Ellen Ruth Braithwaite

   Cause of her death was Toxaemia and heart failure during childbirth.

   Another name for Ellen was Nellie.

  General Notes:

By Dick (Richard Arthur) Phillips, her son.

Ellen Ruth Braithwaite, known as Nellie, was educated at Burwood Primary School and at North Sydney Girls’ High School. She asserted her independent nature at an early age when she refused to spend her holidays at “Exeter Farm” and be bossed around by Aunt Elizabeth. Nellie’s sister, Kathleen, was very fond of her and told us this story. Prior to her marriage, she was employed as cashier at a large department store in Mann Street, Gosford; her father was very proud of her, and would take all his friends in to see her working at her desk, operating the pneumatic equipment. Her mother, Catherine, had always assumed she would remain at home and look after the younger children, but Nellie once again showed her determination and refused to go along with her mother’s plans.

When her father had trouble with the Gosford Shire Council and was dismissed, he lost all heart, and moped around for weeks. Nellie saw an advertisement for the position of Shire Engineer at Copmanhurst Shire in Grafton and applied for it in her father’s name. He was astonished to be called for an interview, and to be appointed to the position.

Nellie and Dick Phillips were childhood sweethearts and became engaged to be married in due course. They had a quarrel, probably about Dick’s boxing career, and split up. Nellie became engaged to Bruce Ward, son of a local farming family, and Dick did likewise with another girl. They were both foolish and pigheaded. After some time, Nellie was having afternoon tea in the local tearooms with her new fiancée. Dick came into the tearooms, told Nellie that he loved her and wished to marry her, and she went off with him, leaving her boyfriend flat. This was the talk of the town, and both sets of parents were very upset about the gossip. Nellie’s father being Shire Engineer and Dick’s the manager of the local newspaper, both their mothers considered themselves to be leading lights in Gosford Society. The bickering continued, and Nellie moved out of home and went to live with the Phillips family. Naturally, the quarrel worsened, and was not improved when her father, Charlie, came around to the Phillips house and started to lay down the law. Dick advised him to leave before he was thrown over the front fence. Needless to say, Nellie’s parents did not attend their wedding. The following is an extract from the “Gosford Times”.

“Wedding Bells – Phillips-Braithwaite. A very pretty wedding was celebrated at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney, on Saturday afternoon last, when Rev. Father Kelly of Gosford united in the holy bonds of matrimony Miss Nellie Braithwaite, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs R.C. Braithwaite of Gosford, to Mr R.J. Phillips, second eldest son of Mr and Mrs E.J. Phillips, also of Gosford. The bride was charmingly attired in white taffeta and georgette, with pearl and orange blossom trimmings, and wore a beautiful veil of embroidered tulle and wreath of orange blossoms. Her bouquet was of white roses, lilac and orange blossoms. The bridesmaid was Miss Doris Lock, who wore a pretty frock of shell pink georgette and crepe-de-chine, and black hat trimmed with grapes and streamers. She carried a bouquet of pink carnations and sweet peas. The bride was also attended by little Chlorice Sommers (cousin of the bridegroom), who wore a dainty frock of eau-de-nil crepe-de-chine and shell pink hat, and carried a bouquet of pink roses. Mr E.C. Philips was best man. The reception was held at the United Services Hotel, Oxford Street, City, where the host and hostess, Mr and Mrs J Hall, (uncle and aunt of the bridegroom), entertained about forty guests…”

Dad told us a funny story about their honeymoon trip to the South Coast. In those days people were more self-conscious about such things than they are today, and they didn't wish the other passengers to know they were newlyweds. One of the wedding gifts was a beautiful travelling rug, and Dad took it from their case to make sure his bride was warm during the trip. So much for keeping their secret – when he unfolded it to place it over Nellie’s lap, confetti spilled out all over the floor of the carriage!

Once they were back from their honeymoon Dick sold his boot-making business in Gosford, and they made their home in Petersham, where he again opened his own boot-making business. They lived there for two years, but Nellie didn't wish to bring up her children in the city. She persuaded Dick to purchase a business at Lawson in the Blue Mountains. During their time there, Nellie was active in the social life of Lawson, and was involved with the Red Cross, her church and the tennis club. She also belonged to the bridge club, and organized euchre tournaments at the School of Arts. She was a good organiser and was very popular with everyone.

Nellie eventually made it up with her parents and visited them at Grafton with her daughters, Joan and Betty. Her mother and sisters also visited her at Lawson. Soon after I was born the Great Depression struck the world, and life for a family, especially one depending on boot making and repairs for a living, was very hard. I can just remember my mother coming home from the hospital in Dulwich Hill with my brother, Peter Brian, in an ambulance, and being put into bed. I believe that the doctor in Sydney told her that it would be extremely dangerous for her to have any more children. My memories of her are vague, as I was only five when she died having another baby, our sister Ada Margaret, on the 15th of March 1933, aged 34 years. Our sister Ada died the next day.

One of Nellie's dear friends, Alma Hudson, who lived in the other half of our semi-detached house, told me that Mum was always on the go and always cheerful, in spite of any troubles. She also said that Mum made sure any new-coming lady to Lawson was always made welcome and introduced to all the activities in the town. Alma also told me that every business in Lawson closed down on the day of her funeral. The St. Patrick's Day Ball, which was to be held on Friday the 17th of March, was cancelled as well. Nellie is buried in the Roman Catholic Section of the Wentworth Falls Cemetery.

Physical description: Height 5'2” (157cm); Eyes, blue/grey; Hair, brown; Weight 7 stone (44kg).

  Some facts about her life:

• Religion: Christened C of E, converted to Roman Catholic at the time of her marriage.

• Education: Intermediate Certificate at North Sydney Girls' High School. ⁵

• Occupation: Cashier in Gosford, then home duties upon her marriage.

Ellen married Richard Joseph Phillips, son of Edward James Phillips and Ada Margaret Blight (Stanford), on 29 Oct 1921 in St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney, New South Wales.¹ (Richard Joseph Phillips was born on 13 Dec 1897 in Peak Hill, New South Wales, Australia ⁶, christened on 20 Dec 1897 in Presbyterian Church, Peak Hill, died on 20 Nov 1946 in Katoomba, New South Wales ⁷ and was buried on 21 Nov 1946 in R C Section, Wentworth Falls Cemetery, New South Wales ⁴.) The cause of his death was Liver cancer.