Memoirs - Page 5
It is the fact, in reality, that I have somewhat better, though still limited, knowledge of the woman Ethel Mary RAMSDALE (recorded in the Kyneton Register of Births, simply, under her first name - though she more often than not in later life seemed to prefer to be known as Ethel May) who was my mother. Ethel was the result of the union of William Charles (b. 1866), a laborer of KYNETON, VICTORIA, and Johanna RAMSDALE (nee BOYLE) - born in 1867 also in Kyneton, no occupation revealed). She also was born in KYNETON, VICTORIA, on 13 March 1895 and became my mother at the age of 38 years - with my birth in 1934. She was raised in nearby CARLSRUHE and the comprehensive RAMSDALE history (see elsewhere) I have identifies her as the second child/daughter of the union of William and Johanna. Their marriage produced five girls in a row - Mary (Tot) b1893; Ethel (Et); Ellen (Nell) b1898; Annie (Nan) b1900; and Florence (Flo) b1903 - and, finally (in 1908), a boy [William Charles - but known as "Charlie"]. They apparently raised another boy, Frank RAMSDALE - a son of a deceased relative - in the family [see Ethel's "musings"] and perhaps gave comfort and shelter to another (his brother - Bill) for a short time. Four of the girls married, in due time becoming Tot O'MANT 1917; Et DWYER 1920; Nell RAU 1925; and Flo HABEL 1927. The RAMSDALE history includes a comprehensive newspaper account of Tot's formal wedding. I have a studio (?) portrait photograph (originally sepia) of Andrew and Ethel on their wedding day in 1920 (with him seated, as was traditional at the time) which suggests that theirs was formal also.
I know nothing to suggest that she had anything but a normal (unspectacular?) early life as a country girl in a somewhat remote area. I suspect, however, that she may well have acquired - or been assigned - an unusually responsible role (for a second child) in caring for her siblings and the household's operations. She evidently walked a long distance for her schooling (in Kyneton) and may have tended to be tom-boyish - she often remarked to me, I recall, that she was invariably bare-footed; casting off her shoes/boots at every opportunity. I do also recall my father informing me at one time (and, I believe, her confirming on occasion) that she was fleet of foot as a youngster. It appears that in her early teens (?) she was quite swift as a barefoot runner who, at country picnic meets in the district, could outrun the males. So well reputed was she for this skill that not inconsiderable sums of money would change hands, I have been led to believe, as a result of her performances in mixed sex races conducted on a handicap basis.
One thing appears to be certain and that is that she was trained - or became naturally skilled - in the domestic service arts and her abilities there served her well in securing early employment (no doubt in trying times) and regular work later on. It appears that she must have worked in domestic service situations in her early working life in and around Kyneton which she left behind early (Autumn) in 1919.