Helen WHYTE Pearce was born 20Apr1921 at 4 Adelaide St, Petone - which is a suburb of Wellington NZ. She was the eldest of three daughters born to Jack and Jean Pearce (nee Forsyth). The family returned to Scotland after a passport was issued on 16Oct1922. Helene’s photo is on the passport with her mother. Helene was christened in Scotland explaining ‘WHYTE’ as her middle name - a Scottish custom of having family names instead of christian names - which was her grandmother’s maiden name.
Helene had very dark hair and high cheek bones and often earned the nickname ‘chink’ at school!
Helene was a very good student and had beautiful handwriting. There are copies of her Grade 5 and 6 half yearly examination report cards. She entered many Fancy Writing competitions at the local show from 1932 to 1935. There was an exercise book full of examples of her work but that has sadly gone missing. Each page had a saying - e.g. A stitch in time saves nine - with the capital A done very ornately and the rest in fancy printing. Helene was Dux of Brookvale primary school in Grade 6 then went on to Manly High school where she did a domestic course. She had won a Scholarship to Fort Street Girls School but the shortage of money for uniforms etc meant Helene could never attain her scholastic dream. The depression had a marked affect on many lives.
Soon after this she left school although she had attained an excellent pass. She went to work in a fruit shop, was an usherette at the local Embassy Theatre, later a companion to Mrs Walls. She also helped to run a guest house for Mrs Walls in Berkeley St, Manly. Helene loved to ice skate and it became her passion. She loved both roller and iceskating becoming very adept at figure skating and hockey on ice.
Helene married Thomas Maurice McKEOWN on 23May1942 at Manly Registry Office. Her mother and sister were the only people present. Tom served in the Army in the Military Police, later joining his father and brothers on a property "Molly Dale" on the north coast of N.S.W. when he was discharged on 3Jun1944.
Helene and Tom had a daughter Sandra b 12Apr1943 in Sydney and later another daughter Vicki b 21Aug1948 at Dorrigo.
For the next thirty years Helene remained on the farm. She made many wonderful friends who remained so throughout her life. She always had a helping hand for those in need, often walking long distances. She kept her sense of fun and humour even though at times her own life was far from happy. She was often lonely, especially after her sister Dorothy moved back to Sydney in the early 1960s. Her daughters spent a lot of their time at boarding schools.
Tom remained farming until his death 1Sep1979, aged 59. He is buried in Dorrigo Cemetery. The property was sold and Helene moved to Sydney where three years later she married Neville CORVISY on 26May1982. She died 3Apr1985, aged 63 after a trip to N.Z where she caught a virus. She is buried in Northern Suburbs Cemetery, Sydney.