Miss
Dorothy Leviny’s Diary
[In
response to a request for information about Miss Dorothy
Leviny’s Diary,
we here display a summary of contents of the one hundred
handwritten pages. This
has been compiled by Mary Thompson, dated 26th July 2003]
Dorothy’ s
Diary 1899 (age 17) to 1920 (age 39)
Buda Tour Guide reference
1899
P2
May 23 Relief of Mafeking, middle of the night, pouring rain,
Mail office rang fire bell with the news (rang so hard, cracked
the bell and it had to be replaced), bonfire on Bakers Hill
to celebrate.
1900
P3
Feb 19 Seventeen and a half, finished schooling
Pressing wildflowers
Tennis court finished, written to Erne to get racquets for
Katie and Dorothy. Gertrude will pay for Dot’s and it
will be repaid by time payment. [1st ref to Dot’s difficulty
with money].
P5
Sent to S.Aust. for waterlily seeds “I watch them every
day they first come up like a thread and about two days after
a little leaf appears…
Gertrude says I will kill them looking at them so much” cover
against magpies: “Frilby and Little Billy, Sven does
not come into the house so much”
P6
Invited to Foundry picnic at Kyneton
P7
“I earned a shilling yesterday plucking a pair of ducks I think I would
rather go without the shilling next time… I still have my racquet to
pay for”
P9
July 25 Birthday presents “Gertie carved me a photo frame”
Confirmation photos taken (Verey?)
P17
Dec 10 Return of Boer War veterans, Castlemaine T Hall reception
P19
Sundays at Botanic Gardens ritual: “ I don’t think
I will go again…a real parade Sundays and everyone wears
their new things”
Domestic skills: “Made combinations and slip blouses..
I made gooseberry jelly on Sunday and it turned out beautifully”
P20
Dec 24 “I dropped my watch twice today and I think it
is done for. The other day getting down from the loquat tree
it descended before I did “
1901
P21
Feb 1 The Queen is dead “a solemn service in our church
in the afternoon… decorated in black and purple… Duke
and Duchess of York are coming out for the first Federal Parliament”
P23
Feb 12 Ernest and Alba’s baby christened “Ernest
Cutts none of us like the names”
[Although listed as James in the Family Tree, he is called
Boy to the end of this diary].
Aug 13 Twentieth birthday 20/- each from Mother and Father
Ilma’s wedding: “ Its just four weeks and two days
Mary and Alice [Newell] bridesmaids white muslin with pink
roses in their hats. They got butterfly brooches”
Starting classes in Bendigo one day a week
Oct 21 Ilma’s wedding: “Decorated the Music Room
So pretty”
Father’s seizure left side Dr Jim Thompson [Ilma’s
husband] very helpful.
P30 First painting lesson “ father provided such a nice
box of paints and some brushes”
P31 Feb 22 “ on 14th of November we had a fearful cyclone
which took the roof off, knocked down chimneys through the
ceilings broke windows and blew down trees we only had the
dining room to sleep that night so we went to different people
we did n’t get back till nearly Christmas time”
1902
June 2 The War is over Peace was declared today the news came
through…
we hoisted our flag and went down town”
June26 “I came out at the Poster Ball last night enjoyed
it very much my dress very pretty The King is very ill so the
Coronation is put off it was to be today”
Aug 13 “Tomorrow I will be twenty one”
P32 Art classes: “We are doing life models now & this
is the third model we have had Mr Bell said it was the best
head I had done so far though I thought it ought to be torn
up and said so”
P33 Nov 5 “Ilma’s birthday next week,Hilda and
I are giving her a frame I’m just bankrupt I have only
got 2 to 3 shillings left altogether how I wish I has 2 or
3Pounds. There seems such a lot of things to get and I feel
so cramped the studio takes up a lot of my money as we just
get 2 shillings a month”
1903
P35 7-15 May Railway Strike: “No trains all day it seems
so quiet but in town everyone is talking in the streets butter
has already gone up to 1/9… no papers came… I think
some people think it will end in Civil War…Mother is
congratulating herself that she had just ordered 25lbs of flour
and a bag of sugar Katie said today while we were out walking ‘ I
wish the country was safe and I had my dress from town’ she
would be so happy I yelled”
P37 June 4 “Hilda put her hair up at Easter and came
out at the Tennis Club dance on Friday… Mr Woodward thinks
I am getting on with my painting I wish I were”
