EVA JEAN COOK was born on the 26th of November 1923 in Surrey Hills, Victoria and was the second addition to the Cook family living at 7 Junction Road. Though she was named after her mother, she was always called by her middle name – Jean – instead.
Between April and July 1927, the Cook family moved to Sydney, New South Wales, where Jean’s father took up employment at the Garden Island Naval Store De-pot. They resided at 1 ‘Meroo’ Gregory Street, Roseville until 1934, when Jean’s father was forced to retire due to his health. The house was listed for auction in late April and sold soon thereafter.
The Cook family returned to Victoria and settled in Sunnycliffs in the far north-eastern corner of the state. Various relatives lived in the vicinity of Sunnycliffs – …show more content…
The block in Sunnycliffs had a tennis court with bark-roofed shacks at its edge to provide shade from the sun and shelter from the heat. It seems that all members of the Cook family besides Tom enjoyed playing tennis to some extent, and, with their court being the only one in the area, it soon became popular with the locals too. Tennis dominated Jean’s memory of her youth. She never lacked practice, nor competi-tors, saying, “We always had a full house…there was always somebody there to play tennis with.” She played most days of the week, especially on weekends, and com-peted in interschool competitions against teams from Renmark and St Arnaud. Her sister, Dot, and best friend, Thelma Newey, played in these competitions as well. In 1938, the school magazine named Jean the best tennis player for Sturt House, Dot the best for Chaffey House, and Thelma the best for Hopetoun House. Jean and Thelma were named again the following year.
Jean in the garden at Junction Street on the 27th of April 1924.
Jean in the arms of her father, Tom, in the backyard of the Junction Road house in late 1923 or early
Between April and July 1927, the Cook family moved to Sydney, New South Wales, where Jean’s father took up employment at the Garden Island Naval Store De-pot. They resided at 1 ‘Meroo’ Gregory Street, Roseville until 1934, when Jean’s father was forced to retire due to his health. The house was listed for auction in late April and sold soon thereafter.
The Cook family returned to Victoria and settled in Sunnycliffs in the far north-eastern corner of the state. Various relatives lived in the vicinity of Sunnycliffs – …show more content…
The block in Sunnycliffs had a tennis court with bark-roofed shacks at its edge to provide shade from the sun and shelter from the heat. It seems that all members of the Cook family besides Tom enjoyed playing tennis to some extent, and, with their court being the only one in the area, it soon became popular with the locals too. Tennis dominated Jean’s memory of her youth. She never lacked practice, nor competi-tors, saying, “We always had a full house…there was always somebody there to play tennis with.” She played most days of the week, especially on weekends, and com-peted in interschool competitions against teams from Renmark and St Arnaud. Her sister, Dot, and best friend, Thelma Newey, played in these competitions as well. In 1938, the school magazine named Jean the best tennis player for Sturt House, Dot the best for Chaffey House, and Thelma the best for Hopetoun House. Jean and Thelma were named again the following year.
Jean in the garden at Junction Street on the 27th of April 1924.
Jean in the arms of her father, Tom, in the backyard of the Junction Road house in late 1923 or early