Active, Caring and Stubborn to the Last

Farewell to Ella McAlinden (nee Wright). 10th January, 1931 – 29th May, 2022.

Jenny Wright was to give this eulogy at Ella’s burial but the wet inclement weather prevented the tale being told at the time. Jenny now recalls some of the events in Ella’s life.

Me, being Laurie Wright wife, Ella was therefore my aunt by marriage.

I can honestly say everyone loved Ella. She was one of those lovely people who always seemed to be pleased to see you, and always had time to ask about the family, but she never had time for gossip.

She was a good, hard working, country girl with a great sense of humour. She liked her family to call her Mim as she did not like Nana or Grandma. Mim is a name she chose from a children’s story, the Travelling Book Shop.

Ella was born in Northam on the 10th January, 1931 to Mabel Grace and Robert Henry Wright. She was one of four daughters.

In 1946, the family shifted from Southern Brook near Northam to Yornup. At that time Ella (although young) commenced work in the boarding house owned by Mrs. Gardiner.

Ella’s Dad, who we all called Pop Wright, sometimes thinned apples and pruned trees in the orchard at Lucievile for my father, Des Pearce. I rarely ever heard him speak, but as he worked, he whistled through his teeth, which highly amused me and my brother Allan. We often raced down to the orchard after school to annoy the poor man.

On November 22nd, 1947, Ella married Tine McAlinden and they lived together at Yornup Mill. They had three children, John in 1948, Sherril in 1949 and David (Bim) in 1958

Unfortunately, Sherril had significant health problems as a child and has died in recent times.

In August, 1961, Tine and Ella and the children shifted to Bridgetown. Ella worked in the kitchen at the hospital, and then on from 1964 she worked there as the cook until the old hospital closed in 1978.

During this time, Tine worked for Les Reid in the orchard, which Laurie and I commenced leasing in early 1971. Sometimes Ella would also come out and pick fruit on her days off.

Ella and Tine then moved to Roebourne, at Kanny’s, while Cape Lambert was being constructed. Ella was camp cook and Tine worked as a storeman.

In 1974, Ella took a job as cook with main roads at Meekatharra, while Tine was working there as a storeman.

Then in 1976 they returned to Bridgetown. Ella then worked in the laundry at the Bridgetown Hospital until retirement.

As outlined, Ella’s life was that of a hard worker, I know she liked to do things well, whatever the task.

Although, one of her grandchildren advised that she was a great cook but not such a terrific driver.

I heard about the event which led to this belief, when, on the way home one day, she took the corner too fast in her little ‘Bat Mobile’ and turned it over in a big pile of black berries.

In hurrying to get out of the overturned car, just in case someone saw her, she received major scratches on her legs. Fortunately, however some neighbours did see her, they came out and tipped the car back on its wheels and she carried on and drove home. On being asked about her scratches she very reluctantly told of how she got them.

Ella was always welcoming and loved looking after her family. She welcomed any of the family friends to share her meals. Sometimes we saw her selling her wares at market stalls.

She was not always perfect; she was well able to call a spade a spade or a bloody shovel if necessary... as all good mums and grandmothers do.

In her last few months, even when she was becoming frail, she loved to help unload the fire wood from the trailer – ‘she was active, caring and stubborn to the last.’

Ella’s hard work, loving care of her family, welcoming attitude and practical approach to life was her hallmark and I can say with personal knowledge that her loving caring family looked after her in her last months as she started to forget things, in just the same way as she had looked after them in earlier times.

I am proud that we have families like that in our community. 9th June, 2022