Daphne Alice Bracewell

Daphne Frey was born on the 16

th
of February 1927, second of three children
and was the only daughter of Richard Edward and Alice Frey. Daphne was
raised on the outskirts of the small country town of Inglewood Alongside her
elder brother Reginald and younger brother Henry. Her father Richard was a
grazier so Daphne grew up helping out with the family farm. Daphnes mother,
Alice once married, became a housewife and would look after the children and
household while her husband was working. Daphne started her school days at
Inglewood primary school and loved nothing more than going to school. My
Grandmother (who later picked up the name Mama to my brother and I)
would tell me about when she was young, and the creek would flood the path
she would take to school while walking or riding her bike and she would have
to make her trip even longer to get to school for the day which ended with her
primary school teacher telling the other students if Daphne Frey can get to
school Why cant you?.
After finishing school, she was offered a job at the Post Master General as a
telephonist which in later years became Telstra, where she stayed until her
marriage to Raymond Bracewell in 1960. One her loves of school was playing
tennis, so much so that in later years with the help of her brother Reg, they
made their own tennis court on their farm near the house. This was something
that I felt that was special between my Mama and I. I picked up tennis from
young age and ever since I can remember she would always ask me how I was
going with my tennis and when I was younger would come to a few games and
watch me play. During my visits to Mama and Wendys house, we would sit
and watch the tennis, it wouldnt matter who was playing or where, we would
still watch it. Daphne was quite the tennis player, even after her marriage, she
would still play at a court across the road from Oakleigh state school taking Ian
along in the pram.
Daphne was part of the church life in Inglewood with fundraising with the girls
friendly society where she would help to run dances and social events. One of
Mamas good childhood friends was Fay Going. When she would go over to
Fays house, She would see a photo of a handsome looking man who was
smiling for his navy photo, This man, Raymond Bracewell was later to become
her husband. They officially met at fay goings wedding, where Daphne was a
bridesmaid and Raymond was a groomsman. Once they were married they
moved into their one and only family house at Dorrington in Brisbane.

A couple years later in 1962 they were expecting their first baby boy Ian
Raymond Bracewell who arrived 4 days before their second wedding
anniversary. Then in 1965 along came baby number two in the form of Wendy
Daphne Alice Bracewell, their baby girl. While Raymond was away during the
day as an electrician for the Mater hospital, my grandmother would stay at
home and care for the children, Daphne was always maintaining the gardens of
the house, with plenty of flowers in the front of the yard and vegetables in the
backyard.
Those vegetables were later put to good use, one of the times, making
chutneys for the Oakleigh kindergarten. The stall being one of the best
fundraisers.
During Ian and Wendys school years, Daphne was a regular helper at the
Oakleigh state school and Newmarket state high school tuckshops.
Over the years, many trips were taken with the family.
To Inglewood, to visit with her mother and brothers, to Hervey Bay where her
mothers family had settled. Messer family still are well known in that region.
Trips to Sydney were usually planed for over the Christmas school holidays,
taking 3 days to drive down, visiting family and friends on the way. A trip to
Perth on the Indian Pacific train and car trips up and down the coast of
Australia were enjoyed, from Melbourne to as far north as Cairns.
Ma Ma and Granddad travelled to New Zealand with The Theatre Organ
Society, America with an Amway group, and Ma Ma to America 2 more times
with Wendy. She even put up with Wendys Star Trek convention in Pasadina.
1991 was a happy and sad year. Ians wedding to Sue Jones, then 6 weeks
later the passing of her beloved Raymond.
The joy of her later years was with the birth of her 2 grandsons. Myself in 1994
and then Ryan in 1997. As we grew up we would spend a lot of time with our
mama and wendy at their home at Dorrington and our holiday house at bribie.
During our school holidays, we would spend a few days to a week up at the
bribie home, which included several attempts at fishing and catching nothing
and kite flying in the property behind our house which has now been made
into an estate.
In her recent years Christmas time was always a great event which included
mama helping us put up all of our Christmas lights. Mama and wendy would sit
by the front room of the house while having dinner and would count all the
cars that would slow down and stop to have a look at the house. She would
also love to talk to the people who would walk up to the house with their
young children or pets to look at the lights.
Daphne was a very sincere and kind person, she was very loved and would do
anything for her family. When my Father Ian was married in 1991 he moved
out of home with my mother Sue, this left the house to my mama and wendy.
This relationship between mother and daughter was very special, for the last
23 years my aunt looked after and cared for my grandmother at their family
home.
I would ask mama what she would want for Christmas and I would always get
the same response of Could you get me a new back.
Every Christmas morning we would spend having brunch at my mother and
fathers house, after my brother and I rushed through our food to get the most
important part of Christmas The presents!, We would sit down and start
opening out presents one after another. The first present I would usually
receive would be from my grandmother and I would always receive the same
gift, A large packet of hankies because mama would always say you can never
have to many hankies. To this day I still have a draw and a half full of clean
hankies and the collection would get bigger every year.
The last time I spoke to my grandmother she was very worried about my
attempt to grow a beard. I saw her and she said youre not growing a beard
are you to which I said I liked how it made me look a little older, she then said
You dont want to get old Joshua.
She was a beautiful lady with a sweet heart and she will always be missed. I
love you mama and Ill always be your joshy and Ill miss you very much.
Daphne Alice Bracewell. Beautiful Wife, Amazing mother, and Loving and
caring grandmother.

Gone yet not forgotten, Although we are apart, Your spirit
lives within me, Forever in my heart, until we meet again ,
May god hold you always