My grandmother, Mavis Sourry, recently died at age 91. Grandma was an early inspiration for me, showing me what women can do. These are the words from her eulogy that I shared at her funeral.
Bookseller and children’s book judge Dr Robin Morrow once told me that “behind every keen book person there is someone. Sometimes it will be a bookseller or a librarian or a teacher or an aunt or a grandparent; somebody who just gives books, or drags you into the library”.
For me that person was Grandma.
And she was that person for Ian, David, Jessica and Bec too.
When I mentioned my teacher librarian grandmother Mavis Sourry during that interview, Robin told me she knew Grandma well from her time with the Children’s Book Council. She spoke of her respect for Grandma and I puffed up with pride.
Grandma gave me The Complete Works of Shakespeare when I was young, way before I even understood who he was or the power of his words.
And she gave me a boxed set of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, again before I understood the importance of the work, and introduced me to Snugglepot & Cuddlepie – a meshing of stories and the Australian bush.
Grandma let me read the old volume of Greek mythology when I visited. It had a dusty faded red fabric cover, but inside were fantastic worlds that unlocked my imagination.
She also helped me to understand the importance of grammar, which was passed down through her own children, and the value of using the right word.
Grandma crafted my love of words from an early age and, when you combine that with Pa’s ability to weave a tale, it makes complete sense that I made a career out of storytelling.
But Grandma’s knowledge and creativity extended beyond books, with her five grandchildren all benefitting from her wisdom on native flowers, classical music, cats, international cuisine and so much more.
It was a brave person who thought they could challenge Grandma to a game of Trivial Pursuit and win!
One of Ian’s favourite memories is sitting with Grandma in the dining room at Yowie Bay, plant books covering the table as they cross-referenced bushfood species. They both love bushwalking too.
David and I both associate Grandma with the bright hibiscus blooms that grew outside the front of the house at Maroopna Road. Every time he visited, David loved picking the “biggest, most beautiful hibiscus” for his Grandma.
He lit up when he thought about the big smile Grandma gave him and Bec whenever they saw her and the joyful giggles and cuddles that came with the grin. We all knew she loved being our Grandma.
I laughed when David mentioned how Pa would feed them Monte Carlos and frozen Mars Bars before dinner, making sure Grandma would see so she would react. Pa really was a stirrer, and Grandma rose to the bait, but it came from a place of love.
Good food was important to Grandma and Pa, with our regular visits to see them punctuated by exotic smells and tastes. So many of my memories about them involve our family sitting at the table and sharing delicious meals.
I can still taste Grandma’s spaghetti bolognese, with the fattest pasta tubes I had ever seen and just enough spiciness in the sauce to leave your lips pleasantly warm and buzzing.
I don’t know how she made it, but Grandma’s garfish with rosemary was something I loved to eat at Easter, and I discovered there was a whole world of cheese outside cheddar when I started tasting all the options on offer for leisurely Sunday morning breakfasts.
Fiercely independent and career-minded, Grandma was an early role model and one of many strong women I have learned from throughout my life. With the lessons and support from Grandma, Pa and our parents, each of us – Ian, David, Jessica, Bec and me – have followed our passions.
Grandma told me she became associated with owls by chance, when someone gave her an owl as a present. Over the years that owl became multiple parliaments, but I think owls are a fitting symbol for Grandma. These birds were favoured by Athena, the Greek Goddess of Wisdom and another strong woman, and owls are said to protect. Plus they are nocturnal, much like Grandma.
I will miss our conversations about books and baking and your great-grandchildren, Grandma. Thank you for the bright trail you blazed for this family.
