McAllister of Ireland
Florence May McAllister was born on 24 January 1909 in Brompton, South Australia, the fourth child of Joseph McAllister and Ethel Margaret Mason. When Florence was born her older sisters, Estelle and Violet, had just turned five and two and older brother Joseph was nearly four years old.
With three more siblings arriving before she turned seven, Florence was the middle child. She shared a bedroom with her youngest sister, Ethel. All four girls would take their turns on Saturday mornings to help their mother with the cooking and cleaning. Florence followed her older siblings by attending Brompton Primary School, and was very proud of the fact that she went on to attend High School, the only one of her siblings to do so. |
When Florence did leave school she began work as a shop assistant at ‘Johnnie’s’ – John Martin’s was a large department store in the heart of Adelaide. She went on to become a floor manager at the store before leaving to get married in 1931. Florence was always bitter about the fact that she had to leave work upon her marriage but in those depression years it was usually only single women who were employed.
Florence learnt to play piano and was most often the pianist at the regular Sunday family musical evenings.
In the late 1920’s Florence met Cyril George Strawhan. They would often attend dances together at The Floating Palais de Danse in Adelaide. Opened in December 1924, the wooden barge was moored on the south bank of the Torrens Lake. “The Palais” was fitted with a central dance floor decorated as a Moorish Palace. There was a promenade around it and a roof garden where patrons could take light refreshments and catch their breath during dances. In November 1928 the timber supports of the pontoon rotted out and the barge sank. The venue was unfortunately demolished soon afterwards. Florence later recalled a show that she and George had put on in a hall, George was the compare and stand-up comic, Florence had danced. On another occasion it was a fancy dress dance at the Palais and George was wearing a leopard-skin caveman outfit and Florence was dressed as a fairy. |
Florence married Cyril George Strawhan on 26 August 1931 at the Methodist Manse, Brompton, South Australia. Florence was 22 and George was 24. They were married in the Methodist’s minister’s parlour just a few houses away from the McAllister family home in Chief Street. Florence spent the wedding night at 68 Chief St and George went home to his Grandmother Fanny’s shop in Melbourne Street, North Adelaide.
George was employed at Holden’s when they were married but he lost his job shortly afterwards. He gained some work bark cutting in the Adelaide hills but they struggled financially during the depression years. Peter Dale Strawhan was born on 10 March 1932 at the Queen Victoria Maternity Hospital, Rose Park, South Australia. Eighteen months later, Nalda Lynette Strawhan was born on 17 December 1933, also at the Queen Victoria Maternity Hospital, The Strawhan family lived in Wilson St, Brooklyn Park. |
The great depression reached its peak in South Australia during 1932 and George was an unemployed labourer for most of the time up until the outbreak of World War II in 1939. In about 1933 George joined the SA Ambulance Transport as a volunteer. On 12 September 1942 George enlisted in the Australia Army. He was posted as a Warrant Officer at the Camp Hospital, Woodside, South Australia before his discharge on 14 November 1943.
Soon after the war ended in 1945, George joined the Lockleys bowling club, Florence joined about 2 years later. Lawn bowls dominated their lives over the next 50 years or so. Florence was still playing regularly in the early 1990’s, she even skippered a pennant team at one time.
Florence had her mother Ethel stay with her sometimes, most often Ethel stayed with Florence's older sister Estelle, but she liked to spend some time with each of her children. In March 1970 George and Florence moved to an ECH (Elderly Citizens Homes) unit on Henley Beach Rd, Lockleys, where they lived for the next 26 years. George and Florence joined the nearby Lockleys Senior Citizens Club and Florence spent many happy times joining in club activities, local and interstate bus trips. She also followed her mother's example and made a wide variety of knitted soft toys. Most were given to the bowling club for fundraising, but others delighted her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and the children of friends and relatives. George Strawhan passed away on 11 September 1996, he was 88 years old. Soon after Florence moved to a ground floor unit in the same ECH complex. |
Florence continued to live independently until 2004. She had a 'team' of people around her who helped with household chores, her son-in-law John Hill was a faithful chauffeur and 'fixer of all things' and her son Peter looked after all her monetary and medical requirements. Even after a brush with thyroid cancer, Florence was still determined to stay in her own home as long as she possibly could.
Florence was known to have a wicked sense of humour; she liked to stir people up. She was sharp, intelligent, and had a very good memory. She had great tenacity and determination. She became a little smaller and softer as the years passed but she always had that wicked sparkle in her eyes. In September 2004, at the age of 95, Florence finally entered into aged care. She spent her last few months at the Semaphore Nursing Home; together with her bag of wool and a box of knitting needles. The staff had trouble keeping her in bed sometimes and she was often found sitting in the room next door - without her walking frame. |
Florence managed to outlive all of her siblings, she passed away on 9 March 2005, at the age of 96 years.
Descendants of Florence May McAllister
Florence May McAllister was born on 24 January 1909 in Brompton, South Australia and died on 9 March 2005 in Adelaide, South Australia at age 96 years. Florence married Cyril George Strawhan on 26 August 1931 in Brompton, South Australia. George was born on 25 December 1907 at Ridleyton, South Australia and died on 11 September 1996 at age 88 years. They had two children: Peter Dale and Nalda Lynette.
- Peter Dale Strawhan was born on 10 February 1932 in Rose Park, South Australia. Peter married Judith Loraine Steele on 6 November 1954 in Adelaide, South Australia. They had four children: Craig Peter, Gavin Noel, Ian Darren and Denise Ann. Peter later married Jane Robinson.
- Nalda Lynette Strawhan was born on 17 December 1933 in Rose Park, South Australia. Nalda married John Barry Hill in about 1953 in South Australia. John was born on 23 April 1931 in Snowtown, South Australia and died on 18 August 2015 in South Australia at age 84 years. They had three children: Vivienne Lynette, Adrian John and Carolyn Eleanor.