The Schmidt Family.
Samuel Christian Schmidt (born 1872 Amphitheatre, Victoria, died 1944 Sunshine, Victoria), and his wife, Frances Joan Turner born 1874, died 1954 Sunshine), had the following children:-
Lyndsay “Joan” Schmidt.
Maroona.
”I was born at Maroona on the 24 th January 1920, the second youngest of eight. Although christened Lyndsay Joan I have always been known as “Joan”.
I remember:-
Merbein.
Dad now joined the Victorian Railways and was working on the train line from Merbein to Yalta. From memory he also was at Balranald and Moulamein. During our four years there Beatrice, Enid and May married and, after we came to Melbourne in 1928, they remained in the Sunraysia area. Beatrice married a “blockie” and they had their own grape block at Redcliffe; Enid a postal clerk stationed at Irymple (in the 1940s Clyde was postmaster at Broadford); and May a bread carter. They were all well known in terms of bowling circles. Beatrice had two children whilst May and Enid each had one child.
Sunshine.
Dad, Mum, Fred, Claris, Ken and I came to Sunshine in 1928 where Dad continued to work on the railways. He was on the project of a link line from Albion (Bendigo Line) across the Maribyrnong River to Broadmeadows (main Sydney Line). This proved to be very useful during the war. The very steep terrain was a big challenge.
I attended Albion Primary and Williamstown High School – reaching intermediate standard (in those days C. form). Dad suffered a near fatal heart attack in 1934 and was unable to work again so I left to go to an office job to help the family finances.
Cricket.
In 1934 I joined the Hawthorn Ladies Cricket Club when I was fourteen years old. I remember I was longstop and last in to bat. One day I was asked to field in slips and managed to take a couple of catches and from that day until I retired in 1951 I fielded 1 st slip. I worked my way up the ladder and finally found my niche as an opener – being left handed (in batting) was an advantage. I was a medium pace right-handed bowler.
I first represented Victoria when I was seventeen in the 1937-1938 season, the carnival was held in Adelaide with all states competing. All the Australian players from the 1937 tour to England were playing and I was thrilled to be playing with legends such as Peggy Antonio, Nell McLarty, Winnie George, Elsie Dean and Nance Clements. I had moderate success taking 1 for 10, one catch in slips, one run out and made five runs against New South Wales.
1939-1940 was to have a visit from England but this was cancelled through World War II.
I was elected captain of Hawthorn 1941 – 1951.
In 1947 an invitation was received from New Zealand for a five-week tour early in 1948. I was selected and opened for Australia with Amy Hudson of NSW. We toured both islands, playing one test at Basin Reserve in Wellington. The tour was a great success.
November 1948.
England arrived to play a three-test program – to help the Australian selectors the New Zealand touring side played an English 8 at the “Gabba”. As well as playing I was asked to be manager, which was an experience.
New Year’s Day 1949.
Both English and Australian players were invited to the luncheon at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on the occasion of Sir Donald Bradman’s knighthood – we were all thrilled to meet Sir Donald and also all the other famous players
Adelaide Oval 1 st Test won by Australia
Melbourne Cricket Ground 2 nd Test Draw
Sydney Cricket Ground 3 rd Test Draw
(I had a day out with three catches in slips from Amy Hudson’s slow spinners). A newsreel camera took film of the match and this was the first tome we had seen ourselves on screen. Need I say we saw the film several times!?!
England 1951.
We sailed from Melbourne in April on the SS”Mooltan” and after 5 1/2 weeks at sea arrived in England as a close-knit team. We had deck practice and PE exercises to help us keep fit as well as the usual deck sports.
Our test matches were played at Scarborough, Worcester (a second Adelaide Oval) and The Oval.
We visited Lords where we practices at the Nursery Nets and visited the Long Room. There were so many highlights one does not know where to start – Trent Bridge – Edgebaston – Old Trafford – Headingly – meeting the Duchess of Gloucester at Aldershot – Dame Anna Nagle – Stonehenge – Magna Carta – the lovely old castles – suits of armour – moats – drawbridges – we were billeted with Quakers – Buckingham Palace – Soho (they took us to a meal there) – the underground – Windsor Castle – a visit to Eton (yes we did try on their top hats!) – theatres – the Tower and a trip down the Thames to Southend where we played a match.
1951 was Festival Year and all the little villages had their own floral displays – tulips everywhere. Especially in the north we found the people very friendly and interested to hear of conditions in Australia (before we left we were asked to read up on current affairs so we could give an accurate summary when asked.
Written by Joan Tyson.
Marriage and Family.
Joan commenced work as a junior clerk at Lombard’s, a ladies wear store in Melbourne, in 1941. Later in the same year she moved to Dimmey’s of Richmond as a senior ledger keeper with the firm. George Tyson had started at Dimmey’s in 1937.
Joan retired from cricket after the 1951 tour of England and she and George married at Sunshine in 1952. At that time Joan decided to leave paid employment and together they bought a retail dairy, which Joan managed for about two years while George continued in his position at Dimmey’s
David was born in 1954 and Jill arrived in 1957. It was in 1957 that Joan and George moved from the dairy to Surrey Hills where they lived for seventeen years. Jill and David attended Canterbury State School and Joan took a very active part in school activities, in her usual supportive manner. Joan led a very happy life at Albert Street as a loving and caring mother in a pleasant neighbourhood. It was during this time that she joined the Mother’s Union at Saint Paul’s Anglican Church, Canterbury. She remained a member of the Mother’s Union for many years.
Jill and David later went to Camberwell High School where Jill became a House Captain and David was Head Prefect. Joan was a very involved member of the school community and, together with George, was an active committee member of the Parents and Friends association. Joan was also a regular face at the school’s canteen over a lengthy period of time.
In 1973 the family moved to Baird Court, Blackburn South and Joan joined the Mother’s Union at Saint Edward’s Anglican Church. During the late 1970s David and Jill each married
It was in the early 1990s that Joan was first diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, which caused the slow deterioration of her health. George had retired from Dimmey’s in 1998 and in the next ten years they enjoyed many holidays together in various parts of Australia. Joan had great pleasure during this period with her seven grandchildren. Joan’s health failed and in mid 1999 she was admitted to Inala Village where she passed away in March 2003.