I first met Myrtle in November 1999 when David and I went to New Zealand on our honeymoon to meet the “Harvey” family. That first meeting with Myrtle cemented our friendship. Myrtle came to Australia several times and stayed with us in Melbourne. During one of her visits, Myrtle met our 4-year-old grandson, Aaron, who insisted that her name was “Aunty Turtle” which brought a lovely smile to her face. We met Myrtle, Roy, and Phyl in London and enjoyed a leisurely afternoon tea at Harrods. Another memorable time when Myrtle, Evelyn, and Len were visiting was for my daughter’s wedding. The night before the wedding one of the bridesmaid’s dresses required some significant altering so Myrtle and I sat up until 6:00 a.m. resewing it. Evelyn’s experience as a milliner was very handy, and at one stage Myrtle suggested she could help us. After Evelyn had shown Myrtle how to do the wiring, Myrtle proceeded with some trepidation. However, after having broken 12 heads off the roses Evelyn suggested very kindly that she might like to find another task to do otherwise we would run out of flowers for the bouquets – we all had a good laugh about it, and the two of them started teasing my son, Byron, who was also helping. Our last visit with Myrtle was at Gavin and Jo’s home in Townsville. Since then, our contact with Myrtle has been by telephone. Myrtle never missed calling us for our birthdays and she was always interested in what our children and grandchildren were doing and would keep us up to date on the family in New Zealand. Our last talk with Myrtle was the week before her passing and she was very happy that we had called her. It has been a privilege to have known Myrtle as my sister-in-law, a truly genuine, loving, and gracious lady.

Myrtle was my middle big sister with whom I lived for all the time the family was in Wairoa. She was my big sister who sold shoes in Mr Sproull’s Shoe Shop until she went off to Palmerston North to train to be a nurse. What a career choice that was – Nursing equals Myrtle personified. She later transferred to Wellington Hospital when Mum and Dad took the rest of us to Newtown and set up home there. During that time Myrtle met Jack and Jack became a fairly constant visitor to our home also when after some time I was invited along with all the others to their wedding. I still have vague memories of the reception and the happy availability of all the soft drinks I could manage. After that, it was Johnsonville and the shed they lived in while their house was built. Jack was a master craftsman and left a strong impression of why one needs to do jobs properly. Myrtle loved him – that I do remember. But that is not all. When one is the youngest in the family it is not always possible to escape the ire of older siblings whom one has upset. Myrtle – no matter how I wrack my brain – I cannot recall ever being angry. This is not to say she let me get away with anything but reprimands or reprovals were always kind and positive. One never had to be afraid although that too meant that what she said was taken to heart. As I recall all my interactions with her over the years there was always that genuine interest in what I or my family were doing. She was an “other people are always important” person and I understand that included helping out during tough times at the local hospital when extra staff were needed. Distance became an almost insurmountable barrier to our interactions but she never forgot and always asked after me and mine. Will there ever be another like her? Who knows but this is a time to be thankful for her and her contributions to our lives. I, and Bronwyn, miss you, dear sister. Bless you, for all you were to us.

My earliest memory of Myrtle was when I was very young, I woke up and began to cry softly. I was feeling cold, and it was sister Myrtle who came and tucked me up. I was about 3, and Myrtle was 8. Truly my big sister. Another memory - when I remember my father saying to Mum, ‘What has happened to our sweet Myrtle?’ She had recently left home to go nursing, and there had been no letters for a week or two. It was a special day when she came home and showed us her sister’s uniform, including the large white head scarf. We have a friend in Auckland who tells us of the way Myrtle was so kind to her when she was a little girl living in Johnsonville, Wellington.' When I was young, I needed a friend, and Myrtle was the one I turned to.' Claire says that she often thinks of Myrtle and what she meant to her. I was always so proud of her accomplishments as a senior nurse. The fact that she was the night supervisor of Tauranga Hospital for 25 years speaks volumes about her abilities. Her early years of marriage were difficult when she lost two children. But then went on to mother three successful children and grandchildren, all of whom are a testimony to her loving care. Saddened to think I have lost my three sisters but glad and proud to have had Myrtle for so long.