Commemorative Speech - Manuscript

Commemorative Speech

It was 100 years ago that one of the greatest ships ever, the Titanic, crashed into an iceberg and sank.  Over a thousand people died and many lost friends and family. It was one of the biggest tragedies ever. Just 4 months earlier a few days after Christmas in the summer heat of outback Australia, in a time of horse drawn carriages, with no planes, electricity, or TV, a young dairy farming couple gave birth to their first child. This child would be one who would bless many. One who would be a great example. One who would always put others before themself. One who would stand firm in any trial and remain faithful to God. This child was my Grandma. To me, and all those who knew her, she was an amazing woman. Although she lived on the other side of Australia, she was a great example for me. Today I would like to pause and praise my Grandma, Sarah Marie Paull. I would like to share her life with you and some of my memories of her and show how she was such a great example for me. Because my Grandma was an amazing woman.

My Grandma was the oldest of 5 children. She had two sisters and two twin brothers. She grew up on a diary farm in Queensland, Australia. Throughout her childhood she was always working on the farm. The nearest high school was so far away that only really talented or rich kids went there. Her parents had the money to send one of their kids to school but although Grandma was the oldest she suggested they send one of her sisters. Even though she wanted to go. This is the kind of person I knew. She would always put others before herself. When she was older she was a very good dressmaker so she started a small business dressing. She enjoyed this a lot and even made clothes for the family and herself. Going through our photo albums we noticed she wore a lot of the same clothes for the last 60 years. So she must have been a good dressmaker.

Not long after she left home she needed to return to help her Mum when her Dad had a stroke. So she stayed on the farm during the Second World War. Grandma and her mum invited soldiers back from church for sing alongs around the piano and that's when she met my Grandpa.

After the war they got married in 1945 in Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, then moved down to Melbourne where Grandpa came from. They lived with his parents for their first year of married life until they could afford to rent a home.

They built their own home and moved in in 1955, which is where Grandma lived until she was 96. She then moved into a nursing home in 2008 where she lived until she was 99.

This sounds like a reasonable life, but it was not always easy for my Grandma. She had many struggles but kept her faith in God and remained strong. My Grandma was an amazing woman.

God hath not promised skies ever blue,
Flower-strewn pathways
Always for you.
God hath not promised
Sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow,
Peace without pain;
But He hath promised
Strength from above,
Unfailing sympathy,
Undying love.

This was my Grandma’s favourite poem. She never complained when sorrow or pain came her way. She faced many trials in her life but she always found her strength in the Lord. Her first son died at birth. His name was David. This was hard but my Grandma drew her strength from God and a few years later she gave birth to my Dad. In 1967 my Grandpa was suffering with leukaemia. My Grandma nursed him at home until he died in 1968. She had lost a child and the man she loved, and still had two kids to raise. I do not understand how my Grandma could be so strong. Her trust in God is the only way I can explain it. She never questioned God and continued to raise her children with Christ at the centre. My Grandma was an amazing woman.

She also knew that God had an undying love for us and everyday she shared that love with others. She never thought of herself first but was always willing to help those in need.

My Grandma never forgot a birthday or Christmas card, but then she never wanted anything for Christmas in return.   If anyone ever bought her anything, she’d say, “you shouldn’t have done that.  I’ve got everything I need.” 

She was always giving of her time and money without expecting anything in return, and had a real servant heart.  My Grandma was an amazing woman.

When she came to visit us in Bunbury, she’d always try and help my mum out with the ironing, cleaning & gardening.  One time she came over, I had a bet with my brother. He bet that she would start ironing our clothes the day after she arrived. But I won the bet because she started ironing within a few hours of arriving. My Mum would tell her to just relax instead, but Grandma always used to say, “I’m not a rocking chair Grandma, I want to help”. My Grandma was an amazing woman.

I remember hearing about how she got her drivers license. She was asked if she had ever driven into a tree. She said no and so the man gave her, her licence. That’s it. Despite such a vigorous testing process, she never bothered to drive much and would always walk everywhere, whether it was to church, the shops or the park.  Over the years, she always used to say, “I’m not getting older.  The hills are just getting steeper.” 

She lived on her own for 35 years but eventually moved into a nursing home at the age of 96. She suffered a fall not long after moving in so she upgraded to a walker. I can still picture her with her huge grin as she speeds around the corridors with the rest of us struggling to keep up. If they had organised a walker race there she would’ve won hands down.  Even Dad sometimes had trouble keeping up with her walking, so he’d repeatedly ask her if she wanted to sit down, more for his benefit than hers.

Grandma loved making jokes and making as all laugh. Whenever it came to our hair she would always make fun of us. When we woke up or got out of the shower she would say, “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Or. “You look like you’ve stuck your finger in an electric socket” She would have a cute little smug smile on her face, because she was proud of the joke she’d made.  She’d say it every time one of us had spiky hair but every time she still made us laugh.

Another example of her great sense of humour was when my cousin, Amanda who at the time was 28 use to say to Grandma, that she wasn’t allowed to die until Amanda got married. Grandma would laugh at her and jokingly say  “I don’t know if I can wait that long.”

My Grandma blessed many. She was an example to many. She always put others before herself. She stood firm in any trial. She remained faithful to God. To me, and all those who knew her, my Grandma was an amazing woman.

Finally I would like to share with you a message from my Grandma to all her Grandchildren.

“My wish and prayers for you all is that you will be able to withstand the pressures of the world and grow in faith in God with the Bible as your guide.  Also trust God to guide you in what you do and undertake.  My prayer for you is that you will all grow up as people of good character, trusting in God.  As long as I live, I will be praying for you.  With love, Grandma.”

She was an amazing Grandma who was always loving, caring and giving to all of her grandchildren.

Grandma, we all miss you dearly and you will be loved and in our hearts forever.