In 1951, aged 24, Jean Alexander was living in the suburb of Strathmore in the northern suburbs of Melbourne, with her parents Jim (James) and Bertha Alexander. She had two sisters, both married and living nearby, and two toddler nephews (twins). Jean was a teacher at MacRobertson Girls High School – subjects including homecrafts, art and sewing and in her spare time enjoyed dancing, learning piano and activities at the local Presbyterian church.
Jean’s father Jim emigrated to Australia from Scotland in the early 1900’s, he married Bertha on his return from fighting in WW1 on the Western Front, and they made a life in Essendon, then Strathmore, with Jim working as a labourer for the Victorian Railways. Upon retirement, Jim and Bertha “downsized”, moving to a smaller home in Williamson Avenue Strathmore (just a few blocks from the home they had built in Columban Avenue). The proceeds from this contributed to Jim and Bertha taking a trip to Britain – Jim’s only return to his homeland since WW1 – they set sail in early April 1951 for England onboard the Orontes.
Jean was not far behind them, she quit her teaching post, and prepared to follow – equipped with references it was apparent she was ready for a new direction in her life.
This blog recounts her journey – from her letters home, travel documents, brochures and photos – all kept and well preserved. Her writings evoke such happiness and delight during the first few months of her travels, however, a terribly sad event took place in Scotland that bought Jean’s journey to a much earlier end than she likely envisaged, and potentially disrupted her life’s course. For all who read this blog, it is a no-holds barred account of Jean’s thoughts and experiences – enjoy getting to know this gutsy 24/25 year old as she journeyed alone to her father’s homeland – a big adventure in 1951.
My name is Maree Glasson, the holder of those precious mementos of Jean’s travels. Jean Alexander is my mother – who married Don Glasson of Bamawm, Victoria, in 1958. Together they were successful dairy farmers, who raised a family of four and were proud grandparents of eight grand-children. Jean passed away in 2003. She had kept very little of her life documents – yet so much was preserved from her 1951 journey, it surely had a huge impact on her life. These mementos of her travels were never really organised into any order / preservation – it is likely just luck and happenstance that they were all discovered atop Jean’s wardrobe after her death – stowed in boxes, tins, old cases and cartons. Here’s my attempt after many years to put it all into some order – 70 years after Jean took this trip, I will attempt to blog in line (or as close to) the corresponding dates in 2021!
