely a walk anywhere was complete without one or two botanical specimens being collected- it caused us all no ends of grief when you were walking through the National Park, Floriade in Canberra, Botanical Gardens or someone else’s private garden. ‘They won’t miss it’ was her usual response. Mum was a bit of a risk taker- she enjoyed learning new skills and being a bit creative. From going to tech to learn sewing to woodwork, welding and art mum was there. Art fostered her creative side and recently became a wonderful way for her to express herself and her feelings about the world she was living in. Mums warm and friendly nature endeared her to many locals and visitors to Tathra. She loved visiting people and our home often became a focal point for visitors. Nella, Ed, Jeanie, Joycie, Joanie Kennedy, Betty, Kerry next door – were all regulars. Mums adventures with Ed on the pushbikes or snorkelling at Kianinny were legendary. All of our friends loved coming to Tathra- they loved mum because they could feel comfortable with her. During the 80’s and 90’s mum and dad would make their annual winter pilgrimage to Queensland where they made many friends in Caravan Parks up and down the coast. Mum loved a good natter with her 3 favourite subjects being Joe, her family and her home town of Tathra. When dad became sick with a brain tumour on their last trip up at Cairns, she drove and comforted him non stop for 3 days to get back to the hospital in Canberra. Not bad for someone in her 70’s. After dads death in 2008, mum sort of lost direction and found it harder to manage at home on her own. It was her decision to move to be closer to the girls and Bernie. Like moving to Tathra 55 years ago, mum embraced the move. Annie found her a wonderful home at Fronditha Aged Care Facility in Mayfield and another phase of mums life began. She made many special friends at Fronditha and was well loved by all the staff. I think she caused them a fair bit of grief by escaping and singing songs to the school kids next door or using her ‘nursing skills’ to assist the other patients. Most importantly, it was here that the progressive impacts of dementia affected her life. However, Annie challenged mum to embrace Art again and she spent many hours producing an array of creative pieces which adorned walls, websites, galleries and pinboards across Australia. We would like to thank the staff and management of Fronditha Aged Care Facility in Mayfield. Melissa Hare sent Annie this beautiful quote: Ive learned that people will forget what you said, People will forget what you did But people will never forget how you made them feel Thanks mum for a life well lived.