Remembrance Day - Norah Osbon my Mum

Today 3 November is my Mum's 31st Remembrance Day. Born in 1917 she and many others of similar ages endured the Great Depression as teenagers. Opportunities that later generations have taken for granted were not available to them. Many did not get the education that would have assisted them and our country to grow. Norah was required to leave school to assist with family finances along with other family members. She was very bright and made sure that her children got the educational opportunities denied to her and her siblings and other friends. She was passionate about gaining education and in the few short years before her early death just short of 60 years she enrolled at James Cook High School as an adult student to study for and get her School Certificate.

Along with many other young women during WWII she was trained as a motor mechanic whilst many others were trained in all sorts of fields traditionally reserved for the men as a necessity for the 'war effort.' They were hard times for that and the earlier generations.

The thrift and steadfast attitudes that she and Svend (my Dad) practised, whilst growing a family of four, has stood me in good stead throughout my working life. In recent months with the major economic downturn starting to bite, many of her and Svend's actions are practical examples for what may be needed to continue to prosper so that we, in our turn, can provide a better platform for our future generations.

A memoir of her life featuring her many achievements is close to completion. She would be thrilled to know how her offspring have developed with all four children achieving much of merit in their chosen fields and particularly in building strong families; now with 7 grandchildren and four great grandchildren covering NZ, Australia and Belgium. She and Svend would be delighted that the Danish family contacts have continued to be strengthened. It was not easy for her to marry an 'alien' particularly in the myopic years following WWII in NZ, but it was typical of her resolve and strength of character (ably supported and demonstrated by Svend) that has lead to the level of prosperity that we enjoy today.