Hilda Lillian White and Eric Malcolm Burke
Hilda Lillian White was the first of five children of George and Myra (nee Egglestone) White. She was born on 23 December 1908 at Mt William, part of The Grampians region in Victoria.
Hilda amd her sister Bonnie (Myra) began primary school when the family was living at Birchip. After a family move, Hilda and all her siblings attended the Tempy Primary School, which was initially located one mile out of town but later a new school building was built in the town area.
When Hilda left school aged 14 1/2, she worked as a junior teacher for 18 shillings and 4 pence a week but her father George would not allow her to attend teachers college. She left that job and became a receptionist at the Hotel Victoria, Ouyen, for 30 shillings a week.
In 1935, at the age of 26, she married Eric Malcolm Burke, 24, son of John (Jack) and Mary (Daisy) (nee Malcolm) Burke. Eric was also best friend of Hilda's brother Ted. The couple had 2 children, Val and Ron.
Eric enlisted in the Australian Army on 12 November 1942 while in Queensland. He served a short time with 59 Battalion before his discharge on 2 May 1943 because of the shortage of manpower to produce food.
Hilda and Eric moved from Tempy to Woomelang around 1945 and Hilda would eventually take in and look after her mother Myra there until Myra's death in 1972.
Both Hilda and Eric lived to the age of 93. She died in Melbourne on 14 September 2002 and he at Sea Lake on 13 November 2004.
Further information
Parents of Hilda White (George and Myra White)
Siblings of Hilda White (Myra, Ted, Joyce and Lindsay White)