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Australia - did she murmur: 'If God had meant us to fly, he would have given us wings'?
Another aeroplane flew into Geelong and landed at the Showgrounds in February 1911. But
Jane never knew. Nor did she hear of the death of Edward VII in May 1910, nor the
proclamation that Geelong had at last become a city after 72 years as a town.
She had died in April that year.
Fortuitously we hear from Jane twice in 1909, the year before she died. On 19 July she dictated
a letter to Ellen Ross. By now Jane was deaf and practically blind; Ellen probably had to shout.
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Were they seated in the kitchen? Or by the fire in the parlour, with the curtains drawn on a cold
Australian winter's night and the lamps lit? Ellen noted at the top of the letter: 'I am writing for
your Aunt.' Her spelling was somewhat uncertain. She addresses the envelope to 'Mrs WJ
Honeycombe, Pinnacle, c/o AJ Simpson, Mt Leyshon Road, Charters Towers'. This was
Esther, wife of Willie, eldest son of Jane's brother, John. Willie, or Bill as he called himself, had
married Esther in 1899 and they now had four children.
'My Dear Neice,' wrote Ellen. 'Recived your little was so glad to hear from you. sorry you
Housbane has gon so far away [he was carting cane], hope he Will got on and retrun back safe,
you Family ar goring up. they give you plenty to do. sent a litter to your Father [John] in WA. I
dont think he Will trune yeat. so he says, he may some day. it would be nise if he would. Laurie
[Bill's young brother] sent anise litter to me. you must thank him. My writing day ar done. I an
Verry Well in helath canot see much about the House that all. My legs ar [blank] get Deaf 84 in
Sep 24. so you see I am got Old. We have had Verry Rough Wither I have felt the Cold Verry
Much this Winter. With Much Love to all your Affectionate Aunt Jane Mountjoy.'
Ellen added: 'If you answer the litter I do my best to and let you know how your Aunt is
keeping she is verry shaking Deaf her legs are verry -.' Here Ellen ran out of space.
Esther Honeycombe replied, but there was a delay before Jane's last letter was sent in return,
with a two-penny stamp, to Queensland. Dated 28 November, it was dictated two months after
Jane's 84th birthday.
Ellen explained at the top: 'I have keept you watting for a litter your Aunt is getting Deafer I hav
plenty to do to look after her and keep the house clean.'
The letter said: 'My Dear Neice. I was so glad to get a litter from you. I am Much about the
same in my health. My legs ar so Weak I have been able to go to Church so far. but my legs ar
so Weak My Walking days ar over I can see about the house that all you will be glad for your
Husbane when he come home, sent a litter to your Father in the West, all your Children ar
groing up. you must rember me all to them, though I have never seen them I think you have got
a nise Family. I sopoes Laurie is still Working at the same place your Housband reamber me to
him tell him he must not expect a litter frame me as my writing days ar over. With much Lore
love to all of you. Love to your Hus band as well, I remain your Loving Aunt Jane Mountjoy.
Wish all a happy Xmas.'
Jane Mountjoy, the eldest of the Honeycombes in Australia, died of 'senile decay' at Roslyn, her
Skene Street home, on 3 April 1910. By then she was very deaf and infirm and her sight had all
but gone. She was 84 and had lived in Geelong for 56 years.
The funeral cortege left Roslyn at 2.30 pm on Tuesday, 5 April for Highton cemetery, where
she was buried beside her husband. Her name was added to his gravestone, and the words
'Peace, perfect peace.'
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