P38 Aug 13 ”Gertrude is desperately ill in the Childrens’Hospital
with typhoid Mary was wired for last Monday and went in the
train
P39 Nov 8 “The golf season is over and Mr Wilding has
gone away for good unless something turns up here again so
there are hardly any men left only boys … I get 3/- a
month… but I wish I had my allowance I changed my last
birthday pound and now I don’t know what I want to buy
but it will melt in no time”
P40 Nov 15 “Erne is staying with us from Sat to Monday
Father did n’t feel at all well & wanted to see him
so he ran up
& Father is so much brighter”
.Nov 11 “Mr Wilding is coming back tomorrow after all” Mr
Woodward is very pleased with Miss Sheridan & me lately
says we are getting
P41quite toffs he says I can go into the life room next year
but I simply must work…He always encourages me and is
so nice about even my most garish mistakes and really my work
must strike him as garish and amateur
P44 25 Dec “The Foundry is very busy now in fact it is
working night and day & refusing work poor Mr Wilding has
to work in the office often till eleven o’clock at night
its no joke this hot weather he is going down to his Mother
for Xmas I think
1904
P45 Jan 1 Its Louis’ birthday today and Father’s
on Sunday Louis sent Mother 4 lovely feathers from S. Africa
{Only reference to Louis in this diary}
Jan 19 “I am to have my allowance this year I am so glad
but it does seem an awful waste to put it all in clothes I
am to get the first cheque today of 5Pounds that is 20Pounds
a year so I hope I wont get into debt I have to get nightgowns
and shoes right off”
P46 28 Jan “Tomorrow Ilma’s baby will be one week
old she was born last Friday (23rd) & today she came up
for father to see. She is simply a little darling we are all
in love with her”
P47 29 March “Ive simple got the blue blacks today I
think its because I’m so ugly I do get visions of myself & they
give me the blues worse luck because it does n’t make
me any more beautiful We went to the Dredge with Mr Wilding
last night it was great fun and very interesting
P49 17 July “It’s awfully hard to make my allowance
meet golf or something wears my shoes out in no time We sold
Carbine [?] the other day & so had a dividend each of 6/-
will come in handy”
Aug 13 “Tomorrow is my 23rd birthday I don’t feel
20 yet”
Violet is coming in with Hilda after golf to tea. It is my
night up with father tonight”
P50 Sept 21 Baby Ilma [Ernest and Alba’s second child]
is staying with us just now and has been very ill”
Nov 12 “ Its almost settled that I am to go to Bendigo
next year coming home for the weekends & I don’t
think I’m glad for I’m beginning to see that I’m
no genius and it seems all so hollow to go in for it but I
simply must do something & I love the work so much so I
must go it hard for I am twenty three and do very little work
other girls make me ashamed I think Ive got the blues perhaps
it’s the hot weather coming on but I do seem so ignorant
and everything else & I am beginning to feel one too many
in this house but dread being quite by myself in Bendigo though
doubtless it will do me good I’ve come to the conclusion
I’m simply most awfully selfish..lazy
P51 I was staying down at Brighton for nearly three weeks last
month and did enjoy it so much but I was so very glad to get
home again if only something nice could happen soon, but I
don’t see how it can. Betty is growing and has six teeth
I have been home nearly three weeks but have only seen her
once. Today is Ilma’s birthday she was up to tea and
looked very pretty in a white muslin with frills and a gathered
skirt 1830 style… Yes Ive got the blues everyone seems
to jar on me and yet I feel so full of possibilities”
1905
P55 Mar 13th ‘Today week ago Father left us
Monday morning he passed very peacefully away he was semiconscious
to the end tho he knew I think Mother & every thing that
was said to him we were all with him at the time
It was Wednesday night he did n’t feel very well and
on Thursday he was very sick on Saturday we sent for Hilda
Gert and Erne. Jim was wonderfully good
Father was buried at nine on Tuesday morning by Canon Dennis
We six girls brought father to the door—
P57 March 19 “ The old goldfinch died last Friday morning &
I buried it under the New Zealand palm near the bird’s
cage Father was always so fond of the bird. Ernest is up from
Saturday to Monday Gert is down staying with Alba
