MARY FLEMING (BON) BROWN (Morva Saunders) (1987)

Miss Bon Brown, who died on 30th May, 1987, had been a member of our Society since its early years and she supplied us with much information about Traralgon. Many of the photographs in our collection are copies of those she lent to us for reproduction.

Mary Fleming Brown (Popularly known as Bon) was born in Hampton, and came to Traralgon with her family where her father purchased the newsagency business from Alf Cross, in about 1920. Bon lived here all her life, except for the years when she was at boarding school, at Lowther Hall, Melbourne. Before and after their parents deaths, the Brown girls conducted the newsagency before selling it to Mr. Ron Skinner.

Incidentally their telephone number was 1.

Bon was a good sport, a good bowler, and an above average golfer. She was a keen card player and many happy hours were spent in her home. But her most loved activity was serving the cause of Red Cross. She was Superintendent, and was always there in times of need, such as bush fires, accidents, etc. She also assisted the Health Department times of need such as bushfires, accidents, etc. 

She also assisted the Health Department when they were inoculating against polio, influenza and diphtheria. Bon and I went together to Government House to receive the Bars to our Long Service Badges, denoting 60 years of service to the Red Cross. Her greatest achievement was the establishment of the Blood Bank at the Central Gippsland Hospital, of which she was a Life Governor. I accompanied her on visits to Red Cross Branch meetings in outlying districts to ensure their co-operation. She was also Treasurer of the Royal Victorian Institute of the Blind - Traralgon Branch - of which her mother was the inaugural President.

Bon's last official engagement was the presentation of the "Bess Fryatt Memorial Bowl" to the Golf Associates. Her sister Bess, who had predeceased her by 3 years, was a champion golfer. Their brother, Rob, of whose naval record they were very proud, died very suddenly after his retirement from the Navy; his 3 sons Gerald, Robert, and Anton and their families, all of whom live in Queensland, were very fond of Bon and she of them, thus creating strong family relationship. Bon's father had asked her to look after her youngest brother, Jack, who had be delicate since infancy, and this duty she performed until his death about 6 weeks prior to her own.

The brick home they had built was demolished to make way for a carpark and Bon then had built for herself and Jack a nice home in James Parade. There are stained glass windows, as a memorial to the Brown family, in the Chapel of St. James' Church of England, Traralgon.

We will always remember Bon as a gracious, lady with a strong sense of duty to the community.