Lorraine Phillips (Williams)
Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
FatherCecil Roy Williams1 b. 1 Apr 1897, d. 2 Jul 1956
MotherAnnie Veronica O'Connell1 b. 20 May 1906, d. 30 Aug 1994
Pedigree

Birth, Death, Marriage

Lorraine Anna Williams was born on 10 June 1927 in Shepparton, Victoria.1 
She married Laurence Lloyd Phillips on 29 September 1951 in Mooroopna, Victoria. 
She died on 4 October 2016 in Shepparton, Victoria, at age 89.2,3 

Family

Laurence Lloyd Phillips b. 28 Oct 1925, d. 5 May 2021
Children
ChartsLarsen, Laust, descendant chart
Milovitch, Thomas, descendant chart
O'Connell, Michael, descendant chart
Williams, John, descendant chart

Story

Lorraine Anna Williams at 70 Corio St in Shepparton on 10 June 1927. She was the eldest child of Annie and Roy. She was known as Raine.

The address was likely the Guildford Private Hospital at that time, and was later Una Hospital. Her birth certificate gives her parents' address as Main St, Mooroopna; at this time they lived in Annie's parents' family home behind the wine shop.

On her christening, Lorraine was presented with a bible, which she kept.1,4
Lorraine Williams, 1928
Image: Val Williams
Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
MOOROOPNA QUEEN COMPETITION DECIDED
Kialla Queen Crowned at Impressive Ceremony
The months of work of the five Mooroopna queens was brought to a magnificent conclusion last night, when before a crowded audience in the Mooroopna Public Hall, His Lordship the Bishop of Sandhurst crowned Miss Elizabeth Kennedy, queen of Kialla, as queen of the parish. The total sum raised for the Roman Catholic Church - the sponsors of the competition - was £1,177, of which the successful candidate raised £353/11/10.
...
Queen of Goulburn (Miss Kath Price) - Train Bearers... Val Williams ... Guard of Honour: ... Lorraine Williams. [Mar 1936]5
 
Lorraine used to sell tickets to the movies shown at the Mechanics Hall/Institute. This was while she was still at school.6
 
Childhood 
For at least a year after Roy and Annie married, they lived in Annie's parents' family home behind the wine shop in Main Street, Mooroopna. Daughter Lorraine was born during this time.7,8,9
Lorraine Anna, Anna Caroline (Larsen) & (Cecil) Roy Williams, 1927
Image: Val Williams
By January 1930 when Val was born, the family was at the home in Echuca Rd (later 37 Echuca Rd) where Lorraine, Val and Leon grew up. Leon was a late arrival with sisters Lorraine aged twelve and Val nine.10,11,8
Lorraine, Val & Annie Williams, c. 1931
Image: Val Williams
Lorraine, Leon & Val Williams, c. 1941
Image: Val Williams
The family home was across a paddock from where Roy's parents and brother Frank lived in an old homestead house (later 27 Echuca Rd) closer to the Mooroopna Recreation Reserve.8,11
Annie Williams (O'Connell) with Lorraine and probably Val, Echuca Rd, Mooroopna, c. 1932
Image: Val Williams
Home of Roy & Annie Williams (O'Connell), Echuca Rd, Mooroopna, 1930s
Image: Val Williams
Echuca Rd, Mooroopna, c. 1950s
Image: Kaz Corbo
In the house, a copper used for the laundry was also heated once a week for baths. Later, they had a wood chip heater in the bathroom. In winter the family lived mostly in a big kitchen where the wood fire kept them warm. On hot summer nights, they slept on the lawn with cow pats burning to keep mosquitoes away.

With no TV, they listened to the wireless, played cards or joined in a singalong to music from their pianola.

Roy made toys and other things, like a wooden replica of the Queen Mary and the pedal car in the photo.12,13
Val & Lorraine Williams with Elma Eggerstat in the car Roy re-built from one originally from Bob Jamieson, c. 1931
Image: Val Williams
The property had cattle and sheep for Roy and his father's butcher shop. There were work horses, trotting horses, cows for milk and chickens for eggs. The family grew their own vegies and some fruit.

While camping, Roy would collect animals, usually due to injured parents, and take them home. So the Echuca Rd house always had native animals, including a kangaroo, koala, and many different birds in a big aviary.

The family also had pet dogs, cats and rabbits. And a cockatoo Lorraine said would screech 'Shut the bloody gate!' and could call and whistle up the dogs.

