OPPERMAN, Lorraine Ellen

It was our privilege to get to know you a little in our ukulele classes. You were always warm and friendly and displayed a lot of determination to learn new skills. Rest in peace now.

When Mum talked about her childhood with me , it was mostly about her father Frank. Words mum used to describe Frank were, kind , gentle, patient .

Mum was intelligent, this lead her to being an intern at melbourne university in the science labs. It was in this time of her life she met Neville and they married as young sweet hearts. Neville was an aircraft mechanic and with the sniff of adventure the pair headed off to America. Neville became a pilot and with the same adventurous spirit they took on the challenge of opening up an airstrip on the island of Tortola in the B.V.I. Mums first child Kathy was born in Jamaica and two years later Gary (me) was born in Puerto Rico. One day Neville took off but never returned both he and his plane vannished never to be seen again.
Mum wth two small children arrived back in melbourne airport with the clothes they wore and one suitcase . Mum relied heavily on Frank for sometime. Finally the efforts abroad proved to be fruitful and mum bought a house in Melbourne . It is at 5 holzer street that i have my first memory of Ian.

Ian had a connection with Torquay and after marrying mum we moved to fishermans beach in the early seventies . Then with everything the couple could scrape together we moved to Grossmans road, and shortly afterwoods mum and Ian had Anthony

Torquay in the seventies and eighties

Yes mum was a hippy more a flower child , Groovy ,Attractive, not a care in the world.
No one elses mum came close to my mum when it came to having fun. Sometimes borderline irresponsible .
Mum marched to the beat of her own drum and was the only mum i new that a had a full time job . Mum had gone back to universty and learned about these new things called computers. Slowly she worked her way up in the male dominated work force , eventually retiring from her position at the advanced institute for education.

Grandma
Mum and Ian , moved north and again embraced the lifestyle to the fullest , as well as working .
Grandma one day impressed all the grand kids by inviting every one to the most magnificent facilities at an amazing golf resort swimming pool.
Grandma made everyone carry the same green and white striped towels and enter in groups of two maybe threes, turns out Grandma had cracked the code and we wouldnt raise the suspicion of secuirity . Grandma loved this sort of adventure and it was pretty impressive , even if it was a little devious.

I just wanted to put a few thoughts and memories down for Mums friends that knew her , but mum was an enigma .

GAZ

Lorraine I always loved playing golf with you down at Torquay. You always called me Mikey.
Reunited with Ian.