I remember first meeting Hilda many years ago in Majorca with her distinctive and charismatic Scottish accent.

Over the years, I found it very interesting that although we spoke the same English language and I was already learning new words from Jill, I would also be learning new words as I’d learn the Scottish words too!

It wasn’t long before John and Hilda made the first of many journeys to Australia where I was to try Hilda’s world famous gravy for the first time with the Christmas turkey as we enjoyed Christmas huddled around the tiny table at my old house.  And yes, it was the best gravy I had ever eaten!

Over the years we made many memories as we enjoyed road trips to various places around Victoria.  I remember Hilda’s joy at being in Ballarat and Sovereign Hill.  I think this was a special place that was studied at school.  We travelled to many other places including Lorne on the Great Ocean Road where one night we went to see the glow worms, this was quite an experience where you had to walk in the rainforest in the pitch black of the night with only a torch to see where you were going.  It was a magical experience to see the glow worms light up the darkness but was also with a sense of danger as here we were in the middle of the night with not many other people around deep in the wood.

Hilda had an incredible ability to spot Koala’s in the tree tops.  For anyone who’s tried spotting them you would know this isn’t easy to do particularly when travelling in a car.

One year we did a road trip in Perth and WA going to Wagin/Hyden, where Vie worked and seeing Wave Rock, which is the same place as the picture in the dining room.

Hilda and John also treated us to a very special New Year’s Eve boat cruise on Sydney Harbour.
Who could forget what a great time Hilda had at our wedding!

I’ll always remember Hilda’s kindness for example when I was sick and Charlotte was just a baby, Hilda was the first to help and without a second thought jumped on a plane and came over when we needed help.  This was the type of person Hilda was, she would always put everyone’s needs ahead of her own.

I loved watching the way Hilda interacted with Charlotte, her ability to play all sorts of games, or sing songs that I’d never heard.  Hilda had patience and an amazing ability to settle Charlotte whenever needed.  They had such a bond and really enjoyed playing together.  We had a fold-out tunnel that Charlotte would crawl through or play endless games of both of them throwing soft toys down the slide, one game would evolve into another, with barrels of laughter and entertainment.  

Hilda loved being out in nature particularly places like The Dandenongs with the Rhododendrons in bloom at the right time of year, the wildlife too and also the Botanic Gardens.

Later on, Jill had decided to get a wheelchair to be able to get Hilda out and about. Hilda reluctantly accepted the use of the chair and in time appreciated it. And this brings back a memory where Jill would push Hilda in the wheelchair, and she enjoyed whizzing her around, I think Jill thought she was driving a racing car and poor Hilda would be holding on for dear life!  Whenever the camber of the path changed Jill would be zig-zagging along the path, quite entertaining for all and Hilda would have a good laugh!

Whenever we were in England, we had many other experiences and John and Hilda would take us out showing the sites in England as well.  We enjoyed outings to Cockington and having the horse and carriage ride in the beautiful gardens.  The steam train to Plymouth, going to Dartmoor, Decoy lake, Torquay, other beaches and various other places.

Hilda had a wealth of local knowledge and also was full of wisdom.

We would always have a chuckle when we were at the Teignmouth see front on a clear day when you could look across the coast line and see “the caravans”!  This was actually the white cliffs in the distance, but one day Hilda said it was caravans in the distance.

When Hilda phoned us, on many occasions, I’d answer the phone and we would have an enjoyable chat and many times Jill would give me a wind up, Hey, it’s my turn! Etc, etc.

Hilda, I could not have asked for a better person to be my mother-in-law, you’ll always be in my thoughts and I’ll miss you dearly.  Rest in peace now.

Love, Rob