Jean was community-minded

COMMUNITY-minded district resident Beatrice Jean Hermon died peacefully on 20 December, aged 94.
Jean was born on 22 October 1915 in Brunswick East, the second child of George Beazley and his wife Jane, of Cardinia.
Jean enjoyed a busy life with her community-minded family – always at the school, hall, church and events within the Beazley family and Cardinia area. Her family had a dairy and vegetable farm.
Jean attended the Cardinia State School, riding to school on her horse Toby even though he was often hard to catch. Jean left school at 14 but assisted the school as a sewing mistress.
Jean played tennis competitively in the Cardinia area and played the organ at church and piano at the regular dances and other events.
After floods of the 1930s Jean, her parents, brother Henry and sister Nancy moved to Emerald.
They made the journey from Cardinia to Emerald in their T-model Ford nicknamed ‘Lizzie’ and their home, Grandview, became a guesthouse. Jean worked at the bakery in Emerald then began to work as sewing mistress at the Macclesfield State School.
War came and the school looked like closing so Jean took on the role of principal.
In 1944 Jean married William John Hermon in Tecoma. Bill’s family was well-known as pioneers in the Dandenongs. Bill began a transport business which has evolved into Hermon Rainbow Removals in Hallam.
Jean began her new life as companion and business assistant /office manager for Bill. John, Joy and Lyn were born.
The family settled in to life in Menzies Creek, and Bill and Jean instigated the building of a hall. Jean helped out with school, church and hall events.
The family regularly attended church at St Cuthbert’s Anglican Church and Jean occasionally played the organ.
Ken was born in 1956 and Ron finally completed Jean’s ‘handful’ of children in 1959.
The family moved to Dandenong briefly then to Pakenham where Bill had established a fuel depot. Jean steadily became a well-known member of the community – at St James Anglican Church, schools, girl guides and scouts, Arthritis Group, the Liberal Party and Weight Watcher’s (Stars) where she became a life-member.
Jean and Bill returned to Menzies Creek in later life and Jean once again involved herself with community issues.
Jean encouraged and supported all of her children and the expanding family group and was always there when needed.
After Bill suffered a stroke, Jean returned to Pakenham to be closer to him and the family. She tirelessly visited with him in the nursing home at Stephenson House in Berwick for five years before Bill died in 2003.
Jean lived her last independent years in a unit in Main Street Pakenham which had been developed on the Hermon family property. She moved to McGregor Gardens (Willow View) Aged Care facility in 2005.
Last year, Jean attended a session with children at the Cardinia Primary School. They avidly listened to her stories of school there almost 90 years ago. Jean was also very touched when asked to attend the 100-year celebration of the Macclesfield Primary School in mid-2009. As the oldest ex-staff member she planted a tree which will hopefully live for another 100 years.
Jean is survived by her sister Nancy, four children, 12 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Jean’s funeral was webcast and is available for viewing on the internet until 23 January. Visit www.tobinbrothers.com.au and follow prompts for Beatrice Jean Hermon Service on 24/12/09.
Memoirs: As a tribute to her mother Lyn McGillivray is planning to write Memoirs of Jean Hermon’s life and how she touched those about her. Family and friends are urged to contribute their recollections of Jean. Thoughts can be sent via email to neilynis1@xtra.co.nz or via other members of the Hermon family.