By Derek Schlennstedt
It’s difficult to convey the sadness when an enduring member of the hills community passes, especially in a small township where every loss has a profound impact.
That loss has certainly been felt in the Tecoma community with the sad loss of loving mother and local identity Jean Speedie, who on November 13 passed away peacefully at the Angliss Hospital surrounded by her loving family. She was 101 years old.
Born on 4 September 1918, Little Jean Speedie was a blessing to the family.
Before her birth -10 years after their previous child Alice – the family had experienced much tragedy with the deaths of their two eldest sons William and Albert in World War I.
After the war and during the years of Jean’s youth, the Tecoma community was close knit, families were expanding, and everyone knew and supported each other.
Tecoma/Belgrave became a very special place to grow up, and Jean loved recalling her childhood years at school playing sport, attending Church at Belgrave, and later attending dances and balls.
It was at one of those danced that her friend Enid Speedie introduced her to her brother Owen Speedie and love between the two blossomed.
Owen’s parents lived in Terry’s avenue and his father, Charles Speedie was a horticulturalist sent by the Australian Government to New Guinea to trial growing Tea in the Highlands of New Guinea.
In 1934, Owen went to work on a rubber plantation in New Guinea, where he later wrote to Jean asking for her to come to New Guinea and for her hand in marriage.
With the blessings of her family and the company of her sister, she took the boat to New Guinea and married Owen on 16 July 1938.
With Owen her family grew and together they had three lovely daughters – Jennifer, Sandra and Karen – and three sons – Ralph, John, and Graham.
Though shortly after they were married, war was declared in Europe and after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, the Speedie family was evacuated and returned to their ancestral home in the hills.
Owen and Jean settled near Jeans family and friends of old and continued to raise their family.
Jean was an attentive doting mother, strict on manners and ethics, but loving.
Sadly, Owen died in March 1990, but Jean continued to live in their home in Tecoma and in the community she had known all her life.
Jean never learnt to drive and walked everywhere – observing everybody and everything that happened in Belgrave, Tecoma and Upwey.
Since Owen’s passing Jean had been living independently in her own home with the help and attention of her devoted family.
Described by her family as an amazing person, Jean only gave up attending her weekly keep fit exercises three years ago.
“She walked down the steep hill to catch the train to Ferntree Gully, to her exercise class then returning home full of vigour up the steep hill,” her family said.
“Jean loved walking and credited this to her long and healthy life.”
“She was the font of information; she knew where every family member lived and who married who. She was happy and patient in sharing her information and was a stickler for accuracy.“
“Her personality was happy, joyful and always interested in others … she never said a mean word about anybody.”
“To the end of her days she had a sharp memory – loved life – enjoying visitors, shopping and keeping tabs on her family and friends.”
