My mum-in-law left us last month. Her eulogy celebrated all her strengths and there were many. She worked - she worked all of her life. First caring for her younger siblings - only two of the 14 living were older than her, while her mum worked for others. She worked - carting water from the river, chasing down an unruly sister or brother, catching fish from the 'Bidgee.
She got into fights at school. Didn't like the names they called her. Spent most of her time outside, working at picking up papers and weeding.
Her first job, at 15, was at Narrandera Hospital. She and her younger sister Jean were doing well until the Matron spent time away and her stand-in harrassed the girls. They went straight to the police, not to complain, but to ask where there might be work.
"The Cannery", was the suggestion. So the two caught the train to Leeton and joined the line at the Leeton Cannery.
When they reached the window, they were told the Matron had called to say they already had jobs at the hospital.
Too late, and the determined girls worked the packing season out.
Year one done, in the working life of Bessie Briggs.
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