Jade Jungwirth
For the past 45 years, Judy Stuchbree has been delivering meals across the shire to those in need. Her love of the job is evident as she talks about her many years working with the council.
Much to her delight, and that of her clients, the CEO of the council, Darren Fuzzard, recently went with her on rounds for the final day of her 45th year.
“He was a passenger for my 45th year and helped me deliver all of the meals and also came with me as the driver on my 40th year,” she said.
Silas and Wilma Ellery were living in Elphinstone when their first child, Judith Christine, was born on Christmas Day, 1949. They moved shortly after her birth, coming back to the region briefly when Judy started primary school.
The eldest of six kids, Judy had a lot of responsibilities at home.
“With my mother being away as much as she was, I did a lot of the cooking, although Dad was a good cook too,” she said.
“Dad was one of these people who could sit in a chair and in five minutes, he’d be asleep sitting up.
“One day, living on the farm when we were kids, Dad went to milk a cow, and he fell asleep. The younger two went down to find out where he was because he seemed to be ages, and there he was sitting on the stool, still asleep. So they took the bucket and took the cow out of the barn. When he woke up, there was no milk nor cow,” Judy said.
“We all thought that was hilarious!”
The family moved to Chewton just as Judy was starting Grade 6. Moving schools often had taken a toll on Judy, and she found attending Castlemaine High School difficult.
By the time she was 14, her father decided to take her out of school.
She secured a job at Sterritts milkbar; (now the computer shop in Barker Street), where she enjoyed working for nine years.
“My workmate, Mrs Fox, was in her late fifties. She was really quite strict, but also motherly,” she said.
“We used to make the lunches for the Foundry, Woolen Mill, and Castlemaine North School.
“When I learned to drive, I’d take the station wagon down with all the food in it to the Mill. Back then, they were shunting trains, so you’d have to be there before 12 or they would shut the gates,” she said.
“There was no public transport then, so I rode my bike from Chewton every day.”
She met her husband, Les, while serving at the counter. He was working night shift at the foundry and became a regular customer.
“When he first asked me, I refused,”Judy said.
“But he kept coming in at 4 o’clock, knowing I’d knock off at five. And eventually we went out.”
She continued working until she had her first child, Lynda, in 1973. Two years later, they had a son, Steven
“We look forward to making 60 years married in 2030, and celebrating other birthdays and anniversaries throughout the same year
“We’re proud grandparents, and thankful for all of them. We have also been lucky to have good health.”
Judy has been an active member of the Chewton and Yapeen tennis clubs for a total of 50 years, 35 as treasurer at Yapeen. She used to play hockey, as the goalie, with the Thompson Foundry for almost 20 years and 18 years as a chairperson for the collection of the Salvation Army Red Shield appeal.
The second instalment of Judy’s two-part interview will be published in the Mail next Friday, June 19.