I feel as if neither woman reached their full potential - they had to cope with the death of Eugenie; a year later their brother Enrico was Killed in Action and two years later their father died. They must have been reeling while trying to cope with all that sadness and grief. Then perhaps things settled down until 1924 when their brother Ettore is committed to the Sunbury Hospital for the Insane and a year later their mother, Catherine died. No wonder the sisters sold up in Victoria and moved to Sydney, trying to leave all that misery and heartbreak behind. I hope they found some happiness there.
This is a timeline of Vera and Enid's life after they left school.
1909 - the first year Vera appears in the Electoral Rolls (ERs) (1). She is living with her parents at 4 Elm Grove at Armadale. Her occupation is Home Duties, that all purpose occupation assigned to most females in those days. Of course, Enid was living at home as well but she was too young to appear in the Electoral Rolls. Glenluce, 4 Elm Grove was removed to make way for the duplication of the railway line between South Yarra and Caulfield in May 1912, read about this here.
1913 - Vera and the family are listed in the ERs at Orrong Road in Elsternwick. This must have been a short-term rental because in another 1913 Roll they are at Wyndham, Blessington Street in St Kilda.
1915 August 1 - Eugenie dies.
1916 July 29 - Enrico Killed in Action at Pozieres.
1918 July 20 - Carlo dies.
1924 - Enid appears in the ERs for the first time. Also listed are her mother and sister and brother Ettore, who was listed on the Rolls from 1915 until 1925. Ettore is a Clerk and Enid's occupation is of course, home duties. The life of Ettore will be the subject of another post.
1924 December 26 - Ettore became of unsound mind and was committed to the Sunbury Hospital for the Insane (2).
1925 August 6 - Catherine dies.
1926 September 18 - The family home, Wyndham, is auctioned. Vera and Enid are at the address until 1927 (3).
1926 October 14 - The Catani property of six acres on Mt Donna Buang Road at Warburton is auctioned (4).
1930 - Vera and Enid are living at 45 Carrabella Street, Kirribilli, Sydney. Vera's occupation is Home Duties and Enid is a Stenographer. The New South Wales ERs are on Ancestry from 1930, so I cannot say for sure where they were between 1927 and 1930. There are two 1930 ERs on Ancestry and the sisters are also listed at 3 Wycombe Road, Neutral Bay. Vera's occupation is listed as a Saleswoman and Enid's occupation is listed as aTypiste.
1932 and 1933 - Enid is living at Hotel Braeburn, Waruda Street, Kirribilli. She is a Stenographer.
Braeburn Hotel, Enid's home
The Sydney Morning Herald, January 2 1931 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16742851
1932 July - Table Talk announced the engagement of Enid to Keith Kenneth McKenzie of Richmond. The marriage did not take place (5).
1932 August 22 - Enid attends the unveiling of the Memorial Clock Tower in St Kilda, erected in honour of Carlo. Read more here.
1933 July 1 - Enid becomes joint proprietor of Special Press Photos.
Newspaper News January 2, 1933
State Library of Victoria Manuscript archives. Image: Isaac Hermann.
The article reads - Miss E.M. Loudon - Relinquishes interest in Special Press: Succeeded by Miss E. Catani. After having been associated with the representation of Special Press in Australia for 15 years, Miss E.M Loudon has relinquished her interest in that business in favour of Miss Enid Catani, who has acted in the capacity of secretary for nearly seven years. In addition to Special Press, Miss Loudon has represented World Wide Photos, Keystone View Co. Inc., International Syndicate, Fox Photos, Blake Fashions and other syndicates. She is now devoting all her time to her advertising agency, which she has carried on for over 20 years. Miss Catani is the daughter of the late Carlo Catani, a former chief engineer of the Public Works Department, Melbourne.
Enid becomes joint proprietor of Special Press Photos
Dun's Gazette for New South Wales Vol. 50 No. 9 (August 28, 1933)
1934 - Elvira is living at 1 Manns Avenue, Neutral Bay, her occupation is 'Home Duties.' I don't know where she was between 1930 and 1934, as she is not listed in the ERs.
Advertisement for a flat at 1 Manns Avenue, Neutral Bay, where Vera lived in 1934.
Sydney Morning Herald, September 26, 1934 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17120388
1934 to 1937- Enid is living at The Oriental, Milson Road, Cremorne, according to the ER's. Her occupation is listed as 'no occupation'. There are no ER's on-line between 1937 and 1943.
1935 July 20 - Enid inserts an In Memoriam notice in The Argus for Carlo.
Enid's In Memoriam notice for her father
The Argus July 20, 1935 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11750011
1937 November 17 - Enid charged with stealing a darning set from David Jones. I find this incredibly sad (not that I am condoning stealing). Like all single women she had to support herself and with two thirds of her wage going on board, Enid was in a fairly precarious position if anything unexpected cropped up.
Enid charged with theft
The Sun November 17, 1937 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article232015215
1937 November 29 - Enid retires from Special Press Photos. I wonder was this retirement linked to the Court case?
Enid retires from Special Press Photos
Dun's Gazette for New South Wales Vol. 58 No. 25 (December 20, 1937)
1943 - Vera is living at 67 Macleay Street, Potts Point. Her occupation is a waitress. She was at this address when she passed away in 1947.
This is the Hotel Braeburn, formerly Astoria and originally Beulah, where Enid lived in Sydney. The building was erected in 1908 and was one of the first high-rises on the Sydney Harbour foreshore. Read more here on the Old Estates for Sale website.
National Museum Image 1986.0117.3763
1943 - 1949 Enid is back at the Hotel Braeburn, Waruda Street, Kirribilli. Her occupation is still a Stenographer.
1947 April 16 - Vera dies at the Crown Street Womens Hospital in Sydney. She is buried at the Waverley Cemetery (7).
Vera's death notice
The Sydney Morning Herald, April 19, 1947 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18022242
1950 October 21 - Enid dies at the Lanchester Private Hosital in Neutral Bay. She is buried at the Waverley Cemetery in the same grave as Vera (8).
Enid's death notice
Sydney Morning Herald October 23, 1950 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18180355
Braeburn Hotel, where Vera lived. I wonder if she had a good view of the Harbour? Braeburn Hotel is the building on the foreshore on the left.
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Acknowledgment - The basis of this timeline was developed by my research colleague, Isaac Hermann. I have added some more facts, descriptions and opinions.
Footnotes
(1) The Electoral Rolls are available on Ancestry.com.
(2) The date of Ettore's admission to the Sunbury Asylum comes from an affidavit signed by Vera and Enid in Carlo Catani's Probate papers at the Public Records Office of Victoria.
(3) The sale of Wyndham was advertised in The Argus of August 21, 1926, see here.
(4) The sale of the Warburton property was advertised in the Lilydale Express of October 1, 1926, see here.
(5) The engagement announcement in Table Talk on July 28, 1932 can be seen here.
(6) & (7) Information from the Central Coast Family History Society; Collection Title: Index to the Charles Kinsela Funeral Directors Registers; Reference: Waverley Church of England on Ancestry.com.