[ This was a not uncommon arrangement]
May 5 “I have started golf at Bendigo again I have only
had one round of the Links I bought a new driver when I was
in town in February”
May 25 “ Ive got the blues I cant find anything for a
study &
I cant play golf & I cant bear myself nor anybody else & its
all so silly”
P60 Oct 22 “ We made about 170 Pounds by our bazaar… Yesterday
Hilda and I played off for the Championship for golf & I
won but I did n’t play a good game at all went round
in 66 with some very bad holes”
P62 Dec 31 “Another New Years Eve How the years fly and
yet not, Ernest is staying with us he came yesterday Alba broke
her rib so they could not come up for Xmas
1906
P65 May 6 “I started working in Bendigo from Monday to
Friday…
staying with Mr & Mrs Craig & they are very good to
me”
P66 July 8 “The baby was christened Alison Mary… Erne
is staying with us for a few days see about putting the property
under the lands act”
P67 Nov 26 I got a most awful shock last Wednesday when I opened
a letter from Mother, she wrote to tell me of Gertrude’s
engagement to Edgar. We are glad for her but most awfully sorry
it is not someone else tho he will be very good to her, he
wants her to marry him in January cos he gets his holidays
then it simply takes our breathe away we are waiting to hear
definitely I suppose whe will come back from hospital in about
a fortnight that will make her three months there”
Dec 14” Gertrude is home from hospital and looks very
well in-deed they are to be married at Easter time I think”
1907
P69 March 4 “Just a month to the wedding, we went down
for the day & had our dresses tried on they were made at
the Mutual Store and have arrived with the wedding dress they
are very pretty and dainty turquoise blue with white chiffon
fichus. Gertrude has some lovely presents the invitations will
be out in a few days
Betty is staying with us I have just put her to bed she is
one of the very sweetest kiddies I have known”
P70 March 29 Tonight is Good Friday Edgar and Aunt Anna are
staying with us Edgar goes back to toen tomorrow. Everything
is going on well for the wedding which is to be on Wednesday
if alls well… Mr Haslin has asked us if they might give
us a full choral service I hope we all get through alright”
April 3 the wedding did not take place after all today Gertrude
and Edgar broke their engagement on Monday, so we spent the
day at Harcourt”
April 17 ‘”On Friday Mother is probably taking
Hilda and me down to the opera then they will go down to Beaconsfield
to stay with Ada & Mrs Myring and then on to Flinders the
notice of Leonard Wilding’s marriage was in the paper
a day or two ago”
P71 June 3 “I have been in Bendigo now for six weeks
this last two or three weeks Miss Brodribb and I have been
doing a Poster for the Woman’s [sic] Work I went in also
for the medal and we went together for a book cover but can
hardly expect to win anything as we have never tried any of
them before I may join the golf club up there as a country
member”
August 18 “…I have entered for nine things for
the Women’s Exhibition in October but have not done any
yet I will have to work at concert pitch to get it all in.
Alba’s baby ( a little girl) is about six weeks old now”
Nov 13 “ I have the house to myself… the rest of
the family are at Brighton… I have to stay and help our
moll (?) I said I had to get back to Bendigo and now I am acting
Cinderella here Cinderella without the prince”
1908
P74 March 2 “I arrived home last Friday night after two
months in Tasmania”
March 29 “ Mother, Mary, Kate & Ilma went to Brighton
for a fortnight again & Hilda will join them there… While
they were away we have been having the house altered a passage
being put through Kate’s room opening out onto a little
porch but it has rather spoilt Kate’s room the papering
of the dining room was done at the
P75 same time. I have passed in most of my exams Advanced modelled
design Adv.General design Plain Geometry Credit Solid geometry
Pass memory Plant forms and Shading in tempera…
I got my Diploma from the Women’s Work Exhibition this
week
Yesterday was the opening of the GolfLinks for the season”
P76 April 19 “…a lovely day it has been but still
no rain at Tarnagulla they are selling water at 6d a bucket & we
have had our tank cleaned out and it is quite empty”
July 12 “ Boy has been staying with us for the last three
weeks and seems very happy.
