Martha Wike was a very proud “Australian by Choice”. Here her daughter Amanda pays tribute to this Shire of Nillumbik local historian and community volunteer who recently passed away.
Martha was born in Cairo, Egypt with Greek nationality.
In My Mother’s Words;
“I arrived at Tullamarine airport, on a Saturday morning with my parents when I was 21 years old. We only shared one suitcase between us and the clothes it contained were unsuitable for our adopted country.
Upon advice, the following Monday, I went to the city with a street map, the Age newspaper, and a handful of coins, made numerous calls from a public phone, in reply to advertisements for office work, and made as many appointments as was possible. After trampling all over and exhausted, by the end of the day I landed myself a job. Could not imagine any other country in the world had such opportunities.
My family has been living in St Andrews on a little farm for the best part of thirty years. During the fires of Black Saturday in 2009 we lost everything but we still have our family and the courage to look forward and be thankful for everything good in our lives. Sometime after, I rebuilt and was finally back home.
I discovered the Queenstown Cemetery when I took the wrong turn off on my way to the Smiths Gully Pony Club. It was such a picturesque and serene place but very neglected.
During 1998 – 1999 I took my research documents to the then Commissioners of the Eltham Shire, who were the Trustees of the Queenstown Cemetery, inquiring what maintenance was being done on the land and especially on the graves which were in a dilapidated condition. As nothing was planned due to lack of funds, I successfully negotiated to be appointed by the Commissioners to undertake the transfer of the Trusteeship to individual local people.
I was voted the first chairperson of the Trust since its transfer to individual trustees. Was also instrumental to suggest that the only way to include the public and families of the pioneers was to start the “Friends & Relations of the Queenstown Cemetery. I was a Trust member and committee of the Friends for some time.
As all my records have burned to ashes so I will not date events.
During my time as Chair of the Trust I have applied and obtained funds for the following works and together with my fellow trustees all the undermentioned were achieved:
Draft Heritage Report by a Heritage Architect.
A new front gate built to the replica of an old gate.
Donation, by a pioneer descendant, for the timber to replace the old sign at the front gate and erection of same.
Donation by Carvers to carve the name on the new sign.
Donation to repair 4 graves by family members
Appointment of expert grave restorers to quote and repair graves.
A dig and report by an experienced amateur archaeologist to locate the original front gate of the cemetery
Funds to print book with the cemetery history.
I am thankful for all the work undertaken in the past by the Smiths Gully Landcare group, past and present Trust members, Friends and Families of the pioneers. I am thankful to my family and especially to my husband who at the time was terminally ill but nevertheless he fully supported me to undertake such a task”.
My parents met on a blind date in Fiji, while on holiday with friends. They instantly connected, and lived in Fiji for a year. Then, due to health reasons, they decided to settle in Melbourne. In 1974, I was born.
My mother has always been a strong and independent person who loved and cherished her family more than anything. Whatever tasks/activities/challenges mum took on, she always gave it ‘her all’, because she loved helping others through her volunteer work.
She was a wonderful daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and person.
Amanda Wike-Gysen
Daughter
1 August 2018