Before Leon was born, the family went camping every April. They'd go to places like Mt Buller, Jamieson and Cann River, wherever the trout fishing was good.14,13
Annie (O'Connell), Roy, Lorraine & Val Williams, c. 1933
Image: Val Williams
Annie, Val & Lorraine Williams camping, the car is a Swift
Image: Val Williams
Doorway: Annie Williams & unknown; front: unknown, Lorraine Williams, Val Williams (in gumboots), others unknown the car is a Swift
Image: Val Williams
Lorraine, Val and Leon all helped at different times with the family butchering business. After school and on Saturdays, Lorraine helped with deliveries, served in the shop and cleaned up, including raking the sawdust floor. In her time there, Roy ran it with help from his brother Frank and another butcher named Don McDonald.

She also helped at the slaughter yard north of town near Gemmill's Swamp, while watching out for snakes. Here, she would see activities such as gutting of sheep, cattle and pigs; collection of the intestines to be processed for use as sausage skins; boiling up of the different animal parts for other uses such as soap-making; and meat products on board the horse and dray being brought back to the butcher shop to be cut up and prepared for sale.13
 
Lorraine prided herself on her ability to buy a good piece of meat from the butcher. She also liked her steak, with her cut of choice being eye fillet. She always cooked or ordered hers well done, saying 'If you'd seen as much blood as I have, you'd have it well done too'.15
 
Main St House
By 1947, Roy had sold the butcher shop, and in January 1948 the family moved to a brick house at 97 Main St.

Barry Reid had originally built the house for Mrs Kearney.

The Echuca Rd house was sold in March 1948.11,16,17,18
Williams family home, 97 Main St, Mooroopna, 1949
Image: Val Williams
Home of Roy & Annie Williams, Main St, Mooroopna
Image: Val Williams
Several of Roy's and Annie's siblings left Mooroopna. But there were many return visits, and their Echuca Rd or Main St homes became the focal point.

Some visits even made the newspapers. Annie's brother Mick and his family were regular visitors. And when any of Roy and Annie's family were passing through Melbourne, they'd often drop in to see Mick and Myra.19,20,15
 
Lorraine, Val and Leon had plenty of contact with their extended family, especially Auntie Bub. Now separated from Frank, she ran the Cricketers Arms Hotel just across the road in Mooroopna and the family often had tea there. Bub later ran the Junction Hotel in Toolamba for 13 years, and Leon fondly recalls the family going there for tea on Sundays.21,22
 
Annie, Lorraine and Val Williams often visited 'Auntie Phil' (nee O'Connell) and Bob Sinclair who lived in Princes St, Seddon (near Yarraville).16
 
Sisters Nell Bazley and Annie Williams raised families about 170 km apart, but visits were common. When Roy, Annie, Lorraine, Val or Leon stayed in Melbourne it was at Bob and Nell's place in Strathmore. And when Bob, Nell or Ailsa visited Mooroopna, they stayed with Roy and Annie.23,15,24
 
Education
In 1932 or 1933, Lorraine started at Mooroopna Primary School, about a mile walk from home.

In February 1936, St Mary's Catholic church-school was opened and she attended for four years, completing grades 5, 6, 7 and 8.

Lorraine was granted her Merit Certificate (grade 8) in November 1939.12,13,25,26,27
Merit Certificate, St Mary's, Mooroopna, Lorraine Williams, Nov 1939
Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
While in grade 8 at St Mary's, Lorraine opened a bank account with the State Savings Bank of Victoria. She opened it on 8 August 1939 with a deposit of 4s 3d. Lorraine was 12 years old and it was three weeks before her brother Leon was born. The account number was 2, so it seems Lorraine was just the second person to open an account with the Mooroopna account of Shepparton's School Bank Department which opened in May 1939.28,29
State Savings Bank passbook, Lorraina A Williams, Aug 1939
Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
In 1940, Lorraine started at Sacred Heart College in Shepparton.12,28
 
She described the conditions to granddaughter, Rachel Barker, for a school project:
Grandma went to Secondary college in Shepparton, riding her bike 4 or 5 miles every day for 3 years (there were no buses); it was sometimes very hot, or cold and wet. The only uniform for college was a thick red pleated skirt and long sleeved blouse, tie, hat, gloves and stockings (summer and winter).13

 
Sacred Heart College examination results for 1941 were published in January 1942.

