LAY, Mrs Mabel Evelyn (May) B.E.M

Mabel Evelyn ‘May’ LAY, BEM

25/03/1895 - 01/03/1982

May Lay’s life was one of energy, compassion and service to her community, particularly through her work for veterans.

Mabel Evelyn White, known as May, was born in Marylebone, London on 25 March 1895. She won a scholarship to Capland Street School, and at 20 years of age was working for a London doctor.  When war broke out in 1914, May became involved with the VAD (Voluntary Aid Detachment).  Volunteers were trained in first aid and worked through the British Red Cross and the Society of St John, meeting the troop trains carrying wounded soldiers from the front.  May was 21 when she met Pte Edward (Ted) Lay of ‘A’ Coy, 8th Battalion, 1st AIF, recently returned from Gallipoli and Pozieres, and hospitalised at the Fresham Military Hospital in London.  They were married on 2 June 1917 in London and six weeks later Ted returned to Australia alone.  Their first son, Vern, was born in February 1918.

May arrived in Australia from London as a war bride in February 1919, after a 49 day voyage with a 12-month old baby.  With her husband Ted, she moved to the Sutton Park soldier settlement block in Newlyn.  Whilst enduring the hardships of establishing their home and farm, followed by the Great Depression, six more children were born between 1919 and 1934. They continued to reside in the little 2 bedroom house, named Picadilly Villa, at Sutton Park, farming continuously until Ted’s death in July 1966.

May joined the Women’s Committee of the Sutton Park Soldier Settlers’ Association. These new farmers faced many difficulties in the early years, with poor prices for potatoes and oats, small acreages, the need to keep up with repayment schedules, often little or no farming experience, and, of course, the looming Depression of the 1930’s.  Many of the settlers became very active in the local community.  In 1925, Ted became the Secretary of the Newlyn Branch of the RSL and, so began May’s 60 year association with this branch.

In 1948, the women who had supported their men in the RSL since its inception in an unofficial capacity, formed their own organisation, the Women’s Auxiliary.  The role of this group was to support local soldiers’ families in time of need:  to support State level projects, to assist the local sub-branch of the RSL in organising social occasions and to provide a regular social outlet for women with similar experiences.  May, who was already a well-known local activist for ex-service people, was elected the first President, and continued to be re-elected as President for the next 30 years, with only two breaks in 1952 and 1960, when she acted at Vice President.

Minutes of the Women’s Auxiliary committee describe the wide range of activities conducted throughout those years including annual Military Balls, socials, raffles, bus trips and fundraisers of all kinds.  More than 13,800 pounds were donated to the sub-branch’s Welfare Fund from 1948 until 1966 and more than $8,000 from 1967 until 1998.  The Auxiliary also provided more personal assistance to members and to local families of veterans in times of bereavement and difficulty.

In 1968 a Farewell Evening was arranged by the Auxiliary for John Richardson of Blampied who was being sent to Vietnam with a presentation from all in the district.  When John was severely wounded and hospitalised the Auxiliary regularly sent him parcels of cigarettes and sweets.

May was a delegate to the annual Auxiliaries Conferences in Melbourne for many years and was described as instrumental in bringing unity to the many RSL Women’s Auxiliaries in Victoria (by the 1960’s there were more than 300 in Victoria).  In 1968 May was recommended to the State Headquarters of the RSL for their highest distinction, an Award of Merit and a Gold Medal for her outstanding work for the Auxiliary, which was presented to her at the RSL Ball in Newlyn in July of that year.  In 1975, May was made an RSL Life Member after 50 years of service to the Newlyn branch.

During World War II May was State President of the RSL War Service Fund at ANZAC House.  Her son Vern was in the 2nd AIF.

All 7 Lay children attended the Newlyn Primary School.  In 1933, the first Mothers’ Club at Newlyn was formed in the depths of the Depression, with the aim of raising money to assist the school with purchases of equipment and books.  May was a member of the first committee and subsequently went on to become President.  She was later instrumental in the establishment of the first school bus run from Newlyn to the Daylesford Technical School.  May went on to become the Country Vice President of the Victorian Federation of Mothers’ Clubs and subsequently the President of the Federation of State Schools Mothers’ Clubs as renamed in the late 1950’s, representing over 850 schools.

Right up until her death in 1982, May was active in many aspects of her community, including:

President of the Local Boys Fund  – an organisation which sent comforts to servicemen.

President of the local Red Cross.

Secretary of the Newlyn Mothers’ Club.

President of the Dean branch of the Country Women’s Association.

President of the Methodist Ladies Guild.

Senior Vice President of the Newlyn branch of the Australian Women’s National League.

May was elected Honorary Life Governor of the Ballarat & District Hospital in 1947.  That same year May travelled back to England to see her siblings and father.  Her sister Violet had married George Bean and migrated to Australia in 1928.  Whilst in England, May addressed a Women’s Institute meeting, presumably about her life in Australia.

After the death of her husband Ted in 1966, May continued to live at Picadilly Villa with her eldest son Vern.  Her grandson Ross Dimond remembers her saying she would sit on the verandah looking out on her life and thinking of her family back in England, then laugh at herself when she heard kookaburras laughing across the property,  She always said “Go through life, trying everything once.”

On 12 June 1976, May Lay was awarded the British Empire Medal (Civil), nominated by the RSL for “her long and devoted services to the Returned Services League and the community”.

In 2005, May was named as one of four inaugural entries in the Hepburn Shire’s Women’s Honour Roll.  The citation reads in part: During hard times and with a clear sense of purpose and humour, May would attend those in need, never sparing a thought for herself.”

May died in Creswick on 1 March 1982.  By her family she is remembered for her hard work and humour, She herself declared that she was proud of all her children who were, ‘all good citizens’. Her grandchildren remember a special Nana who loved them.  Veterans honoured her for her caring and support for their causes because, ‘she knew what the soldiers went through’. An obituary published by the Creswick Advertiser quoted a ‘respected local citizen’ saying ”All my life she has been a first class citizen. They’re rare you know”.

For this rarity, May Lay is well-deserving of a place on the Creswick Civic Honour Roll.