Nan was happy as a teenager, going to dances with her girlfriends and singing at every opportunity. But something bad happened to Nan, her mother divorced her father and they fled to Australia.
She arrived in Melbourne in 1951 with her mother Annie (who later married Fred), joining her brother Alan Hulme and sister Marjorie (who later married Frank Cole). Nan was recognised as a beautiful singer and dancer, with the Argus newspaper on Apr 2, 1952 saying:
"Nineteen-year-old Nan Hulme of Oakleigh left Manchester 12 months ago to begin life anew in Australia. She and her golden voice have gone a long way since. A keen modern music fan, Nan works as a typiste by day; and sings by night with Melbourne dance bands. For her candidature as "Miss Freeman's Dances" for the Women's Hospital, Nan has organised modem music concerts in the Collingwood Town Hall tonight and on April 9."
In the Argus newspaper of Apr 29, 1952: "Nan Hulme (pictured) has high hopes of success in the Miss Teenage contest, which closes tomorrow. Nan is "Miss Freeman's Dances" and she has been helped by Friday night dances in the Freemasons' Hall." In the Age newspaper of Aug 7, 1953, she is listed as being in a Talent Tote competition singing "Pretty Baby", just released by Dean Martin in 1952.
Nan married Edwin McIntosh in 1954 and lived in the Melbourne suburb of Clayton, giving birth to Robert, Alex and Alistair. After five years, her husband moved the family to the country town of Sale, removing her from her mother, brother and sister.
Five years later, they moved to the industrial country town of Morwell, where she gave birth to Malcolm. Her despondency grew as she increasingly felt disconnected from her family. Three years later, they moved to Hamilton, yet another country town. In Hamilton, the despondency that first became apparent in Morwell developed into a full psychosis, initially labelled as schizophrenia.
A doctor in Hamilton referred Nancy for treatment at the Ballarat Psychiatric Hospital (Lakeside) where she received ECT (Electro Convulsive Therapy) on several occasions. Needless to say, she wasn't the same person on her return! After four years in Hamilton the family moved to another country town of Colac where she was put on drugs to keep her sedated, first oral medications and then intravenous injections at a medical clinic.
Her husband then decided that looking after her was more than he wanted, so he divorced her, leaving her in the care of the public health system. She moved out of home to the nearby city of Geelong, and after that back to Melbourne. Her second son Alex, now estranged from his father, lived with her in Melbourne for a few years before moving on, now out of contact with the family and has been ever since.
In Melbourne she continued to decline with occasional visits from her ex-husband and his new wife, with most of the care falling to her third son Alistair. Her fourth son Malcolm developed psychological problems, moving away from his father to live in Melbourne. Eventually Malcolm took his own life, but by this time Nancy was too far gone herself to be aware. Her first son Robert complied with his wife at the time in minimising contact to avoid the social stigma of a mental disease.
Her final years were spent in nursing homes, showing little recognition of her remaining two sons Robert and Alistair. One of the bright spots was her recognition of her daughter-in-law Becca as her "American" singing companion, who would lead her in many of the old songs of her youth. The words of the old songs would come back to Nancy and she would joyfully sing along with Becca, her favourite "You are my sunshine". Finally she succumbed to an old-age illness with Robert at her bedside.
She arrived in Melbourne in 1951 with her mother Annie (who later married Fred), joining her brother Alan Hulme and sister Marjorie (who later married Frank Cole). Nan was recognised as a beautiful singer and dancer, with the Argus newspaper on Apr 2, 1952 saying:
"Nineteen-year-old Nan Hulme of Oakleigh left Manchester 12 months ago to begin life anew in Australia. She and her golden voice have gone a long way since. A keen modern music fan, Nan works as a typiste by day; and sings by night with Melbourne dance bands. For her candidature as "Miss Freeman's Dances" for the Women's Hospital, Nan has organised modem music concerts in the Collingwood Town Hall tonight and on April 9."
In the Argus newspaper of Apr 29, 1952: "Nan Hulme (pictured) has high hopes of success in the Miss Teenage contest, which closes tomorrow. Nan is "Miss Freeman's Dances" and she has been helped by Friday night dances in the Freemasons' Hall." In the Age newspaper of Aug 7, 1953, she is listed as being in a Talent Tote competition singing "Pretty Baby", just released by Dean Martin in 1952.
