Vera

My mother Vera Last, 1958

Vera (Grannie) feeding Rebecca, 1958












I need to balance unkind things I've said about my mother Vera Last with praise for her indomitable spirit and sense of purpose in raising two rambunctious boys on her own - a single mother - from the early 1930s.  The fruits of her labours were highly successful passage through school and university of her two sons, myself and my brother Peter. She supported and sustained us, instilled in us values of hard work, industriousness, diligence, single-minded pursuit of excellence. Throughout our childhood she demonstrated extraordinary devotion as she raised us on her own, ensured that we had what we needed to succeed scholastically. There were innumerable happy times as she explored the Adelaide Hills and accessible holiday spots with us in her little car, singing from her small repertoire of vintage 1920s and earlier popular songs in a voice that had much more enthusiasm than talent. She always kept us in close contact with our extended Judell family - her brothers and sisters and their children, our cousins. And she maintained an active social life with bridge and tennis parties among her friends and golf in the brief winter months.

Lester Judell, Vera Last, Eric Judell, 1960

Vera with two of her surviving three brothers











Vera means true. I've never known anyone whose name more accurately reflected who and what she was.