Violet
Groundwater was born on 25 January 1931 and spent much of her early life growing
up in Babinda. She was the eldest of six
children, with Tom, George, Cecil, Les and Ned making up the Day family. They
grew up in Babinda, Mt Isa and Ingham. When
Vi was thirteen her mother died from tuberculosis and with her father not on
the scene to raise them, all of the Day family were cared for by their grandparents
who had already raised eleven children of their own. Vi assumed a lot of the
responsibility of helping to raise her five brothers. She viewed this time in her life as her very
own work experience program in readiness for raising four boys and two girls of
her own, Peter, Paul, Mary, Ruth, George
and Tim.
The Day
family eventually moved to Ingham where Vi soon began work in the National
Bank. She also spent time in Melbourne, Toowoomba and Innisfail. Vi was very
well known in the banking circles of Ingham and for some time it looked as if
she was going to make this her lifelong career and remain single. One weekend, one of her very best friends,
Josie Sheahan asked her to come along on a blind date. Up until this point, Vi
had remained single for almost 32 years.
According to Day family legend, there were actually many male suitors
that had taken a liking to Vi over the years, but unbeknown to her, her
brothers had always taken it upon themselves to question, threaten and then show
these young men the door! One man however, Don Groundwater, was able to pass
this test and they became engaged and married in the space of six weeks.
Over the
next twelve years Vi and Don were a team in everything they did and the farming
life of Abergowrie became the centre of their lives. In the 1967 flood, the cane farm suffered
$100,000 worth of damage. It would be
much more in today’s terms. With massive
debt, they continued to work hard and ended up moving into cattle and developed
1000 acres of improved pastures.
In 1975,
life changed for the Groundwater family with Don passing away from a massive
heart attack. Vi described this as the worst time of her life. To add insult to
injury, government death duty taxes were still in force and with no money, a
big debt and death taxes to pay, Vi was forced to sell much of their land and her
family’s livelihood. She never gave in
though and she always found a way to go on and to care for her children and their
friends in the best possible way. She
employed a farm manager in Lyle McKell, and he and his family became trusted
and loyal friends While her life was shaped by tragic events, she definitely
didn’t let it define her. One of the things that Vi often said in recent years
was, “you know, I have had such a good life”.
After Don
passed away Vi took on a lot of roles in the community. She worked at St
Teresa’s College in their bookshop, she sold Avon throughout Abergowrie, she grew
gladiolas for local florists, she managed the cane farm and she raised her six
children and her grandkids in the best possible environment.
Unlike
her brothers, her children encouraged Vi to find a new partner, but as she told
them some years later, “I made a decision early on that I wouldn’t let any
other men into my life that might affect the lives of my kids, and besides it
took me 32 years to find the right man the first time, why do I want go through
that again.”
As her
children all finally made their way out of the house and into their adult lives,
Vi decided it was time to give back to her community. She entered the local government election
race and was elected to the Shire Council, a position she proudly held for 16
years. She always spoke fondly of her time in Council saying that it was very
fulfilling and rewarding. Being the only woman on Council had its moments but Vi
was not slow in admonishing the men if she felt it was warranted. She was her
own woman and well able to stand her ground.
From her
time in Council Vi was nominated for an Order of Australia Medal, which she
proudly received in 2005. One of the
most ironic things that happened to Vi in her time in Council involved physical
fitness. In all the years that her children were growing up she never once did
any type of exercise or training. In
fact, when she was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, doctors told her that she
could either control it with exercise or take medication. She chose medication.
So Vi thought it was the funniest thing she had ever heard when they made the
decision to name an exercise track in the park after her, the Vi Groundwater
Walking Track.
Over
many years there were suggestions that the Hinchinbrook district should have a
museum. Indeed, there were private museums maintained by individuals that the
public could visit with the owner’s permission, such as Muralambeen, the
historic home of the Allingham family, and Hec Master’s collection of
agricultural artefacts at Abergowrie. Unfortunately neither of these is now
maintained or open to the public. That the district was able to have a museum
which is still functioning successfully today is due to the passion and drive
of one person – Vi Groundwater.
When Vi
ran for the council in 1988 one of the projects she put in her campaign was the
establishment of a museum for the district. She was elected President of the
Museum Committee. The process of obtaining a suitable venue was fraught with
problems and while some councillors’ interest waned in the project Vi’s
commitment always remained strong. She was the motivating force behind several
major fundraising events over a period of years and the securing of government
grants which enabled the council to buy premises in Halifax. The building was
the old Shaw’s Emporium which was sold to the museum by Reno Lancini at a
favourable price. Reno also made a large donation to the museum which was much
appreciated.
Vi pushed
for the venue for the museum to be Halifax as she had long held a vision of
Halifax being developed into an historical village. By coincidence she had once
worked at the National Bank in Halifax which was originally next door to Shaw’s
Emporium. As the earliest township in the Herbert Valley it was a perfect
location to house and preserve the historical evidence of the variety and
richness of life in the district. She said: “that’s why I keep pushing for this
Halifax bit. Halifax is the earliest settlement in the area and you’ve got the
mango trees right down the centre, you’ve got the old wooden seats around them,
I think the hitching place is still in front of the Post Office and there are
………..a couple of very old shops on the other side of the street, you’ve got
that real old-worldie type look.”
After
considerable effort the Herbert River Museum was officially opened in April
1993. Throughout the entire process Vi had the enthusiastic support of her great
friend, Josie Sheahan who in her role as head librarian of the Ingham Library
had worked tirelessly to collect and annotate a wealth of material housed in
the Local History section of the library. The creation of the museum was a
great satisfaction for both women.
Associated
with her great interest in history was Vi’s belief in the benefits of a good
education. She therefore threw herself whole-heartedly behind a push to build
the Barrier Reef Institute of T.A.F.E. and the Hinchinbrook Shire Library
complex which opened in 1999.
Vi
Groundwater will always be remembered as a strong, compassionate, resourceful
person who devoted her life to her family, her friends and her community. She
will always be respected as one of the great ladies of the Herbert District.
SOURCE: Text and photographs: Groundwater family, with thanks.
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| Vi Groundwater with her children Paul, Peter Ruth, Mary, Tim and George |
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| Vi Groundwater with her brothers Cecil, George, Ned, Les and Tom |
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| Cr. Vi Groundwater with her Order of Australia Medal 2005 pictured with fellow councillors: Sherry Kaurila, Lawrence Molachino, Shaun Sheahan, Mayor - G. (Pino) Giandomenico, Deputy Mayor - Arthur Bosworth, Sam Torrisi and Geoff Gianotti |
