Sharing fond childhood memories

Shepparton has always held a special place in Judith Doyle’s heart, even though she moved away from the area when she was 21. Judith was born in Mooroopna and moved to Shepparton with her parents and three brothers when she was two years old.

Times were different when Judith was growing up during the Great Depression and World War II, but her childhood was happy and she has many fond memories of it.

One memory she treasures happened when she was a little girl enduring a hot day with her brothers.

As they sat on the lawn at their Edward St home they debated who would go and fetch some fruit salad ice-blocks.

Eventually when they got the blocks it was sweet relief for the children who lived through a time with no airconditioners.

It is memories like this that inspired Judith to write her memoir,

The book recounts her life in Shepparton and what it was like to see Queen Elizabeth when she came through town and what A Girl from Shep. it was like to gain her driver’s licence in a 1926 Dodge ute.

Judith also takes time to look at her life as a great-grandmother.

At 83 years old, Judith has enjoyed the chance to record her memories but may not have done so if it was not for a health scare.

In 2012, Judith was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma cancer and while she was receiving chemotherapy her son Randall Doyle bought her an iPad and then her daughter Janis Cook purchased a keyboard to go with it.

“That was a bad period in my life, I was very ill,” Judith said.

“I’m very lucky to have such a lovely family.

“I kept thinking of all the little things I did while I lived in Shepparton and I started to write and thought I like doing this. I really enjoyed it.”

Janis said her mother would often talk about the ‘old days’ so they encouraged her to write all her memories down.

“When mum was very ill, undergoing extensive chemotherapy, she had a lot of time to think,” Janis said.

“Mum writes in her own voice and it’s quite engaging to read. I helped her organise the material into a roughly chronological format and my brother and I edited.”

Judith said it was a great achievement to have written a book and it was a wonderful experience.

“I’m just really pleased it has turned out the way it has,” she said.

Now Judith is looking forward to launching the book and could think of no better place to launch it than in Shepparton where she still has many family members.

Although Judith has lived much of her life in outer Melbourne she loves nothing more than to come back to Shepparton.

A Girl from Shep will be launched on Sunday, October 29 at 2.30 pm at the Shepparton Masonic Centre, 161 Welsford St, Shepparton.

All are welcome to attend. Singer Glenn Doyle will perform and there will be refreshments.