We are giving an evening next Wednesday but I will be in Bendigo
I have pruned some roses while I have been home for the holidays”
P77 Aug 9 “Am doing very little work in Bendigo am getting
so sick of it yet would find it very hard to settle down at
home again in fact I would dislike intensely to have nothing
to do again”
P78 Dec 30 Christmas tree for the children Dorothy dressed
up as Santa:
“draped the fireplace with flags when all came in the
room they caught hands round the tree and sang to father Christmas
to come and I came out of the chimney Betty half guessed it
was me we all gave each other presents it was great fun and
now the new year will be here day after tomorrow what will
it bring I wonder
Gertrude goes up to Pyalong to Mrs Pennyfather for a year [as
companion] but what I will do is a greater mystery than ever”
1909
P80 Jan 16 “Rex (Brodribb?) helped me to make a potter’s
wheel out of the old machine and now I am waiting for Rex to
get the top plate made at the Foundry I wish it would come
I have spring cleaned the apple house ready to work in and
am now waiting a slow game”
P81 Feb 4 “…Mother and I are alone my potters wheel
is in full swing but so far I cant make anything just rough
shapes
P82 July 4 “I bought myself this dear little secretaire
that I am writing at…for 3 Pounds seventeen and sixpence & I
am selling the cloth to Mother that I worked for the Exhibition”
Last Friday I went to the second meeting of the Womens National
League and have been made secretary for this branch which they
are forming”
I am staying home this year; at present I am stencilling bands
for the dining room curtains to go with the frieze”
Aug 8 “Yesterday we played the first round of our Golf
Championships Mrs D Thompson is leading with Mrs C Beckingsale
second Hilda third
& me fourth
We had the first Committee meeting of the W, N. League there
were only five of us there”
P84 “…leaving Hilda & me in charge the painters
were colouring out Mother’s Hilda’s and my room’s
(spare room)…Berta Gibson asked me if I would go up to
her cousin’s station at Savernake N.S.W.as governess
to three little boys so I said I would like to…
Meantime I am taking Latin lessons and have bought some school
books”
P85 Dec 21 “ I am going to Savernake in February… and
am looking forward to going Today Gertrude comes home from
Pyalong”
Dec 31”yesterday Ilmas third wee girl was born”
1910
Feb 8 “ I start by the first train tomorrow morning.
Today was Betty’s first day at school”
July23 “ I have been home a month… and it all seems
a dream I left Savernake…on a beautiful Winters day and
drove through the station to Mulwala… it was such a pretty
morning… through the thickest and most beautiful fog,
in the end I was sorry to go but I had been too lonely while
up there but they were all so nice to me
& it is such beautiful country but governessing is not
my forte and I am glad to say they have a tutor that seems
most satisfactory”
P87 “Hilda went to the School of Economy in Melbourne
we met in town and came home together…now I am settling
down at home again and am trying the no brakfast plan but its
rather a struggle”
Sept 3 August the birthday month is over… I have bought
a camera with my birthday money & have used the first film & they
are all rather successful they are mostly ones of the cherry
plum tree which is out most beautifully just now”
P88 “ There are so many babies here this year Ilma’s
I did n’t know when I came back from Savernake she is
such a big baby she cut her first tooth last week.
I give Betty drawing lessons every Saturday morning now
We have just had a most successful Past & Present exhibition
in the Mechanics Winnie Brotherton being the biggest mover…”
P89 Oct 30 ‘Mary & I ran down for two days about
three weeks ago to see the Arts & Crafts Exhibition we
also saw Blamire Young’s works which we simply raved
about…died to buy two of them”
Dec 2 “One day we brought them to the Zoo and they loved
it Hilda and I even went on the elephant with them and Katie
of course snapped us
Hilda is in the middle of her exams now she comes back today
week and then starts for Ceylon [with Matron from her school]
I am sleeping outside again and do love it [on Mother’s
veranda]
Dec 31 “…I hope to go down & meet her at the
end of January possibly I will see the boys from Savernake
also Mr & Mrs Sloane Mr Hugh sent me three lovely photo
of the Mulwala fat bullock I was so pleased to get them”
1911
P94 March 21 “As soon as Easter is over I am to go to
the College of Domestic Economy with Hilda for a term in the
meantime I will have to be getting my clothes in order…I
am still at college and we go back today but I am just longing
for another week here as it is quite the most beautiful time
of the year in the bush and I have n’t had one day in
it except a walk a most beautiful walk with Mary
P95 … I do get so very tired of city life. Mr & Mrs
Craig took us to the theatre to see Ethel Irving I did so enjoy
it
1912
P96 21 Jan ‘ Yesterday I received a letter from Miss
Walker accepting me for the position of House Mistress at Girton & of
course every thing inside of me turned turtle when I realized
that it was settled
Funnily enough our results came out yesterday Hilda got credit
passes for all but one and only failed in practical teaching
but unfortunately that stops her getting the Diploma. I got
credit passes for Laundry
& Household Management but nothing for cooking
P97 Feb 2 “ I received a wire from Miss walker this morning
to go up to Girton…I am getting three white uniforms
made and they look so nice I was fitted this morning”
P98 April 10 “At the beginning of February I went up
to Girton to be House Mistress there but I really had a very
bad time of it and was not anything like mistress there at
all & at last I had to send in my resignation I was only
there for six weeks Mrs Craig was most wonderfully good to
me while I was there
At present I am really enjoying being at home again every morning
Alison comes up and I give her an hour’s school… Funnily
enough when I was at Girton a week they wrote & told me
Hilda had been asked to go to Merton Hall as mistress there
and she seems to be thoroughly enjoying it”
July 30 “Of all the extraordinary things today I am off
to Morris Hall where I am to do the duties of resident governess
without the teaching; being on duty every second day so I hope
to be able to take up some of my studies again”
29 Sept “ I like being at Morris Hall very well but have
not enough to do of course”
1913
1 Jan “ I have been appointed in Miss Quarterman”s
place as matron at Morris Hall for three months to see how
things go and longer if both sides satisfied I have not been
thinking of it yet but must as soon as today is over”
P101 “While I was in town Miss Hodgkins arrived from
England &
held an exhibition of her pictures which are simply the work
of a genius how I wish I could have some of them but the price
of any one is more than I have in the bank so I could just
go and enjoy them on the wall, but oh I’m so fond of
waterclours.
