Brenda Roberts was born in Sydney on June 7, 2017 to Eina and George Lucas. She attended Burwood Girls High School and commenced work at AWA in Ashfield. It was during this time that Brenda met her future husband Harold Roberts and they were married in 1941.
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In the 1950s, Brenda and Harold moved to Young and lived on a property named ‘Bron-Kurra’ on Wombat Road, where they raised their two children Bob and Lynda.
Lynda McDougall fondly remembers some of the ‘special gifts’ that her mum possessed.
“Mum was my Athletics Coach, she always had boundless energy and was very athletic; I can recall the amount of times she chased me around the house when I had misbehaved.” Mrs McDougall said. “I went on to be the Young High School Athletics Champion, Central Western District Champion and received the ‘Athletic Blue Award”.
“Mum was also very conscious of health and hygiene – she even washed my mouth out with soap and water on one memorable occasion.” Mrs McDougall said. “ She was also proficient in Morse code. When I started dating, she would deliver the ‘come inside NOW’ message via the front porch light”.
Brenda was involved with the Boara School P & C for many years and made the school’s Girl’s uniforms, long after Lynda and Greg had left the school.
She also volunteered for the Boara Bushfire Brigade at that time and worked tirelessly for Meals on Wheels for 37 years. Renowned for her fabulous cooking skills, Brenda baked for many charities over the years and was never known to turn anyone away. The family home often became a ‘Bed and Breakfast’ for people who had nowhere to stay.
Brenda was asked the secret of her longevity at one of her birthday parties and her answer was:
“Maybe it was the hard work, the country life, the diet of meat and three veggies, or maybe a combination of all three. Or maybe it was living in Young, because as the song title says ‘Forever Young’”.