My father, Alexander Ethebert Munroe was born on the 17 July 1926 to his mother 45 year-old Amy. They lived at 458 Kooyong Rd, Caulfield, Melbourne.
Amy was told by their doctor she could not have children and so the birth of their first and only child was a joyous surprise. His health was excellent and we later found out that it was due to him having above average white blood cells. As a child he never caught any of the usual sicknesses like measles, mumps, chicken pox and the dreaded polio that prevailed most toddlers and children. As an adult he continued his lottery in exceptional health and did not catch common colds or flu or anything else for that matter. I only recall once, while busy at their business Hendies Hire Service in 1973 he had to stop and throw up in a nearby sink before continuing on as if nothing had happened.
Amy did not want to change her social lifestyle so 14-year-old Elsie Harris was discovered by dad’s father Bert. He found her in the local convent where she and her sister Tessie were being mistreated. They were there originally because she was abused, along with their mother, by their alcoholic father. The mother superior wouldn’t let Elsie go but after a row Bert took her where she was made a member of the Munroe family.
Elsie Harris was a kind natured person who had beautiful red hair and a fair complexion. She excelled at all her caring duties for my father. While dad was visiting Melbourne in the 1970’s - 1990’s he made a point of visiting his much loved cared.
In later years Elsie married and had five children. Her husband was regularly unfaithful to her. She died at 86. Four hundred turned up at the funeral. Her kind and compassionate nature won many hearts.
The arid classroom that children had to endure during my father’s childhood, (it hasn’t improved much now!), resulted in my father obtaining 100% for all mathematics studies and barely passing anything else. He was 1st to finish all examination papers with either 100% or nothing. The dull, dreary classroom has no room for intelligent creative minds.
Dad was given music lessons (at age 9), and played the Euthonium, a trumpet with 3 keys. He played with others and at times would play at the Mt Evelyn train station while waiting to go to Warburton. He did attempt to learn the accordion and piano but became bored with practise. Though he enjoyed playing the trumpet he unfortunately quit because he succumbed to the pressure of being called names from his friends.
Comments