GRACE PAGRAM

BORN 1914

nee Hart (Stevens)

Grace was born in Koroit, South Western Victoria. She had three Sisters – Pearl, Marian and Amy. Also there were three Brothers – John, Harold and Sidney.

Her Father was John Thomas Hart and her Mother was Elizabeth Ann Hart (nee Edwards). Quite ironically, both of her parents died on the same day but in far distant parts of the world. They died in 1917 – her Dad on the battlefields of France during the first world war and her Mum at home on the farm from a bladder infection. She was 3 years old at this time.The local community made arrangements for the children to be adopted out. Mr and Mrs Stevens from Port Fairy called at the farm with the intention of adopting the baby of the family - one year old Amy. They however took a fancy to Grace.  Robert and Elizabeth Stevens became Mum’s new parents – the only ones that she can remember. They had a Hardware Store in Port Fairy and her Dad served as Mayor of Port Fairy – more than once. She had two much older new Sisters – May who was 10 years older and Margaret (Maggy) who was 15 years older.

Grace went to Port Fairy State School and then on to the local High School – her favorite sport was Hockey. She left school after the Intermediate Year at the age of 16 years. That same year her Stepmother died – 1930. After her Mother died, her Dad asked her if she would like to further her education at the Methodist Ladies College in Melbourne. Mum qualified for a scholarship through the Legacy Organization because her birth Dad had died in action during the War. One of Mum’s school friends was going and she would have some company. She declined this invitation and decided to go to Melbourne and get a job. This was during the Great Economic Depression and jobs were hard to get – impossible in a country town – although she could have got a job in her Dad’s Hardware Store but she did not want that. So, in early 1930 Mum took the steam train to Melbourne and got lodgings with a family in Richmond close to the football ground. Her Sister May was also in Melbourne and could keep an eye on her.

Her Dad assisted her to get introductions for job interviews. Her first job was with her Dad’s Business Insurer as a Junior Clerk/Messenger. She hated the mundane work and complained about this to her older Sister May. May took her to the Myer Department Store for a job interview. It was her first time in a Lift. She walked into this little room – not realizing what it was. The door closed and they were suddenly rising – she remembers starting to scream in fright and then fainted. She got a job with Myer. Firstly as an Office Assistant for 6 months but she was not suited to Office work. Her skills were more creative and hands-on. She took up a Traineeship in Soft Furnishings where she learnt to become a Sewing Machinist creating drapes and curtains. She also did carpet repairs by hand. Grace met Reginald Cyril Pagram through her older Sister May. He was at the house of May’s parents in law when Mum called to visit May. The next day a group of them went for a picnic in a horse and cart.

They were married at the Kew Baptist Church. Her Older Sister May’s – Husband Allan gave her away at the wedding. They could not afford a wedding reception. Mum’s Sisters and their families attended. On Reg's side, his Parents attended but none of his brothers or sisters. Their first lodgings in married life were in a boarding house in East Melbourne for a year. Then for 6 months they rented a small house in Richmond near Dimmeys Department Store. Then they rented a house at 25 Brougham Street, Kew – Reg's Mum mentioned that it was becoming available for rent.

For a few years, they lived at 44 Brougham Street before they bought there first house at 59 Earl Street, Kew North.Grace is still alive and living in Chelsea Victoria.