Nan married Edwin McIntosh in 1954 and lived in the Melbourne suburb of Clayton, giving birth to Robert, Alex and Alistair. After five years, her husband moved the family to the country town of Sale, removing her from her mother, brother and sister.
Five years later, they moved to the industrial country town of Morwell, where she gave birth to Malcolm. Her despondency grew as she increasingly felt disconnected from her family. Three years later, they moved to Hamilton, yet another country town. In Hamilton, the despondency that first became apparent in Morwell developed into a full psychosis, initially labelled as schizophrenia.
A doctor in Hamilton referred Nancy for treatment at the Ballarat Psychiatric Hospital (Lakeside) where she received ECT (Electro Convulsive Therapy) on several occasions. Needless to say, she wasn't the same person on her return! After four years in Hamilton the family moved to another country town of Colac where she was put on drugs to keep her sedated, first oral medications and then intravenous injections at a medical clinic.
Her husband then decided that looking after her was more than he wanted, so he divorced her, leaving her in the care of the public health system. She moved out of home to the nearby city of Geelong, and after that back to Melbourne. Her second son Alex, now estranged from his father, lived with her in Melbourne for a few years before moving on, now out of contact with the family and has been ever since.
In Melbourne she continued to decline with occasional visits from her ex-husband and his new wife, with most of the care falling to her third son Alistair. Her fourth son Malcolm developed psychological problems, moving away from his father to live in Melbourne. Eventually Malcolm took his own life, but by this time Nancy was too far gone herself to be aware. Her first son Robert complied with his wife at the time in minimising contact to avoid the social stigma of a mental disease.
Her final years were spent in nursing homes, showing little recognition of her remaining two sons Robert and Alistair. One of the bright spots was her recognition of her daughter-in-law Becca as her "American" singing companion, who would lead her in many of the old songs of her youth. The words of the old songs would come back to Nancy and she would joyfully sing along with Becca, her favourite "You are my sunshine". Finally she succumbed to an old-age illness with Robert at her bedside.
Nan was happy as a teenager, going to dances with her girlfriends and singing at every opportunity. But something bad happened to Nan, her mother divorced her father and they fled to Australia.
She arrived in Melbourne in 1951 with her mother Annie (who later married Fred), joining her brother Alan Hulme and sister Marjorie (who later married Frank Cole). Nan was recognised as a beautiful singer and dancer, with the Argus newspaper on Apr 2, 1952 saying:
"Nineteen-year-old Nan Hulme of Oakleigh left Manchester 12 months ago to begin life anew in Australia. She and her golden voice have gone a long way since. A keen modern music fan, Nan works as a typiste by day; and sings by night with Melbourne dance bands. For her candidature as "Miss Freeman's Dances" for the Women's Hospital, Nan has organised modem music concerts in the Collingwood Town Hall tonight and on April 9."
In the Argus newspaper of Apr 29, 1952: "Nan Hulme (pictured) has high hopes of success in the Miss Teenage contest, which closes tomorrow. Nan is "Miss Freeman's Dances" and she has been helped by Friday night dances in the Freemasons' Hall." In the Age newspaper of Aug 7, 1953, she is listed as being in a Talent Tote competition singing "Pretty Baby", just released by Dean Martin in 1952.
Nan married Edwin McIntosh in 1954 and lived in the Melbourne suburb of Clayton, giving birth to Robert, Alex and Alistair. After five years, her husband moved the family to the country town of Sale, removing her from her mother, brother and sister.
Five years later, they moved to the industrial country town of Morwell, where she gave birth to Malcolm. Her despondency grew as she increasingly felt disconnected from her family. Three years later, they moved to Hamilton, yet another country town. In Hamilton, the despondency that first became apparent in Morwell developed into a full psychosis, initially labelled as schizophrenia.
A doctor in Hamilton referred Nancy for treatment at the Ballarat Psychiatric Hospital (Lakeside) where she received ECT (Electro Convulsive Therapy) on several occasions. Needless to say, she wasn't the same person on her return! After four years in Hamilton the family moved to another country town of Colac where she was put on drugs to keep her sedated, first oral medications and then intravenous injections at a medical clinic.