Intermediate results show Lorraine Williams performed well in English, French, arithmetic, algebra, drawing and geography.

They also show Laurie Phillips performed well in English, French, algebra and geometry, with good scores in physics, chemistry and arithmetic.

By this stage, the two knew each other fairly well as Lorraine's Uncle Frank was married to Laurie's Auntie Bub.30
 
In 1942, while at Sacred Heart College, Lorraine did commercial exams with Stott's Business College in Melbourne. She passed bookkeeping Grades I and II, shorthand Grades I and II, and typewriting Grade I.

She also did exams with Newton Business College in Sydney. She received a Diploma in English with a score of 85%. And she received a Diploma with Honours in Arithmetic. Her score of 99% was the highest for all convent schools in Australia.31,32,33,34
Newton Business College, Diploma, Arithmetic, Lorraine Williams, Dec 1942
Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
Newton Business College, Diploma, English, Lorraine Williams, Dec 1942
Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
Debutante
Lorraine was one of twenty to make their debut at the annual hospital ball in June 1944. With the war still on, staff at the local RAAF station partnered the girls. Lorraine was partnered by Corporal V Bromage. Approximately 1000 people, including prominent politicians John McEwen and JGB McDonald, were at the Star Theatre for the event, with music by the Blue Moon orchestra.

Lorraine's frock was described as follows:
A beautifully styled and classically cut dinner gown with a long shaped bodice top beaded on the hip patch pockets and on the corners of the dainty half Peter Pan collar, was chosen by Lorraine Williams. The loose sleeves were almost elbow length extending from the shaped bodice beneath which the skirt clung in soft and graceful lines.22,35,36

Lorraine Williams, debutante, Jun 1944
Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
Lorraine Williams, debutante, 1944
Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
Lorraine's dress was made by her Auntie Bub when she was running the Cricketer's Arms Hotel in Mooroopna. It was at times being sewn on the counter of the bar. Bub later established Williams Frock Salon in Shepparton.37
 
Cousins Lorraine and Ailsa were about the same age and enjoyed activities together. Lorraine was Ailsa's bridesmaid.15,38
Lorraine Williams & Ailsa McMahon (Bazley), 1951
Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
Lorraine And Val At Mooroopna Weddings
Lorraine and Val were sometimes called on to be part of weddings at St Mary's.39,40
Lorraine Williams (2nd left), Val Williams (2nd right), Mary Budd (later Williams) flower girl left, O'Brien sisters wedding, St Mary's Mooroopna, Apr 1947
Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
Lorraine Williams bridesmaid right, Val Williams third from right, Joan (Gawne) wedding, St Mary's Mooroopna, Jun 1947
Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
Belle of the Ball
In 1947, Lorraine was chosen as Belle of the Ball for Mooroopna. A congratulatory letter from the Apex Club of Shepparton included a double ticket to the 'Belle of the Belles' final to be held on 9 July. She didn't win that one.41,42
Lorraine Williams
Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
Coming of Age Party
Lorraine's 21st birthday party was held at the Star Theatre in Shepparton.
Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
Bank of Australasia
From early 1943, Lorraine worked as a teller for the Bank of Australasia (later ANZ Bank) in Shepparton. She loved telling how some of the men were a bit put out because she got to have a gun.

She rode her bike from Mooroopna each day, sometimes in challenging weather and road conditions.

Her Auntie Mag (O'Connell) lived in Shepparton, and Lorraine would often have a hot lunch with her.

Lorraine resigned in September 1951 due to her impending marriage. At the time, it was frowned upon for a married woman to be working.43,13,22,44
 
Basketball Player, Umpire and Coach
Lorraine learnt to play basketball at St Mary's primary school. She continued to play at Sacred Heart College in Shepparton, on the grassed oval, or 'paddock', at the back of the school. Her first memories of playing seniors was for Sacred Heart in 1941.

She worked in the bank from 1943 to 1951, so joined the Banks team, and rode her bike from Mooroopna to the team's home ground at the Shepparton Showgrounds.45,46
Back: Lorraine Williams, Judy F, Biddy; front: Marj, Pat, Miss Fox (coach), Judy, Hazel; Banks basketball team, 1946
Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
Following persistent leg injuries, Lorraine switched from playing to umpiring.

