Elvie’s lasting local legacy

She spent most of her life living in Finley with the exception of a little over two years in Harcourt, Victoria.

She was well known for her prowess in dressmaking and received an honour pass in 1955 at the McCabe Dress Making Academy in Melbourne.

One of her numerous passions was Scottish dancing.

She was a member of Balmoral Club and held executive positions whilst helping to teach Scottish Country Dancing to many young people.

Elvie married George Robert ‘Bob’ Wooden in 1962 and had four children - Lynette, Graham, Cheryl and Leanne.

Following the death of Bob, she later married Stuart Hemphill in 2003.

When it was suggested to tell the story of this amazing lady, there was no shortage of friends coming forward to tell of the ways their lives were enriched by having known Elvie.

Inez Boldiston tells of their friendship of more than 40 years, after a chance meeting at a rodeo in Deniliquin.

They had similar interests, and the families became involved in each other’s birthdays, weddings and funerals with Elvie singing at most celebrations.

Maree Matheson is another close friend with many happy memories of her association with Elvie.

“As a young girl, I knew Elvie as my cousin and called her mother Aunty Millie,” Maree said.

The actual position on the family tree may have been a little lower, however, they certainly considered themselves very close.

“When I married Allan in 1966, Elvie sang ‘Climb Every Mountain’ amongst other great songs at the wedding. We have been lucky and happy to have Elvie in our lives” she concluded.

Yet another passion of Elvie’s was playing the drums as a member of the Finley and District Citizens Brass Band for more than 40 years.

She encouraged her own children to play in the band as they were growing up, and also had two granddaughters joining with her to practise and play at functions in the district.

When asked to give his thoughts on Elvie and his association with her as members of the Finley and District Brass Band, Peter Orro was happy to oblige.

“When I arrived in Finley in March 2000 Elvie was very kind and welcoming. She was the drummer and band secretary.

“She retained those roles until the Band was disbanded in about 2020.

“She organised and co-ordinated the performances and social gatherings.

She catalogued and kept track of all the musical instruments amongst many other roles she played, including cooking a great sponge!

“She joined the band to get her children involved, then persisted long enough to play with her children, grandchildren and many others’ children including mine.”

“It would be a fair comment for me to say she was the backbone of the band and we all marched to the beat of her drum.”

As a member of the Band, Elvie was proud to take part in the march on Anzac Day with a big bass drum strapped to her front.

As she grew older, she was determined to keep going, heroically soldiering on for a few more years after getting a trolley to put the drum on.

Not only was she a major part of Finley’s Anzac Day march, but the band also often went to Berrigan, Jerilderie and sometimes on to Nathalia to give other communities the benefit of its prowess.

One could go on indefinitely with the number of ways Elvie gave so much to her community.

However, it would be remiss not to mention her deep faith and involvement in the Methodist - now the Uniting Church – all of her life.

She held an executive position on the Parish Council and the Fellowship Committee and often helped out in the absence of a Parish Minister.

She was very active entertaining the residents of Ulupna Lodge, progressing to Finley Regional Care and assisted the Ministers and Lay Preachers at the Uniting and Anglican Services at FRC.

It would be appropriate to conclude Elvie’s story with the words of her daughter, Lynette.

“Mum was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and great- grandmother,” she said.

“She set an example for everyone, but especially for her own family, of humility and humanity and to put others before oneself.”