Monica was only 20 when she was tragically killed in an aircraft accident, she was my Mothers best friend. Monica and her boyfriend pilot were flying to the Taree Aquatic Carnival where her boyfriend James Morgan was going to participate in a speed boat race. More then 500 people watched in horror as the plane a single engine Wackett went into a steep dive and crashed nosed first onto Dumaresq Island in the Manning River. The plane burst into flames on impact and rescuers were unable to get near the plane because of the intense heat. Tragically they both died.
On hearing the news on the radio my Mother ran to her home where Monica had lived with her Father and younger siblings. Her Father came crying to the door wailing, "Not my Monie, Not my Monie", he still had the lipstick mark on his face where she had kissed him goodbye that morning. He had said that he has tried to dissuade her from going but she had laugh and said, "It was perfectly safe".
Monica and my Mum both met at the cafe where they worked and became best friends. As you can see from her picture she was a very attractive girl which meant she was never without an admirer. She loved to sing and act and wanted to be an movie star and was in a number of plays in her home town. She loved to fly and was a licensed pilot. She was raised by her Father as her Mother who was an alcoholic had abandon the family. Monica took on the role as Mother to her brothers and sisters and was deeply loved by them. Monica had a heart of gold but because of small town mentality not many people were privileged to it. When she had a son at the age of 17 she was ostracized, one because she was unmarried and two because he was disabled. She was advised to put him in a home and forget about him but that wasn't even an option for Monie, she kept him and used to wheel him in his pram with her head held high just like all the other Mothers.
Her death left her family shattered and her father couldn't bear to tell his children Monie had died. It used to break his heart when visitors would come to the door because the children would rush to the door thinking it was their Monie coming home.
Of course years later they found out and were heartbroken but Monica's legacy lived on. Years later until the late 70's in Monica's home town of Adamstown locals were used to being greeted by a friendly young man that would walk the streets and visit the store keepers. He was always ready for a chat and would give a smile and a wave to every one that walked by and of course every one knew .... that was Monica's son ♥
On hearing the news on the radio my Mother ran to her home where Monica had lived with her Father and younger siblings. Her Father came crying to the door wailing, "Not my Monie, Not my Monie", he still had the lipstick mark on his face where she had kissed him goodbye that morning. He had said that he has tried to dissuade her from going but she had laugh and said, "It was perfectly safe".
Monica and my Mum both met at the cafe where they worked and became best friends. As you can see from her picture she was a very attractive girl which meant she was never without an admirer. She loved to sing and act and wanted to be an movie star and was in a number of plays in her home town. She loved to fly and was a licensed pilot. She was raised by her Father as her Mother who was an alcoholic had abandon the family. Monica took on the role as Mother to her brothers and sisters and was deeply loved by them. Monica had a heart of gold but because of small town mentality not many people were privileged to it. When she had a son at the age of 17 she was ostracized, one because she was unmarried and two because he was disabled. She was advised to put him in a home and forget about him but that wasn't even an option for Monie, she kept him and used to wheel him in his pram with her head held high just like all the other Mothers.
Her death left her family shattered and her father couldn't bear to tell his children Monie had died. It used to break his heart when visitors would come to the door because the children would rush to the door thinking it was their Monie coming home.
Of course years later they found out and were heartbroken but Monica's legacy lived on. Years later until the late 70's in Monica's home town of Adamstown locals were used to being greeted by a friendly young man that would walk the streets and visit the store keepers. He was always ready for a chat and would give a smile and a wave to every one that walked by and of course every one knew .... that was Monica's son ♥
Monica was only 20 when she was tragically killed in an aircraft accident, she was my Mothers best friend. Monica and her boyfriend pilot were flying to the Taree Aquatic Carnival where her boyfriend James Morgan was going to participate in a speed boat race. More then 500 people watched in horror as the plane a single engine Wackett went into a steep dive and crashed nosed first onto Dumaresq Island in the Manning River. The plane burst into flames on impact and rescuers were unable to get near the plane because of the intense heat. Tragically they both died.
On hearing the news on the radio my Mother ran to her home where Monica had lived with her Father and younger siblings. Her Father came crying to the door wailing, "Not my Monie, Not my Monie", he still had the lipstick mark on his face where she had kissed him goodbye that morning. He had said that he has tried to dissuade her from going but she had laugh and said, "It was perfectly safe".
Monica and my Mum both met at the cafe where they worked and became best friends. As you can see from her picture she was a very attractive girl which meant she was never without an admirer. She loved to sing and act and wanted to be an movie star and was in a number of plays in her home town. She loved to fly and was a licensed pilot. She was raised by her Father as her Mother who was an alcoholic had abandon the family. Monica took on the role as Mother to her brothers and sisters and was deeply loved by them. Monica had a heart of gold but because of small town mentality not many people were privileged to it. When she had a son at the age of 17 she was ostracized, one because she was unmarried and two because he was disabled. She was advised to put him in a home and forget about him but that wasn't even an option for Monie, she kept him and used to wheel him in his pram with her head held high just like all the other Mothers.
Her death left her family shattered and her father couldn't bear to tell his children Monie had died. It used to break his heart when visitors would come to the door because the children would rush to the door thinking it was their Monie coming home.
Of course years later they found out and were heartbroken but Monica's legacy lived on. Years later until the late 70's in Monica's home town of Adamstown locals were used to being greeted by a friendly young man that would walk the streets and visit the store keepers. He was always ready for a chat and would give a smile and a wave to every one that walked by and of course every one knew .... that was Monica's son ♥
On hearing the news on the radio my Mother ran to her home where Monica had lived with her Father and younger siblings. Her Father came crying to the door wailing, "Not my Monie, Not my Monie", he still had the lipstick mark on his face where she had kissed him goodbye that morning. He had said that he has tried to dissuade her from going but she had laugh and said, "It was perfectly safe".
Monica and my Mum both met at the cafe where they worked and became best friends. As you can see from her picture she was a very attractive girl which meant she was never without an admirer. She loved to sing and act and wanted to be an movie star and was in a number of plays in her home town. She loved to fly and was a licensed pilot. She was raised by her Father as her Mother who was an alcoholic had abandon the family. Monica took on the role as Mother to her brothers and sisters and was deeply loved by them. Monica had a heart of gold but because of small town mentality not many people were privileged to it. When she had a son at the age of 17 she was ostracized, one because she was unmarried and two because he was disabled. She was advised to put him in a home and forget about him but that wasn't even an option for Monie, she kept him and used to wheel him in his pram with her head held high just like all the other Mothers.
Her death left her family shattered and her father couldn't bear to tell his children Monie had died. It used to break his heart when visitors would come to the door because the children would rush to the door thinking it was their Monie coming home.
Of course years later they found out and were heartbroken but Monica's legacy lived on. Years later until the late 70's in Monica's home town of Adamstown locals were used to being greeted by a friendly young man that would walk the streets and visit the store keepers. He was always ready for a chat and would give a smile and a wave to every one that walked by and of course every one knew .... that was Monica's son ♥