She developed a strict but fair umpiring style and gained her umpire's 'badge' during a Country Week competition in Melbourne in the late 1940s.

Lorraine became a highly respected local umpire. She visited local schools and taught the rules of the game, and was soon asked to umpire finals at schools and for other competitions such as Echuca, Numurkah, Seymour and Euroa.

Her father Roy modified her whistle to help with her umpiring. The rules were changed from a centre bounce after goals, to use of the ball by alternate sides. To help keep track of whose turn it was, he added a small rod with different coloured ends which could be toggled after each goal. This was likely unique within the association.

In recognition of her dedication to basketball over many years, Lorraine was made life member of the association.47,15
 
Through her umpiring years, Lorraine also coached. She coached Country Week teams and the recently formed Mooroopna teams.

In her first year as coach, Mooroopna A and Mooroopna B were first time premiers in 1950 with the B team being given little chance. At a gala ball at the Mechanics' Hall:
A special presentation of a jam dish and spoon was made to Miss Lorraine Williams for coaching both teams during the season.48,49,50,51

Marge Paynter, Mavis Corboy, Nola Pell, Marg Speers, Lorraine Williams (coach), Cathy Bourke, Val Freer, Elaine Allen, Cherry Condon, Country Week basketball team, 1948
Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
Engagement
Lorraine announced her engagement in April 1950:
The engagement is announced of Lorraine Anna, elder daughter of Mr and Mrs Roy Williams, Main street, Mooroopna, to Laurence Lloyd, third son of Mr and Mrs TJ Phillips, Hotel Australia, Shepparton.

They had first met as youngsters in the late 1930s at a yabbying party. The party was at the back of their uncle and auntiie's Echuca Rd property in Mooroopna. At that time, Lorraine's Uncle Frank was married to Laurie's Auntie Bub.52,53,54
Lorraine's engagement ring, Apr 1950
Two weeks before her marriage, Lorraine had a kitchen tea in St Mary's hall, arranged by the ladies of St Mary's. Laurie responded to the congratulations and speeches by friends and family.

Joyce Baldwin thanked Lorraine on behalf of the Mooroopna basketball team.55
Personal
A presentation of a crystal salad bowl was made to Miss Lorraine Williams by the manager of the Bank of Australasia, Mr Eltham, when she resigned recently, in view of her marriage to Mr L Phillips on Saturday.56
 
Marriage and Family
Lorraine Anna Williams and Laurence Lloyd Phillips were married at St Mary's church in Mooroopna on 29 September 1951. They had four children.
 
Laurie and Lorraine's wedding was reported in the Shepparton Advertiser.

A veil lent by her cousin, Mrs Peter Fry, was worn by Lorraine Anna, elder daughter of Mr and Mrs CR Williams, Main street, Mooroopna, for her marriage with Laurence Lloyd, third son of Mr and Mrs TJ Phillips, Hotel Australia, Shepparton, which was celebrated with Nuptial Mass at St Mary’s Church, Mooroopna, on Saturday.

The bride, who was given away by her father, wore a simply made frock of palest cream slipper satin. The bodice featured a square neckline and long fitting sleeves. The graceful skirt extended into a long oval train and was inlet with fine lace in front. Her full length embroidered tulle veil was held in place with a coronet of orange blossom. She carried a slender trail of gardenias and dark green leaves.

The bride's sister, Miss Val Williams, attended her. She wore an apple green broderie anglaise over taffeta frock. The fitted bodice featured a split neckline and short cap sleeves with fly away cuffs. A bustle bow completed the full skirted frock. Her shoulder length tulle veil was held in place with a coronet of plaited tulle trimmed with a side spray of pink carnations. She wore matching mittens and carried a trail of pink carnations and erica tied with green ribbons.

The bridegroom’s brother, Mr Reg Phillips, was best man.

Pride of place at the reception, which was held at the Star supper room, was given to the beautiful two tiered wedding cake, made and decorated by Mrs H Williams.

The bride’s mother pinned a pink orchid to her junior navy lightweight suit to receive the guests. She added grey accessories. Mrs Phillips, who assisted, wore a powder blue crepe frock over which she wore a fur cape. She added a spray of maroon tulips and navy accessories.

For travelling the bride chose a mint green gaberdine suit to which she pinned an orchid. She added London tan accessories.

