VIOLET GROUNDWATER - one of the great ladies of the Herbert District

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.

Vi Groundwater with her children Paul, Peter  Ruth, Mary, Tim and George 

Vi Groundwater with her brothers Cecil, George, Ned, Les and Tom

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