Marilyn Cath BLACKMORE

Marilyn – How lucky have we been to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard…
I bet everyone here has a favourite story, a novel or childhood memory that when they reach the very last word on the very last page the only thought that can be held is ‘let’s go back and read it all again. The title of our story today is Marilyn. You are all characters in this story and I know everyone of you would give the world to go back and play your part next to this leading lady all over again.

Chapter One – Murrumburrah Marilyn

The first chapter….. Harden Murrumburrah welcomes a new addition to the Rodgers clan……Jock and Barbara were finally given a day’s peace from those two not quite angelic sons Ian and Lyndsey (Sticks) with the arrival of their daughter Marilyn. Jan their eldest daughter finally had a sister and it was no longer two against one in family childhood scuffles. The girls against boy’s club was strengthened even further with the arrival of Sue not too long after…. However, Sue’ s membership with the family was almost cut short at the age of 5 when big sister Marilyn and her decided that they simply must sample a sample from Stick’s packet of Camel 25s and Sue almost expired then and there! Of course, they didn’t belong to Ian because he never ever did anything wrong… or so we were told.

Chapter Two….Passion at the Palais

The setting is the Palais Theatre….. Sideburns are big as the tubs of bryl cream used to style them….a handsome – well he thought so, young man named Tony Blackmore has his eye on a young railway man’s daughter. Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs are setting the mood for this 1960’s love story and it wasn’t long after that Tony carried Marilyn over their own rainbow supported by their best man and bridesmaid Garry and Dianne and into wedded bliss. I am sure with Tony being the shy retiring type that Marilyn thought, he befitted Billy’s lyrics of being just a little hazy and crazy at times!

Chapter Three – Blue Heelers

The life of a Police Officer’s wife is one that does not allow the dust to get too heavy on the skirting boards…not long after Marilyn had said ‘ I do’ she was saying ‘off I go’ for the first of quite a few times….destination the big smoke of Sydney and the suburb of Coogee….a cosy little converted garage – apparently very cosy … not long after arrived young Trent! This time when Marilyn was again saying ‘off I go’…… it was with young Trent in tow…. back to old Newy they headed and more cosy accommodation which primarily consisted of a card table, clearly cards were not on the agenda as during one very exciting game of Tony’s illustrious football career (I actually thought Rick was the only footy uncle I had, ooops) Marilyn gave birth to Chad.

Chapter Four –
Lake Cargellico is definitely not over the Rainbow
Marilyn proved herself to be over and beyond committed to her life as Constable First Class Blackmore’s wife. This dedication was proven to be even more so when the next ‘off I go’ was to Lake Cargellico. Was there even human life there? The car drove further and further west, could there be even further west? And the tears that flowed as young Marilyn travelled further and further away were almost enough in volume to stop the drought.

It would be nice to say that at least the homely estate was a bit more luxurious as a minor trade off however this was not the case. The house was far from a palace; the kitchen floor was sloping so much that half a brick was needed to level out the dining table. When Sue went to visit one time, Marilyn asked her if she would like a sandwich. When Sue declined, Marilyn exclaimed, “See, even Sue won’t eat in this house.” At least it had a septic toilet unlike the next house, Marilyn cried again, the drought was almost broken – again! Thank heavens for the therapeutic friendships of David, Anne and Sharon that kept the flood gates closed.

Chapter 5 –

Almost home – The Muswellbrook Manor
And off she went one more time – the Blackmores were Muswellbrook bound – after the serenity of the ‘Lake’, Muswellbrook was almost heaven! Made even more heavenly by the arrival of Jay – I have noted that as soon as the accommodation improved there was no more arrivals of Baby Blackmores.

Marilyn was now queen of the castle in a land of males and more things beginning with B! Bandaids, BMX, boxing, cricket balls, foot balls, soccer balls, bruises and broken body parts, not that the boys ever caused her an ounce of worry as they were and are angelic in every way – even Tony. Muswellbrook was not quite Newcastle however it did have other perks being very close to the wineries and friendships that are as solid now as they were then.

Chapter Six….

Constable Blackmore – No more!
The Rodgers (Marilyn’s family name) are really not renowned for their risk taking, the steady, plodding type and for whom confrontation is probably the most serious crime they ever could commit…. Marilyn must have also been a very trusting wife as so far, she has had more adventures than a modern day Dora the Explorer. Especially when an attempt to assert herself in the world of independent travel to Proserpine as a young woman seeking fame and fortune lasted only one week when she was returned by her leaders with the label – with the comment….this is not for her!

Hence it is no surprise that when Tony took it upon himself to leave the force and take on not one but two new career paths she took all of that in her stride….. Well she sort of did – she was once heard to say that she would rather mow the lawn than be at the bottle shop and it maybe suggested that any silver highlights in her hair may have been caused by her angelic sons high thrill life when they resided on their rural property – I mean what could go wrong with three boys, rabbit traps, guns, a ride on mower and a bmx ramp into a swimming pool!

Chapter Seven

Eleebana Heaven
After just a few more ‘off I gos’ after the initial ‘I do’ the beautiful Marilyn was finally home in Newcastle, just showing if you persevere long enough good things will come!
And didn’t the good things come…. Of course all the boys were still as angelic as ever however, her single men soon became friendly with single women….. Marilyn finally got a glimpse of just a little bit of frills and ribbons in her home. Trent and Paula blessed her with a beautiful granddaughter Gemma. Chad was a good boy and did not let Leanda go as Marilyn instructed. Leanda became one of the very few daughter in laws in the world to let her mother in law pick her wedding dress – now any relationship that has that much love is one that will leave footprints on the heart forever.
Chad and Leanda then blessed Marilyn and Tony with our own super hero boy Ethan, and another chance to shop in the girl’s department with the arrival of Zoe and Sophie. Jay and Brydie gave her another excuse to rack up another account in the pink department with the arrival of Charli.
Recent research has described the awesome super powers a grandparent can display when they go into Nanna mode. Nanna Maz was blessed with all of these and more – there was not one wish from her adoring grandchildren that Nanna Maz was not able to pull from her hat, or even better the treat cupboard, whether it was up to seven week stints of baby-sitting Zoe, bi weekly trips to Sydney or quick trips to Melbourne in support of Ethan and the family… She did it all in the blink of an eye and without an ounce of hesitation. Nanna Maz was just as in love with her life as her family were with her.
So many things to celebrate on Tuesday wine time with neighbours Jan and Janelle or as they solved the problems of the world on their daily walks or when John, Yvonne, Elaine and Das made their quarterly pilgrimage to the Warners Bay.

Chapter 8 –

Marilyn, Maz, Nanna Maz and all of the above
A person doesn’t change just because you are no longer able to hold their hand, they are as they were and nothing can ever change that. You can feel them with you just as they were and as long as your love remains strong they will never leave you.
That softly spoken, forever gentle yet resilient and caring wife, mother, sister sister in law, nanna and friend still is that person and forever will be. Memories of holidays, sunning on Newcastle beach with sister Sue, Nanny’s treat cupboard, just a few glasses of wine with friends, rescuing boys from near death shenanigans, they are your heart and will be forever.

I would like to share a sentiment I shared at Marilyn’s brother, my father Ian’s celebration of life, it helps me get through and I am hoping that for you all it does the same…
I think we dream so we don’t have to be apart so long, if we are in each other’s dreams we can be together all the time…Marilyn you were and will be one of life’s sweetest dreams, the heroine of the story we have read together today and as we reach the last word of the last chapter of your story I know just about everyone here would live through every word of that book with love in their eyes for their Marilyn, all over… again.