Her husband then decided that looking after her was more than he wanted, so he divorced her, leaving her in the care of the public health system. She moved out of home to the nearby city of Geelong, and after that back to Melbourne. Her second son Alex, now estranged from his father, lived with her in Melbourne for a few years before moving on, now out of contact with the family and has been ever since.
In Melbourne she continued to decline with occasional visits from her ex-husband and his new wife, with most of the care falling to her third son Alistair. Her fourth son Malcolm developed psychological problems, moving away from his father to live in Melbourne. Eventually Malcolm took his own life, but by this time Nancy was too far gone herself to be aware. Her first son Robert complied with his wife at the time in minimising contact to avoid the social stigma of a mental disease.
Her final years were spent in nursing homes, showing little recognition of her remaining two sons Robert and Alistair. One of the bright spots was her recognition of her daughter-in-law Becca as her "American" singing companion, who would lead her in many of the old songs of her youth. The words of the old songs would come back to Nancy and she would joyfully sing along with Becca, her favourite "You are my sunshine". Finally she succumbed to an old-age illness with Robert at her bedside.
She arrived in Melbourne in 1951 with her mother Annie (who later married Fred), joining her brother Alan Hulme and sister Marjorie (who later married Frank Cole). Nan was recognised as a beautiful singer and dancer, with the Argus newspaper on Apr 2, 1952 saying:
"Nineteen-year-old Nan Hulme of Oakleigh left Manchester 12 months ago to begin life anew in Australia. She and her golden voice have gone a long way since. A keen modern music fan, Nan works as a typiste by day; and sings by night with Melbourne dance bands. For her candidature as "Miss Freeman's Dances" for the Women's Hospital, Nan has organised modem music concerts in the Collingwood Town Hall tonight and on April 9."
In the Argus newspaper of Apr 29, 1952: "Nan Hulme (pictured) has high hopes of success in the Miss Teenage contest, which closes tomorrow. Nan is "Miss Freeman's Dances" and she has been helped by Friday night dances in the Freemasons' Hall." In the Age newspaper of Aug 7, 1953, she is listed as being in a Talent Tote competition singing "Pretty Baby", just released by Dean Martin in 1952.
Nan married Edwin McIntosh in 1954 and lived in the Melbourne suburb of Clayton, giving birth to Robert, Alex and Alistair. After five years, her husband moved the family to the country town of Sale, removing her from her mother, brother and sister.
Five years later, they moved to the industrial country town of Morwell, where she gave birth to Malcolm. Her despondency grew as she increasingly felt disconnected from her family. Three years later, they moved to Hamilton, yet another country town. In Hamilton, the despondency that first became apparent in Morwell developed into a full psychosis, initially labelled as schizophrenia.
A doctor in Hamilton referred Nancy for treatment at the Ballarat Psychiatric Hospital (Lakeside) where she received ECT (Electro Convulsive Therapy) on several occasions. Needless to say, she wasn't the same person on her return! After four years in Hamilton the family moved to another country town of Colac where she was put on drugs to keep her sedated, first oral medications and then intravenous injections at a medical clinic.
Her husband then decided that looking after her was more than he wanted, so he divorced her, leaving her in the care of the public health system. She moved out of home to the nearby city of Geelong, and after that back to Melbourne. Her second son Alex, now estranged from his father, lived with her in Melbourne for a few years before moving on, now out of contact with the family and has been ever since.
In Melbourne she continued to decline with occasional visits from her ex-husband and his new wife, with most of the care falling to her third son Alistair. Her fourth son Malcolm developed psychological problems, moving away from his father to live in Melbourne. Eventually Malcolm took his own life, but by this time Nancy was too far gone herself to be aware. Her first son Robert complied with his wife at the time in minimising contact to avoid the social stigma of a mental disease.
Her final years were spent in nursing homes, showing little recognition of her remaining two sons Robert and Alistair. One of the bright spots was her recognition of her daughter-in-law Becca as her "American" singing companion, who would lead her in many of the old songs of her youth. The words of the old songs would come back to Nancy and she would joyfully sing along with Becca, her favourite "You are my sunshine". Finally she succumbed to an old-age illness with Robert at her bedside.
Gravesite Details
This is a plaque only, located at Springvale Botanical Garden, Eucalypt, Garden 2, Bed 14, Rose 20. Her remains are in an undisclosed location.
