Patricia Mary McGrath
Mordialloc Beach, Victoria, Australia, late 1940s
It's been just over a year now since my dear Mum - Patricia Ratcliff - passed away at the age of 82 in my home town of Launceston, Tasmania. Originally from Dandenong in Victoria, Mum was a keen waterwoman all her life, and swam, snorkelled and frolicked in the ocean and fresh water until well into her late 70s.
The photo above shows her as a beautiful young single woman on Mordialloc Beach, halfway between Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula in the late 1940s.
Mum told me a story once about travelling to Torquay a little later than when that photo was taken with a bunch of friends and surfing on a sixteen foot 'toothpick' wood and plywood board. She had a wonderful time she recalled, until a clubbie with a metal tipped surfski hit her broadside and completely splintered her narrow streamlined craft!
In 1959, due to a more than passing resemblance to Ava Gardner, troubled star of On the Beach, Mum was asked to play a small role in the filming of that movie. Her response was typical and was to be repeated many times throughout her event-filled life: "I'm not going to pretend to be anyone else, I can only be myself!"
Author, historian, conservationist, mother, grandmother, retired mermaid! We miss you Mum.
© felix ratcliff 2011
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I've revisited the post a few times now Felix. She looked like you and was lovely at the same time, which has to be one of those truths that defy logic.
ReplyDeleteTake care mate and thanks too for the thoughts you sent south.
Thanks Mick, some truths clearly defy logic! ;-)
ReplyDeleteSending more thoughts your way, especially in this cyclic time of ebb, flow and change.