THE LIFE STORY OF ANNIE SARGENT

Chapter 3 – Living at Hurstville

Annie’s youngest daughter Jill has many vivid memories of growing up at 19 McLeod St Hurstville. Her grandfather, Jim, would sit on the front veranda in the sun while smoking his pipe. Jill recalls a quote that he liked to relate: Here’s to you, as good as you are, Here’s to me, as bad as I am,

But as bad as I am and as good as you are, You’re as bad as I am as good as you are.

The front veranda was a good place to note the comings and goings on of the street such as the milkman making his run with his horse and cart, with large cans of fresh milk in the back. Families would take their small cans to him to be filled. The baker also made deliveries by horse and cart and Jill recalls taking the opportunity to pull fresh soft bread from the centre of a broken loaf before taking it inside to the kitchen. An iceman would deliver large blocks of ice that would last for about four days in the ice chest, before the advent of refrigeration. The iceman would carry the large blocks inside on his shoulder, where he had padding for the purpose. His shoulder was forever wet, and the padding would become smelly as a result. A hawker would also go from door to door selling his ointments and medicines from his suitcase. Tim, her father, worked hard to maintain a vegetable garden growing fresh vegetables for the family, as well as figs and lemons which Annie would turn into delicious fig jam and lemon butter. The family also kept poultry for the fresh eggs and meat, Tim teaching the children how to clean and pluck a fowl in preparation for cooking. The family ate poultry on special occasions, mainly at Christmas time. Tim would also grow orchids in his orchid shed, where he had many beautiful specimens. Annie and Tim’s children, Margaret and Jill had an old shed in the backyard that served as a playhouse. Neighbourhood children would join the girls there to play with dolls, toys and books – there was even a fuel stove to keep them warm in winter. Jill’s daughters, Vicki and Kerrie also played libraries and shops in the little shed.