Jean Vant was born on the 28th of May 1924. She was born in Liskeard in Cornwall, England.
A daughter to her mother Muriel who was born in Nottingham, and her father Reginald who was born in Dorset and had a big part in raising her. Her parents were married in 1915.
Jean comes from a long line of teachers, both her parents were teachers her grandmother was also a teacher.
Jean didn’t grow up with any siblings but had many fond memories with her parents, including singing with her mother and riding around on her dads shoulders.
Jean grew up without electricity until she was 6, and her family used paraffin lamps.
They were the first people in town to own a radio, her fathers friend was a radio engineer and built them one. On the radio she would listen to the BBC and stories by A.A Milne. She also grew up watching Charlie Chaplin. Jean also remembers seeing “Africa Speaks” the first movie she saw with sound.
Jean moved to Australia in 1964 with her husband who she met on a bus and her 7 children.
When Jean came to Australia she worked as a school Psychologist, and also worked in the Health Department.
Today, Jean lives at the William Hall Hostel she also has 8 grandchildren and 1 great granddaughter.
Thank you to Jean for sharing your stories with us.
From Paris and Shannon.
Paris and Shannon from Our Lady of Mercy College, Heidelberg, met Jean at the William Hall Hostel, Heidelberg Heights in July/August 2014, as a part of the Stories of My Life Project.