Heart And Soul Of Her Suburb For Decades

Sydney Morning Herald

Friday July 4, 2008

Harriet Veitch

MELVA McDONALD

1911-2008

IN THE 1930s, when Melva McDonald and her husband, Clarence, bought a block of land next to the telephone exchange at Rooty Hill, it cost #10, which they paid off in small amounts. The next step was to build a house, but where was the money to come from?

Melva had heard of the launch of the Parramatta Building Society and applied to be included in the first round of borrowers, but there was a problem. The McDonalds lived outside the society's area. Melva persisted and persisted until the solicitor in charge said, "If you are so persistent in applying then you're a good risk" and the money was theirs.

The McDonalds then started a door-to-door fruit and vegetable business and their children, Gloria and John, helped with the deliveries from an early age.The margins were small but it paid the bills most weeks. The business grew into a shop in the storeroom of the old post office, from which they sold fruit, vegetables, groceries, cakes, drinks and sweets and had an agency for dry cleaning and shoe repairs. In 1955 Melva and Gloria moved into purpose-built shops and also sold smallgoods and hardware.

Melva Florence Moore, who has died aged 96, was born at St Marys, the first of four children of John Moore and his wife, Harriett Holohan. Melva was also first grandchild in the family and was often spoilt with presents of chocolate - a taste that stayed with her for life. She went to St Mary's Public School, then on to Penrith High School.

Harriett Moore was a great believer in religious education and Melva spent all Sunday going to Sunday schools, Presbyterian, Methodist and Church of England. She often said her mother liked Sunday school picnics. At the age of eight with the Methodists she signed the pledge to abstain from intoxicating liquour, although obviously chocolate liqueurs were excluded.

In 1932 she married Clarence McDonald and they moved in with her mother-in-law in Adelaide Street, Rooty Hill, before renting a flat, then the first of six houses in Rooty Hill Road North.

Melva McDonald was always involved in anything happening in Rooty Hill, either at the stove or cleaning-up, as supporter or as a committee member - still cooking and washing up. Her greatest involvement was in the Progress Association and she was quite a hand at going on deputations to the local member of parliament. If she was told to come back next week she was there, and the next and the next until success.

From the late 1930s she worked hard at getting a school built in Rooty Hill, never giving up until it was completed. She also helped with the early days of the RSL, Rotary, the Senior Citizens and Mt Druitt Hospital.

After Gloria died in 1975 and the shops were sold, McDonald built the house of her dreams and had an indoor toilet at last. Her needs were simple - a good supply of chocolate, a ticket to the pictures, a trip to Manly, a visit to her grandchildren, her friends, the senior citizens group and bus trips.

In retirement she busied herself in collecting and selling old clothing to support of the work of Anglicare.

She was senior citizen of the year for Blacktown in 1989 and in 2001 was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for her community work. McDonald Place in Rooty Hill was named for her.

Melva McDonald is survived by her son, John, her daughter-in-law, Kay, grandchildren Ian, Peter and David, and great-grandchildren Sam and Jaden. Clarence McDonald died in 1955.

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

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