Mr and Mrs L Phillips will make their future home in Shepparton.57

 
Laurie & Lorraine (Williams) Phillips, 1951
Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
Reg, Laurie & Lorraine (Williams) Phillips, Val Williams, Sep 1951
Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
Val Williams (bridesmaid) & Reg Phillips (best man), Laurie & Lorraine Phillips wedding, St Mary's, Mooroopna, Sep 1951
Image: Val Williams
Laurie & Lorraine Phillips on their wedding day, Val Williams (bridesmaid) & Reg Phillips (best man), Sep 1951
Image: Rene Barnes
Laurie, Lorraine (Williams) & Reg Phillips, 1951
Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
Lorraine (Williams) & Laurie Phillips, 1951
Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
Lorraine & Laurie went to Sydney for their honeymoon.
Lorraine (Williams) & Laurie Phillips departing after their wedding, Sep 1951
Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
Lorraine & Laurie Phillips, Sydney, 1951
Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
The wedding party celebrated the occasion 40 years later.
Reg, Laurie & Lorraine (Williams) Phillips, Val Williams, wedding party 40 years on, Sep 1991
Family Life
When Laurie and Lorraine married, they lived with Lorraine's parents in Main St, Mooroopna while their house was being built. Their house on the corner of Maude St and Swallow St in Shepparton was being built with the help of a low interest rate war loan.58,59
Lorraine Phillips (Williams) with a dog once owned by her uncle, Bob Bazley; Maude St, Shepparton, c. 1952
Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
Phillips family home, 316 Maude St, Shepparton, c. 1960
Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
Laurie and Lorraine's four children, three girls and a boy, were all were born when the family lived in Maude St. Karen, Peter, Anne and Helen started at St Mel's primary school between 1958 and 1967.15,60
Helen, Anne, Peter, Karen, Laurie & Lorraine Phillips, Oct 1995
When they married, Laurie was working at the Hotel Australia. The pub truck was their 'car' and used for shopping, church on Sunday and everything else. Trips to Mooroopna with Karen and Peter to see their grandparents were in the truck with the pram strapped on the back. Around 1957, with a loan from Laurie's father, they bought a Holden FE sedan.

With a growing family, they realised Laurie's pub work would not meet their future needs, and he left the pub. After a short time without work and about 12 months working at the Shepparton Golf Club, the offer of taking over a milk bar sounded like a good idea.61
 
Golf Club
Around early 1963, Laurie suddenly left the Hotel Australia.

One day I just up and left the pub. Didn't even give Papa [Tom] any notice. I had no plan for the future; just decided that working at the pub wasn't it.

I wouldn't be surprised if Papa later had a word to the manager at the Shepp Golf Club, because he came to me with a work offer. I worked there for about 12 months.

At this time, the couple had four children aged between 11 and a few month old.

Laurie was quite a respectable golfer. He won a number of trophies in club competitions during the several years he played.59,62,15
 
Shooting and Fishing
Laurie had a shotgun which he occasionally used to shoot rabbits or ducks for the family to eat.

Fishing was his favourite activity. In the 1950s and 1960s, he'd go to the Murray River for a couple of days with mates. Murray cod was the fish he talked about most. Of one big catch, he reported:
The biggest was about 80 pounds, the other about 60, caught in the Wakool river at Barham just off the Murray, very exciting time, we celebrated big time.

Of another catch, he said:
Very fond memories. We fed the pub guests on cod till they cried "Barley!"15,63,64

Peter Phillips, Mr Cobb, Laurie Phillips, Greg O'Toole & Karen Phillips with 60-80 lb Murray cod, caught on the Wakool River, Barham
Laurie Phillips, Mr Cobb, Greg O'Toole
Image: Val Williams
Greg O'Toole & Laurie Phillips with Murray Cod
Image: Lesley Blythman
Shop
In 1965, Laurie and Lorraine bought a milk bar on the corner of Wyndham and Sobraon Streets in Shepparton. It was known as Victoria Lake Cafe and often confused with one further south near the railway line which was known as Lake Victoria Cafe.

It was owned by Harry Jenkins and run by Wally Baptist. The lease was about to expire and the business was being offered at a price they felt was too good to be true. They paid with money from selling their house and moved in Easter 1965 when the two youngest girls were less than three years old.

