Ey Elsie

From Gawler History
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Fast Facts
Type of person Individual
Also known as: Elsie Parnel Dawkins
Date of birth 1886
Place of birth Gawler
Date of death 1972
Place of death Gawler

Elsie Parnel Dawkins was born on the 28th of October 1886. On the 15th of October 1915, she married Adolph Louis Ferdinand Ey at the Gawler Methodist Church. Together, Elsie and Louis (his preferred name) had 4 children, William Theodore Ey, Sidney Louis Ey, Katheryn Elsie Ey and Muriel Elsie Ey.

Louis Ey was Mayor of Gawler in 1946-52, 1959-60.

1947 Elsie Ey kindergarten commenced operation as the Gawler Free Kindergarten in the Congregational Church Hall in Light Square. Only morning sessions were available, and as enrolments increased, it became desirable for the kindergarten to erect its own building.

Elsie Ey

Elsie Parnel Dawkins was born on the 28th of October 1886, the youngest child and only daughter of, William Dawkins and his wife, Eliza Pendlebury (nee Jones). Her unusual middle name was given in honour of her late maternal grandmother ‘Parnel Jones’ (nee Pendlebury). Both Elsie’s father, William Dawkins, and maternal grandfather, John Jones, were prominent Gawler citizens, owning businesses and serving as councillors and Gawler Mayors.

Six months after Elsie’s birth, the Dawkins family moved to ‘Winstowe’, 13 Finniss Street, where she grew up. There is a photo of the Dawkins family, including Elsie and her three brothers, taken outside ‘Winstowe’ in 1913. This would have been taken shortly after her marriage to Adolph Louis Ferdinand ‘Louis’ Ey at the Tod Street Methodist Church on 15th of October 1913.

After their marriage, Elsie and Louis Ey made their home at ‘Elstonville’, 3 Moore Street, where their four children were born; William Theodor Ey (b. 1914), Sidney Louis ‘Sid’ Ey (b.1916), Kathleen Elsie ‘Kath’ Ey (b. 1917)(Watts) and Muriel Elsie Ey (b. 1921)(Winter)(for further details on their children see “***Louis Ey***). In her memoirs, daughter Kath recalls the arrival of her baby sister Muriel while they were living at Elstonville:

“I was 3 yrs & 8 months when we were all sent outside & hid behind the palm trees on the side lawn when the Dr. arrived. Hadn’t been told of the pending arrival of my sister Muriel. Thank goodness they didn’t call her Elsie as I asked!! Pregnancy was a very hush-hush subject at that time.”

The Ey family relocated to ‘Louvonia’ on 18 May 1926, her daughter Kath “always remembered the date as Mother wrote it on the back of the salt box!” ‘Louvonia’ was more modern than the Elstonville house and unusual in that it was located in the centre of Light Square, completely surrounded by roads. It remained in the family until after Louis Ey’s death in 1979, when it was purchased by the Town of Gawler and the block was reverted to public parkland. ‘Louvonia’ was just across the road from the Dawkins family home ‘Winstowe’, so Elsie and her family were in close contact with her parents. Elsie’s daughter Kath provides excellent descriptions of her Dawkins grandparents, their ‘Winstowe’ home and her frequent visits there in her memoirs.

With maids to take care of the housework and the children (the ‘Louvonia’ house had four electric bells and a register in the kitchen to show which one had been rung), Elsie was able to place a strong focus on social activity and public duties. She played tennis and croquet (the Ey family had a lawn court put in at Louvonia, which they used for both), was a foundation member of the Gawler Croquet Club, an early member of the Smithfield CWA, she sang in Gawler’s town musical productions (she had a good trained contralto voice) and played the piano. Elsie was also heavily involved with the Tod Street Methodist Church, where she ran the Sunday School, sang in the choir and participated in banquets, fetes, concerts and garden parties.

Elsie Ey was Mayoress of Gawler from 1946-52 and 1959-60, whilst her husband served as Mayor. During this time she undertook many public duties; presiding at events, fundraising, judging

competitions, presenting trophies and advocating for the construction of the Women’s Rest Room Centre (which was opened on the former Market Allotment at 156 Murray Street in about 1955 and demolished in 2002).

One of Elsie’s most significant achievements, brought about through years of campaigning and fundraising, was the establishment of the ‘Gawler Free Kindergarten’, which opened in the Congregational Church Hall in 1947 and through the work of Elsie and the Kindergarten Committee was relocated to a purpose built facility at 15 Murray Street in 1955. Elsie Ey was president of the kindergarten committee for ten years, starting from the initial meeting in 1946. She laid the foundation stone for the new building with an inscribed silver trowel on 17 December 1954 and her efforts in establishing the kindergarten were honoured in 1956 when it was renamed the ‘Elsie Ey Kindergarten’ and the name unveiled on a wrought iron archway above the gate.

Louis and Elsie Ey became grandparents to ten grandchildren and celebrated their Golden 50 year wedding anniversary on 15 Oct 1963. Elsie Ey passed away in hospital on 9th Feb 1972, aged 85, her ashes are interred at Enfield Memorial Park.

In 2022, the ‘Elsie Ey Children’s Centre’ at Hewett and the ‘Gawler & Districts Elsie Ey Toy Library’ which both stemmed from the Gawler Free Kindergarten, still carry Elsie Ey’s name in honour of the role she played in Gawler’s early childhood education. The toy library is located on Church Hill, just a short distance from Elsie’s three former residences (Winstowe, Elstonville and Louvonia) and the Congregational Church Hall where the Kindergarten began.

Compiled by Nikki Wight, with thanks to Elsie Ey’s granddaughter, Thea, for sharing her family history photos and information.

Please <click here> to view photos of Elsie Ey.



References

Hutchinson Hospital, East Terrace
Hutchinson Hospital, East Terrace


Memories of Ey Elsie

Do you remember Ey Elsie ? Then Join up and add your memory here.

Support our sponsors!

Retrieved from "https://gawlerhistory.com/index.php?title=Ey_Elsie&oldid=14135"