Kate has been taking the most delightful photographs of Mary
Best’s children”
P103 26 January “Jim has bought a piece of ground next
to Miss Kentish & from her and is going to build”
1915
7 January “About a year since I have written this and
such a dreadful year the War has broken out between the Allies
(Great Britain France
& Russia) and the Germans, it has lasted for six months
I hope it will end soon
P104 such horrible tales of cruelty we hear
It has been an unsettled year at school… Hilda has resigned
and has since been appointed matron of the boys Prep.”
1916
6 Feb “I left Morris Hall at the end of the term and
took charge of a small house for Miss Henderson [ for teachers?]
Babe was born on July 19 & she is my god daughter being
called Dorothy Winsome David Babe has lived up here [Buda}
almost all the time &
Gertrude has the care of her & she is an absolutely splendid
kiddie we are very proud of her…[in January] Gertrude
went to Lorne with Dick and & Babe was in my care she was
so beautifully well at the time & cut her first [two] teeth
while she was here we did n’t know she was cutting them
until
P105 they were through I heard the first one on her cup
There was a dreadful accident at the Foundry last Tuesday when
David Thompson and Mr Miller the foreman in the boiler yard
were both crushed by the firebox for an engine falling on them
Mr Miller died that day
& David died on Friday”
Tomorrow I hope to go up to Bendigo & stay for a few days
with Mrs Craig its really very nice not going back to town
to earn my living there are so many things I want to get at
that I want at least a year off I only wish I had a couple
of rooms of my own and enough money to live on”
1918
11 Nov “ Strange that I have realized that last wish
for two rooms
& money to manage with, I have both I ‘m glad to
say &
now I want my own home all together
This is the most stirring day in all history as Peace is declared
the Armistice being signed yesterday… many people believe
that this is the last war that differences between nations
will in future not be settled by going to war… some of
the people were out rejoicing all night”
1919
25 Feb “Hilda has just been up for the weekend…she
is looking exceedingly well”
Flu epidemic “I was not going to be inoculated until
they wanted help then I asked for it & volunteered… schools
have not been opened & all church services held in the
open air”
31 Dec “ Bea Gibson was married… quite the nicest
I’ve seen..it rained quite steadily Hilda & I went
in a taxi at Hilda’s expense
All the family went away in November even Ilma & Jim & I
was at Buda with Ilona & loved it altho the evenings were
a bit lonely
On the 6th & 7th I take the three children to the sea side
as usual”
1920
P109 14 October “My last day at home for how long I wonder?
Hilda has bought a little home & I am hoping to live there
am in the midst of packing…I leave on the early train
tomorrow… have been very busy getting furniture … Mother
has been awfully good in helping me”
This is by no means the whole
of the Diary. I pulled out slices that might be useful to
me when I write something about the two diaries. Mary’s
is complete. Dorothy’s is padded out with endless references
to social engagements, so and so stayed for a week, came
for tea, got engaged, got married, had babies. There were
frequent visits to Melbourne for shopping, dentists, staying
over with the same friends. October saw the exodus to the
beach, sometimes to the Wilding’s at Flinders, mostly
to Brighton “Mother has taken rooms”. There were
many complaints about the heat in Castlemaine up to 107F
in the shade. (I suspect that thermometer at the back door
is faulty). |
