BRIGHTON, Edith Louisa -
Passed away peacefully, aged 106 years, at Ross Robertson Aged Care Home, Victor Harbor SA on Sunday December 6, 2020. Edith was a loving and deeply loved wife of “Gray” (dec) and mother of Barbara, Frances, Linda (dec) and Graham. Also a cherished Nanna of Courtney, Krystle and Kate and a proud and devoted great-grandmother of Harry.
May she rest in peace
BRIGHTON, Edith Louisa -
Family and friends of the late Mrs. Edith Brighton are respectfully informed her Funeral Service will be conducted at St. Margaret’s Anglican Church, Corner Deakin Avenue & Eleventh Street, Mildura on Friday December 11, 2020 at 10.30am. At the conclusion of the service the cortege will proceed to the Mildura Lawn Cemetery, Nichols Point.
If preferred in lieu of flowers, donations to Legacy would be appreciated and can be made at; https://www.legacy.com.au/donate/
Tributes
Kerryn Gledhill
To Barbara, Fran and Graham,
My sincerest condolences to you all as you celebrate the most wonderful and long life of your dear Mother, Edie Brighton.
You were all part of my growing up years as neighbours on the 3rd Soldier Settlers Allocation in Dareton.
As well, Graham and I are the same age and spent many wonderful times at ballet classes for many years.
Together with the Ferry kids – Peter, Robert, Brian and Anne, my brother Brendon and I, along with Fran and Graham (Barb was already on her way to being an international model), all met and connected of a morning – rain, hail or shine, to walk through the bush at the back of Mr. and Mrs. Brighton’s vines, to wait for the school bus to take us all into Mildura High School.
Those growing up years were and still are very memorable to me.
Because of Barbara, Fran, Graham’s and my attending the Mildura and District Ballet Guild from age 5, it meant really getting to know each other’s parents as well to car pool and share the load during say, the busy picking season..
Mrs. Edie Brighton was a large part of my impressionable years. I can still see her at the wood stove, beautifully dressed, with her pinny on and as she stood under 5 feet tall, she would wear stiletto court shoes in her kitchen. I remember a beautiful pair of cherry red ones on one visitation inside the house and there she was dressed up and stirring a big pot in her red stilettos. The contradiction to that was I can still see Mrs. Brighton driving their Fergie tractor for Mr. Brighon at their racks as the fruit was tipped on to be spread. For that occation, she always wore a crisp white shirt and a big straw hat that covered her tiny frame. It was what most of the neighbourhood ladies had to do in order to help and keep wages down.
I remember Mrs. Brighton as a very bright and welcoming ‘mother figure’. She was ahead of her time in believing in the benefits of herbs. I remember a very big book she would show me and read to me about the the medicinal properties of alternate medication. I remember her telling me many times that she didn’t believe in doctors and everything was curable with herbs and plants.
The Gledhill and Brighton families have stayed connected all these years and I certainly intend to keep up contact. I will be ringing you shortly Fran !!!
Today as you farewell your beloved mother, you are also farewelling a remarkable woman. She stood for the betterment of women, she was intelligent as before her marriage she was a teacher and as a young Miss Blackburn, taught my mother. She was a member of a closeknit community of women in the late 50s, 60s and 70s who proudly were a part of CWA. She created and encouraged her three children to dance and Fran moreso, to play the piano beautifully. In an era where not many boys did classical ballet, Graham, supported all the way by his mother and also with the support of this closeknit community, flourished as a dancer and was a very good dancer at that. He and I were often partnered together or did duos or trios and I know he loved his dancing as much as I Ioved mine. Mrs. Brighton, along with my mother June Gledhill, were on the Committee of the newly formed Mildura & District Ballet Guild and were the ones who got in, got their hands dirty and worked. I remember many cake stalls to raise funds for the teachers’ wages, sets and paint for our productions and to subsidise in any way that was necessary. That Ballet Guild Committee still exists today because of pioneering women like Edie Brighton and many more I could mention who were on the original Committee from 1959. The Mildura Ballet & Dance Guild has just celebrated it’s 60th year and I am welcome to go and watch classes whenever I am home and I can proudly say it is booming and in very good shape..
Rest in peace Mrs. Edith Louisa Brighton. A remarkable job well done here on this mortal coil.
I shall never forget you, nor will I ever forget being so welcomed into your home and bosom really.
A bittersweet day for you all Barbara, Fran and Graham – sadness will prevail but what an amazing achievement to get to 106 years young and remain so vital to the end.
I truly do believe it was all those herbal concoctions Mrs. Brighton. However, you are now in the loving care of Our Lord.
Much love to the family
Most sincerely – Kerryn Gledhill, Ballarat, Victoria.