Lillian Isabel Cupitt, nee Gillis (1910-2002)

Lillian Isabel Gillis grew up walking to school each day with her brothers, sisters and a cheerful group of neighbourhood friends. In those early school years, marked by slates, slate pencils and slate rags, and the strict lessons of reading, writing and arithmetic - Lillian discovered her love of English, especially poetry. After school, she often stayed behind to play basketball or tennis and proudly represented the Blair State School in basketball fixtures.

Life at home was filled with simple pleasures. Evenings were often spent gathered around the gramophone, sharing music as a family. On weekends, children from across the neighbourhood came together to play cricket in summer and football in winter. One of Lillian’s happiest memories was the family’s annual holiday to Southport. The journey from Ipswich required a train to Corinda and a connection to Southport, where long walks along the beach became a cherished tradition.

After she completed her schooling she attended "Stots" Business College in Brisbane where she received a grounding in typing, shorthand and bookkeeping. Her first job was in a Brisbane solicitor’s office performing secretarial duties. However, the daily steam‑train commute between Brisbane and Ipswich eventually became too tiring, prompting her return to local work. She found employment at Nixon and Finch’s Cake Shop in Nicholas Street, Ipswich, where she sold cakes, worked the counter, and operated the register. Her shifts began early at half past six or seven in the morning, and ended mid‑afternoon. Lillian remembered the workplace fondly, describing it as friendly and supportive. At that time, young women typically worked only until marriage, with very few married women remaining in employment.

Lillian and Sid welcomed three of their six children during their years on the plantation. She returned to Ipswich for the births of her first two children, while their third child was born at Tweed Heads Hospital. The family remained on the Upper Currumbin plantation until 1939, marking the end of an adventurous and formative chapter of their early married life.