The business flourished, drawing on Laurie's experience in the pub and Lorraine's in the bank. They realised they could do better out of the business if they made the shop bigger, so they borrowed money from Laurie's uncle Joe and renovated. Within a short time, they bought the freehold from profit from the enlarged business.59,65,66,67,68,69,70,71
Anne & Helen Phillips in front of the milk bar, 458 Wyndham St, Shepparton, c. 1965
Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
The shop opened every day. In the early years, it was closed for a few hours while they had Christmas lunch with Lorraine's family in Mooroopna. In later years, it remained closed from lunch time on Christmas day. A popular purchase on Christmas mornings was batteries for toys. Following persistent pestering from the children, the shop was also closed for a couple of hours on Shepparton Show day. On the rare occasions Lorraine and Laurie had a holiday, family and staff kept the shop open.

The hours were long, especially on warm summer nights when it might remain open until nearly midnight. But everyone pitched in and Lorraine had trained the staff well.15
 
A large part of why the business was so successful was because of how well Laurie, and especially Lorraine, knew their customers.

An anecdote from Don Kilgour:
Lorraine: Don, where have you built your new house?
Don: ... next to Ken Halliday ... you'd know Barry Halliday, he comes in for his lunch ... and the girl in the shop said to Mrs Phillips 'Who's Barry Halliday?'
Lorraine: You know, two corned beef and pickle.

Comments from Don and others:
It goes to show you how much those corner store people knew their customers.

Lorraine gave presents to kids at Christmas.

We used to go there after water-skiing and have double-chocolate malted milkshakes. At Easter or Christmas, Lorraine always had a little something to give the kids.

School swimming. After swimming at the pool, it was mandatory on the way home to stop at Phillipses' to get our lollies before we went back to school.15,72

 
At the shop, Mr Brown's dog wouldn't eat Cadbury chocolate; he only ate Nestle. Mr Brown would get at least one small stick of chocolate each night, but one time there was no Nestle [which Lorraine had to order specially], so he took Cadbury - the dog wouldn't touch it! [Laurie Phillips]73
 
Laurie and Lorraine sold the business about 1981 after around 17 years, when the average time in a milk bar was just 18 months.74
 
Mixed Business Association
As she became more involved in the business side of things, Lorraine became a member of the mixed business association. She soon joined the committee, and it wasn't long before she was national treasurer. She also advised hundreds of people in the Shepparton area who were operating, or considering operating a milk bar. Many people have said how she had helped them when they started out. For her efforts over many years, Lorraine was made an honorary life member of the association.

As one small example of how Lorraine helped other shopkeepers, this is part of her note 'How to Work Margins':
COOKED MEATS: Where the shopkeeper slices - add 65% to the cost price. This shows a theoretical profit margin of 40% on sales. The actual figure will be lower because of unavoidable wastage. Where sold in the piece (e.g. strasbourq) add 50% to the cost. This gives 33? profit before wastage.

Any of the family living in Melbourne at the time would benefit from the association meetings, especially the AGMs. There was always a free meal at a nice restaurant on offer, or bags of samples from suppliers like Mars, Cadbury, Peters and Wrigleys.15
 
Family History
In the late 1990s, Victorian birth, death and marriage indexes were released on CD-ROM. Lorraine purchased them all, plus a few extras, including another from Western Australia where a couple of her Williams great uncles went.15
 
Grandchildren
Lorraine and Laurie became grandparents in 1988, and soon Grandma Raine and Papa to four grandchildren. They had endless time for them, were pleased to see them at any time, and would travel for hours to be with them for special occasions.

Lorraine and Laurie adored, and were adored by, Rachel, Mitchell, Lauren and Caitlin.15
Rachel Barker, Laurie Phillips & Mitchell Phillips, c. 1990
Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
Laurie, Mitchell, Dianne, Peter & Lorraine Phillips, c. 1990
Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
Mitchell Phillips, Lauren Barker & Laurie Phillips, c. 1991
Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
Mitchell & Laurie Phillips
Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
Laurie Phillips & Lauren Barker
Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
Helen Phillips with Lauren Barker, Karen Barker with Caitlin Barker, and Rachel Barker
Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
Anne Phillips, Rachel Barker, Mitchell Phillips, Laurie Phillips & Lauren Barker
Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
Lauren Barker, Laurie Phillips, Caitlin Barker & Mitchell Phillips
Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
Family History
Lorraine had long had an interest in family history, but it wasn't until they sold the shop that she had time to persue it.

She joined the Shepparton Family History Group (SFHG) where she helped and researched. If she saw a publication that included people or places relating to her family, she would often purchase her own copy. She amassed a significant library of family and local history books.

