Doris McArdle

(nee Hiscock)

3 Feb 1926 - 10 July 2010

Tribute Audio



Beloved Mother, Nan & Great Nan

Wife of Colin Norman McArdle (1918-2002)

To

Kenneth (deceased) & Jenny

Children:
Christoper & Sharon - Jaimee & Cameron
Matthew (deceased - Chantelle & Cody

Trevor & Elisabeth

Children: Paul & Blake

Roger (deceased) & Sandra

Children:
Shane & Jenna - Kooper, Addison, Kolby & Emmison
Kirsty & Heath - Callum & Flynn
Andrew & Kate - Olive, Angus & James

Gregory & Vicki

Children:
Ryan & Athalie - Hugo & Ollie
Nathan & Vy
Reece & Siobhan - Levi


Doris was born in Tailem Bend On Feb 3 1926, the 4 th child of Margaret Lindsay Hiscock (nee Addison) and Percival George Hiscock of Narrung. Doris had 4 siblings, Bill, John, Jean and Alick.

The family owned a dairy farm on the banks of Lake Albert at Narrung where Doris was part of a working family, milking cows and tending farm duties and helping her mother with running the house. The Hiscock’s owned Clydesdale horses which she loved throughout her life. She loved socialising and dancing and being with her family and friends. Doris and her younger brother Alick were close and had lots of fun together. The Hiscocks all were blessed with a cheeky sense of humour! She met Colin Norman McArdle in 1946 and they started dating (much to her parents disapproval as Colin had been married previously and was 8 years her senior).

February 14 1947 Colin and Doris were married and in June 1947 their first son Kenneth Norman McArdle was born. Colin always told the story throughout his life that ‘First babies come anytime” and consequent babies always take 9 months! Colin and Doris moved to Loxton after they were married where Colin worked as a truck contractor for the Loxton Highways constructing roads around the new soldier settlement blocks and the road to the Berri Ferry. They lived in a caravan with a small shack attached which had a kitchen and bathroom. After the birth of Trevor Authur in 1949, 3 blocks of land were purchased in Coomandook township and Doris and Colin and boys moved back. Colins parents Annie and Norman McArdle lived here with other family members. A home was built and Colin worked for the local Peake and District Council operating machinery. Later he branched out to be an earthmoving contractor and started collecting old trucks to wreck and sell parts from. The business and truck wrecking yard still stands 70 years later in 2021.

Doris went from milking cows and looking after the Clydesdales to fixing trucks, earthmoving equipment and cars. Her life resembled nothing she was accustomed to as a child. But She loved working outside, she was never an inside neat and tidy girl and she always helped everyone. Col always had men working for him so she fed and looked after everyone plus helping in the yard and also driving trucks.

In 1951 she gave birth to her third son Roger Allan so she had 3 little boys under the age of 4. Clem and Vi McArdle (Colins brother) and his family also lived just out of Coomandook and they had 6 children so there were plenty of McArdles (mainly boys) to play with each other. In 1956 Doris gave birth to her youngest son Gregory Raymond and now her family was complete – 4 boys. Ken, Trevor, Roger and Greg.

Doris in between working and looking after her family was a strong community person and was involved for many years with the Coomandook Area School being on the committee lobbying for the area school to be built in Coomandook in 1961. There was quite a tussle between the communities of Coonalypn, Peake, KiKi, Yumali and Coomandook to see which community would house the new Area School. Coomandook won and she was mighty proud! She was in the first group of Welfare (now parents and friends) at CAS fundraising and organising many activites for years. Doris was part of the Coomandook CWA branch for over 60 years having held office many times. Visitors and extended family were always calling in and there were endless cups of tea and biscuits and chats. She had many friends near and far. She loved her tennis and watching her boys play sport and was a passionate supporter! Doris called a spade a spade, worked like a man at times, endured many tough times financially and emotionally but had the biggest heart and loving nature.

We all remember summer times at Nans with apricots and peaches being picked from the trees, preserving and stewing fruit and Christmas cooking in the kitchen with a mess everywhere. Biscuits made and given out to all and sundry and lots of hot meals made for anyone who needed one. Her grandchildren were everything to her and her first grandchild Christopher spent most of his early childhood over at nans (would let himself out of his house and wander across to his Nans) where he ate quite a few breakfasts in the company of his grandparents!

Matthew followed in his brother’s footsteps a few years later and there were lots of play dates at Nans. Shane, Kirsty, Amy, Andrew, Ryan, and Nathan always wanted to be at Nans as it was always exciting ‘doing stuff’ with her. There was Duck shooting – plucking the ducks was a big job and the kids liked helping as it was a pretty cool job to do! Amy and Kirsty loved helping Nan cook and Reece as a youngster got to have his own sandpit under the cover of the carport – a big treat probably because he was the youngest. Not so many rules by the time he came along. Christopher, Matthew, Paul, Blake, Shane, Kirsty, Amy, Andrew, Ryan, Nathan and Reece had a special bond with their Nan and will remember her forever. Doris’ daughter in laws held a special place in her heart, Jenny, Liz, Sandra and Vicki.

Doris passed away in the Tailem Bend Hospital 2 weeks after a fall at home.

We love and miss you Nan xxx















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