3. SARAH LUCY SORTON RENNIE
Lucy Sarah Sorton Rennie (as she was known) was born on November 17 1895 at Ascot Street Ballarat (Ballarat Birth Registration 47625/1895). Her name was registered as Sarah Lucy Sorton Rennie. She was the third child of Richard and Sarah Rennie.
See Family Tree of Richard and Sarah Rennie
Sorton was originally the surname of her grandmother Elizabeth Ann Sorton, wife of Richard Brown.
See Family Tree of Sarah Rennie
Lucy was born just before the family moved to Western
Australia.
It is said that although she was well at birth she was very ill on the
ship across to the West, and had to be carried around on a pillow.
Lucy Sarah Sorton Rennie c1925
By 1907 Lucy was old enough to write and send postcards, a popular way of keeping in touch with distant relatives at that time. A 1909 postcard sent to her brother Ted at Dookie Agricultural College reads as follows:
Dear Ted,Frank is probably her younger brother. He would have been just over one year old. Another card written a few months later reads:I wish you many happy returns of the day. Frank has got diphtheria.
Dear Brother,From other post cards it appears that her uncle Frank Rennie did not impress the young children.
I hope you are keeping well as we are all well. I hope you wont call me lazy as they are all calling me lazy. We have got a little baby magpie. Uncle Frank is staying with us. We were all pleased to see your photo.
Love from us all. Lucy.
When they were living in Guildford in about 1910 Lucy wrote:
Dear Ted,
Just a card to let you know we are all well hoping you are the same. I suppose you know King Edward is dead. We have got the electric light in Guildford it is as far as the bridge. I suppose you know this place on the card
Love and xxxxxx from all.
Lucy
Above: Lucy Rennie c1905
Original post card written by Lucy in about 1910.
Lucy Rennie did not marry. Throughout her life she lived with her parents in Fremantle. In the 1940's and 1950's she regularly tended the family grave in the Fremantle Cemetery, driving out there from her home at 3 Ord St Fremantle in a yellow Austin motor car.
When television started in Western Australia in 1959 she was one of the first people to get a television set. Certain young members of the family regularly travelled to her house to view the early transmissions of Channel 7, some riding on their bicycles, a distance of several miles there and back, just to see the Mickey Mouse Club.
Lucy Rennie died on March 5 1963, and was buried in the Rennie family grave in the Fremantle Cemetery.
Lucy Rennie and her mother c1950