Her career of community service spanned 48 years. She
started as a child welfare nurse; then night-shift mail-sorter (when her
children were young); then some social work study; a cultural development
worker for Botany Council; a facilitator for South Sydney Community Aid; and
finally the Aboriginal Resource Centre, where she managed, among other things,
the funding of sport Sydney-wide.
Brenda is survived by her children (Paula, Keith, Tricia and
Belinda), and the rest of us, whom she served. Her work is done. She is greatly
missed – now and into the future, and on all fronts. She is not replaceable in
any immediate sense of the word. She will be a continuing inspiration to those
who seek to follow.
Brenda’s life was celebrated firstly with a funeral service
held at St Therese Catholic Church at Mascot on June 20. The building was
packed to standing-room only by about 400 mourners. It was a very ecumenical
affair. Starting with the immediate family, the gathering encompassed extended
family; ex-family; and Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal friends, neighbours and
colleagues. The modern Catholic liturgy was supplemented with an
even-more-modern silent Power-Point presentation of pictures of Brenda with
family and friends, which ran throughout the service; and a more traditional
didgeridoo, played as part of the eulogies.
The first eulogy was given by her brother, Tuna’ Vea Vea. He
told of her early life in Rockhampton – being born in a segregated labour ward;
their home had no bathroom. She moved to Sydney;
married ‘Prof’ John Maling; and lived in community at Maroubra (with her
in-laws); then at Eastlakes.
Daughter Paula gave the next eulogy. She told of Brenda’s
active mothering – like making clothes and cooking cakes and canteen duty. Also
that Brenda, in her time, was a pioneer cheer-leader for the Balmain Tigers.
The SSCA job was not 9 to 5 – much after-hours ‘home’ work involved helping
desperate people. She thought Brenda was
most forgiving of her rebellious teenage years.
The next eulogy was given by
three grandchildren-cousins – Kalkani, Grant and Ashton. They told of
the predictable, but welcome, pyjama Christmas presents; her similar
consistency in watching them play sport. Then there was her tolerance in
letting them watch anything they liked on TV, except for the ‘bogeyman’.
Young neighbour Danny Bruce told of Brenda’s extensive
‘mothering’ in the community when he, and her children, were young. This is
probably where the ‘Aunty Bren’ tag came from. Finally ex-son-in-law Sean
Choolburra played his didgeridoo.
After the service, the celebrations continued with the
burial at Eastern
Suburbs Memorial
Park, Matraville, and a wake at the Yarra Bay
Sailing Club.
Tributes to Brenda are invited from SSH readers, via letters
to the editor, for publication in our next edition.
Source:
South Sydney Herald July 2008 www.southsydneyherald.com.au