Gwenda Edith (Thomas) Evans (1924-2013) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree

Gwenda Edith Evans formerly Thomas

Born 11 May 1924 in Wooloowin, Queensland, Australia

Ancestors

Daughter of Mervyn Alexander Thomas and Annie Eda (Booth) Thomas

Sister of [private brother (1920s - unknown)]

Wife of Herbert Arthur Evans — married 31 Jan 1948 in Brighton-le-Sands, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Mother of [private daughter (1940s - unknown)], David Arthur Evans, [private son (1950s - unknown)], Kenneth Evans JP AMIAA and [private son (1950s - unknown)]

Died 12 Jan 2013 at age 88 in Munruben, Queensland, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Kenneth Evans

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Profile last modified 22 May 2024 | Created 3 Dec 2017

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1 Biography
2 Sources
3 See also

Biography

Gwenda (Thomas) Evans was born in Queensland, Australia

Gwenda Edith Thomas was born on Sunday 11th May 1924 in the Private Hospital of Nurse Ada England, Wooloowin, Queensland. She was the elder child and only daughter of Mervyn Thomas, a builder, and Annie Booth.^[1] Gwenda's middle name, Edith, was meant to be her mother's middle name, however it was later discovered that her Mum had been called Eda. Her family was then living at Bradshaw Street, Wooloowin.

cousins with their Grandmother
Gwenda on the right

formative years

Shortly afterward, they moved to nearby Brookes Street, Lutwyche. The small family moved to Sydney, New South Wales in 1927, so that her father could take up a new position as clerk of works with the Australian Paper Mills; firstly renting a house in Queen Street, Ashfield, during which time Gwenda's brother was born, and then in 1934 purchasing and settling on the shores of Botany Bay at 36 Sellwood Street, Brighton-le-Sands.

Gwenda attended the Ashfield Public School until 1934 and then the Brighton-le-Sands Public School. She attended Kogarah Central Domestic Science High School and then, in 1940, the Metropolitan Business College. She graduated from Trinity College, Dublin with a Diploma of Elocution. Her childhood ambition had been to become a nurse. Whilst Gwenda never achieved that feat, her daughter did. Gwenda lived an active youth; speech lessons, dramatic club, church girls' club, competition tennis, choir, teaching Sunday School and bicycle riding. The youth group from her church often rode their bicycles from Brighton to Royal National Park at Audley. She worked as a bookkeeper for a garage at Wentworth Avenue in 1941 and then at Metropolitan Business College in 1942-43.

only 21 once

naval service

Gwenda (Thomas) Evans is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Women's Royal Australian Navy Service 1943-1946
HMAS Rushcutters; HMAS Harman; HMAS Magnetic

On 1st July 1943, Gwenda enlisted in the Women's Royal Australian Navy Service (WRANS) for service during the Second World War. After basic training at HMAS Penguin and HMAS Rushcutters (both in Sydney), she was based at HMAS Harman (Canberra) and HMAS Magnetic (Townsville). Although offered a commission, she opted for discharge after the war had ended, on 5th March 1946, with the rank of Leading Telephonist. ^[2]

Gwenda in WRANS tropical kit

Returning to civilian life, Gwenda initially found employment with Marshall Batteries before the 'dream job' as a sales assistant and bookkeeper at the Presbyterian Bookshop co-located at St Andrew's Scots Presbyterian Church, Sydney. Whilst there, she met and worked with two young ladies who fast became life-long friends, Valerie and Louise, both practising Roman Catholics.

marriage and family

Gwenda and Arthur were married for 54 years: 1948-2002

Gwenda met her future husband in 1946 in the hospital where Arthur was recuperating from a malaria outburst that he had initially caught in Papua on the Kokoda Track. Gwenda's workmate and friend, Valerie, was Arthur's sister, who set them up to meet. They announced their engagement on 18th January 1947. Their favourite date was going to 'the pictures' (seeing a movie). Gwenda married Herbert Arthur Evans on 31st January 1948 in St Andrew's Presbyterian (now Uniting) Church, Brighton-le-Sands. ^[3] Their reception was held in a community hall on Bay Street, Brighton-le-Sands. On their wedding night they stayed at the Wentworth Hotel, Sydney, before travelling by train and bus to the Knoll Guest House, Burragorang Valley. The valley has since been flooded as Warragamba Dam.

Arthur and Gwenda Evans

Gwenda and Arthur lived with her parents for their first three and a half years together, before moving into their own home at Nyora Street, Chester Hill. They had five children: Glenys (1949), David (1950-50), Ronald (1952), Kenneth (1955) and Stephen (1957). David only lived seven days, having been born riddled with cancer. Stephen was born two months after the family relocated to Brisbane for Arthur's work. Gwenda and Arthur purchased a 1920s 'Queenslander' on half-an-acre at 51 Carberry Street, The Grange. Gwenda miscarried a sixth infant in December 1959-January 1960 whilst the family were holidaying with her aunt and uncle on their dairy and poultry farm at Deception Bay, Queensland. By the time an ambulance got her to Brisbane General Hospital she had almost also died.

church life

Gwenda whole life was intertwined, even supported, by her active involvement in the life of churches local to where she was living: Lutwyche Methodist Church, Brighton-le-Sands Congregational Sunday School, St Andrew's Presbyterian Brighton-le-Sands Youth Group, St Columba's Presbyterian Chester Hill, The Grange Baptist, Clontarf Beach Baptist, Jimboomba Baptist and Jimboomba Uniting. Her husband did not join her in church life, but did not stand in her way either. She believed the Bible to be God's Word and read and studied it daily. Gwenda was a woman of prayer and a practical Christian who helped and encouraged others at every opportunity. She counted as close friends those who worshipped differently to herself, including Methodist, Salvation Army, Roman Catholic and Church of England (Anglican). Friends and close acquaintances also included many from different cultural backgrounds. She practised her belief of all people are equal.

a life of service to others

Gwenda was first and foremost a Mum and homemaker. She supplemented her husband's wages through teaching elocution (speech training); guiding several young people to championships at the Brisbane Eisteddford. For many years, Gwenda served as an adjudicator with the eisteddford. Gwenda served as treasurer of the Grange Baptist Missionary Union for some twenty years ^[4] and then as treasurer of the Welsh Corgi Club of Queensland for another fifteen years. ^[5] Gwenda and Arthur bred Welsh Corgis (Pembrokes) for some twenty years with one champion: Major, official kennel name: Taajee Royal Rythem.

Taajee Royal Rythem 'Major'

Gwenda was 'forever' writing letters, before the advent of e-mail, maintaining contact with extended family and friends around the world. She never had an ill-word for any person. Her home was always open to those in need, taking in several boarders over the years until they could once more stand on their own. With their children married, Gwenda and Arthur sold the house at The Grange and built a 'granny flat' on their daughter's home in Jimboomba, south of Brisbane. Gwenda became involved in the life of the Jimboomba Baptist Church.

Gwenda, 1986

final call

Aged 88 years and having been widowed for almost eleven years, Gwenda passed away during the early hours of 12th January 2013 at her daughter's home in Munruben Forest, Queensland, and her ashes are placed in Great Southern Memorial Park, Mount Cotton, Queensland. ^[6] Glenys was with her husband in hospital following his stroke; he passed away the following day! Gwenda's last waking moments were spent in conversation with her second youngest granddaughter, Tahnee-Ellen. She was survived by four children, children-in-law, eleven grandchildren (one other deceased) and nine great-grandchildren.

By her beliefs, Gwenda today awaits the Resurrection and subsequent everlasting life with her Lord and Saviour, Christ Jesus.