Lorraine had encyclopedic memory of her own extended family, including great uncles and aunts, their children and who they might have married. In the mid 1990s, son Peter joined his mother in researching the family history.15
 
In 1998, SFHG published Early Families of Shepparton and District, a collection of stories written by members of the families. Lorraine wrote two of the stories.75
 
In 2012, Lorraine received a Sir Rupert Hamer Records Management Award as part of the Shepparton Family History Group. The award was in the category of Preservation of Records of Significance and was for the 'Preservation of Shire of Rodney Rate Books' project.76
 
Lorraine was in contact with people across Australia on all of her family lines, Williams, O'Connell, Larsen and Milovitch.77,15
 
Later Years
In 2013, following a fall when leaving a family reunion, Lorraine was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. In 2016, she moved into Ave Maria aged care facility in Shepparton.15
 
65 Years of Marriage
On 29 September 2016, Lorraine and Laurie celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. The family had a small gathering the following Sunday when they brought Lorraine home from Ave Maria for the day. She died peacefully in her sleep two days later in the early hours of the morning.15
Six family members with Caitlin filling in for Karen; Lorraine & Laurie's 65th wedding anniversary celebrations, Oct 2016
Lorraine Anna Phillips died at Ave Maria Village in Shepparton on 4 October 2016, aged 89. She was buried at Pine Lodge cemetery in Shepparton East on 8 October 2016. The funeral was at St Mel's Catholic church.

Phillips, Lorraine. Passed away suddenly on Tuesday aged 89. Life partner to Laurie, married 65 years. Mum to Karen, Peter, Anne and Helen. Grandma to Rachel, Lauren, Caitlin, Mitchell, Josh, Tom, Emma and Matt. Gone but never forgotten. Rest in peace.15,3

 

Citations

  1. [S103] Lorraine Anna Williams, birth registration no. 16298, 10 June 1927.
  2. [S273] Helen Phillips, personal communication, 4 October 2016.
  3. [S669] Lorraine Anna Phillips, death registration no. 44758, 4 October 2016.
  4. [S21] Lorraine Phillips, personal communication, 2 September 2012.
  5. [S201] 'Mooroopna Queen competition decided', Shepparton Advertiser, 1914-1953, newspaper, Thomas Pettit and William Callender, 26 March 1936, p. 14, viewed 12 September 2019, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/176987834
  6. [S21] Lorraine Phillips, personal communication, 12 August 2014.
  7. [S103] Lorraine Anna Williams, birth registration no. 16298, 10 June 1927, parents' usual residence Main St, Mooroopna.
  8. [S21] Lorraine Phillips, personal communication, August and September 2012.
  9. [S201] 'Theft of wine', Shepparton Advertiser, 1914-1953, newspaper, Thomas Pettit and William Callender, 20 February 1928, p. 6, viewed 22 January 2019, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/179172402
  10. [S515] Valma Ellen Williams, birth registration no. 5816, 29 January 1930.
  11. [S172] Leon Williams, personal communication, 2 September 2012.
  12. [S21] Lorraine Phillips, personal communication, 28 August 2012.
  13. [S448] Grandma living in the 1930s, story, c. 1999.
  14. [S21] Lorraine Phillips, personal communication, 21 August 2012.
  15. [S126] Peter Phillips, personal knowledge or recollection.
  16. [S59] Val Williams, personal communication, 28 September 1996.
  17. [S561] LANDATA, online property information, certificate of title, vol. 6783, folio 1356472, Mooroopna 1945-1974.
  18. [S561] LANDATA, online property information, certificate of title, vol. 5598, folio 476, Mooroopna 1929-1998.
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  25. [S307] St Mary's Remembers, booklet, 1988, p. 5.
  26. [S32] Laurie Phillips, personal communication, 14 November 2020.
  27. [S583] St Mary's Mooroopna, Merit Certificate, Grade VIII, , 17 November 1939, to Lorraine A Williams.
  28. [S674] 'Lorraine A Williams', The State Savings Bank of Victoria, School Bank Department, St Mary's Mooroopna, account no. 2, bank passbook, 8 August 1939.
  29. [S201] 'School Savings Banks: District deposits increase', Shepparton Advertiser, 1914-1953, newspaper, Thomas Pettit and William Callender, 17 July 1939, p. 4, viewed 14 January 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article186109003
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  32. [S468] Newton Business College, Sydney, 'English', Diploma, certificate, 17 December 1942, to Lorraine Williams, score of 85%, viewed 1 June 2018.
  33. [S468] Newton Business College, Sydney, 'Arithmetic', Diploma, certificate, 17 December 1942, to Lorraine Williams, score of 99%, Honours, viewed 1 June 2018.
  34. [S275] Newton Business College, Sydney, 'Arithmetic', letter, 1942, to Lorraine Williams, Sacred Heart College, Shepparton, highest score of all convent schools in Australia, viewed 1 June 2018.
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  36. [S675] 'Shepparton Ladies' Hospital Auxiliary Ball', Debutantes 1944, List of debutantes and their partners.
  37. [S21] Lorraine Phillips, personal communication, 20 July 1996.
  38. [S21] Lorraine Phillips, personal communication.
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  41. [S201] 'More belles in Apex contest', Shepparton Advertiser, 1914-1953, newspaper, Thomas Pettit and William Callender, 1 July 1947, p. 9, viewed 30 December 2017, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/173896502
  42. [S275] Apex Club of Shepparton, letter, 20 June 1947, to Miss Williams, letter of congratulation re local Belle of the Ball win with invitation to attend final, viewed 18 May 2018.
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  44. [S275] Australian Bank Officials' Association, Melbourne, letter, 14 January 1952, to Mrs LA Phillips, Main St, Mooroopna, thank you for resignation notice and words of appreciation, viewed 18 May 2018.
  45. [S332] Netball is Catching: The history of the Shepparton Netball Association, Shepparton Netball Association, 2012, p. 23.
  46. [S1] After 1970, the women's form of basketball was renamed netball.
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  50. [S201] 'Mooroopna triumphs in basketball', Shepparton Advertiser, 1914-1953, newspaper, Thomas Pettit and William Callender, 26 September 1950, p. 5, viewed 12 May 2018, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/189071578
  51. [S201] 'Basketball grand final tomorrow', Shepparton Advertiser, 1914-1953, newspaper, Thomas Pettit and William Callender, 22 September 1950, p. 4, viewed 12 May 2018, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/189071474
  52. [S201] 'Family notices: Engagement', Shepparton Advertiser, 1914-1953, newspaper, Thomas Pettit and William Callender, 4 April 1950, p. 8, viewed 19 September 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article189066717
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  54. [S21] Lorraine Phillips, personal communication, c. 1996.
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  56. [S18] 'Personal', Shepparton News, 1877-, newspaper, Roy McPherson, 1 October 1951.
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  58. [S21] Lorraine Phillips, personal communication, 25 April 2015.
  59. [S32] Laurie Phillips, personal communication, 3 December 2013.
  60. [S21] Lorraine Phillips, personal communication, c. 2010.
  61. [S21] Lorraine Phillips, personal communication, 29 May 2013.
  62. [S215] Trevor J Phillips, personal communication, 9 July 2015.
  63. [S32] Laurie Phillips, personal communication.
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  65. [S32] Laurie Phillips, personal communication, 17 February 2015.
  66. [S272] Anne Phillips, personal communication, 29 December 2000.
  67. [S273] Helen Phillips, personal communication, 29 December 2000.
  68. [S90] Karen Barker, personal communication, 29 December 2000.
  69. [S21] Lorraine Phillips, personal communication, 10 May 1996.
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  71. [S259] '50 years of memories', Shepparton News, September 1972.
  72. [S2] 'Lost Milk Bars of Shepparton', My Shepparton, online, video blog, Geoff Allemand, https://www.myshepparton.com.au/, 2020.
  73. [S32] Laurie Phillips, personal communication, 1 February 2013.
  74. [S126] Peter Phillips, personal knowledge or recollection, Lorraine knew the average time in a milk bar from her work with the mixed business association.
  75. [S237] Early Families of Shepparton and District, Shepparton Family History Group, 1998.
  76. [S231] 'Sir Rupert Hamer Records Management Awards', Public Record Offiice Victoria, webpage, State Government of Victoria, 1998-, Preservation of Shire of Rodney Rate Books project 2011-2012, viewed 12 June 2013, https://prov.vic.gov.au/recordkeeping-government/…
  77. [S21] Lorraine Phillips, personal communication, 1985-2016.