By Alva “Bobbie” Davies

Early Years

Alva was born on 29th day of September 1928 in the small Gippsland town of Tynong. She was born at home with just a midwife in attendance on her mother. Her father was Francis William Cowen, age 34. Railway employee, and her mother was Geraldine Maud Stanley (or Wood) age 34, who came from Belfast.

Education

Alva was educated at various State Schools in Victoria: Tynong, Macedon, Gardenvale, Hawksburn, St. Kilda Park, Glen Iris, Tunstall (now called Nunawading), and Noble Park. She left school after obtaining her Merit Certificate (approximately 2nd form).

Went to night school at Scott's Business College in the city to learn typing and shorthand. While at State School, she also was learning music (violin) with a teacher at Dandenong. After her marriage, and when her children were almost grown up, she attended Council of Adult Education and Cheltenham Night School to learn French and English to Matriculation standard. The typing skills became useful, but her shorthand was never used.

Employment

After leaving school, Alva was employed at Woolworths at Dandenong, during the war. Later, for a short time, with a newsagent at South Yarra, then the Melbourne Harbour Trust in the city, and later, after her marriage, at a Mercantile Agency called Russell Garvin (now Dun and Bradstreet). After this, Alva never worked in paid employment again.

1940-1949: Woolworths Dandenong
1950—: Newsagent in South Yarra
1950-1955: Harbour Trust, Melbourne
1956: Harbour Trust (casual for a few months)
1958-1960: Russell Garvin/Dun and Bradstreet

Marriage and Family

Alva met William Frankston Davies whilst working at the Melbourne Harbor Trust. They were engaged in 1954. Alva’s maiden name was Cowen. They were married at St. James Church of England in Dandenong on 26/11/1955. Before and after their marriage, they were building their own home in Aspendale. They paid 365 pounds for the land. They borrowed 1706 pounds to build their house which still stands today essentially unchanged in the ownership of their daughter Jennifer McCourt. While still far from finished, they let their house, to travel to England in 1956.

Alva and Bill had two children:

—William Martin Davies (b 6/3/60)
—Jennifer Diane Davies (b 22/12/64)

Alva belonged to a family of nine children:

—Douglas Carlyle Cowen M. Edith Cray (large family)
—Sydney Francis Cowen (who died at 6 months in Ireland)
—Arthur Victor Cowen (died at 14 of pneumonia)
—Leslie Raymond Cowen (“Mick”) M: Nell Elizabeth Nevein (2 children)
—Effie Evelyn Pearl Cowen (“Pearl”) M: Thomas Joseph Smith (4 children)
—Alva Gladys Cowen M: William Frankston Davies (2 children)
—Frances Geraldine Cowen M. Donald Daniel Prentice (3 children)
—Frederick William Cowen M. Beatrice Mellor (3 children)
—Daphne Inez Cowen M. William Alfred Attwood (6 children)

Physical Characteristics

Alva was 5'8" tall, with green/hazel eyes andblack hair. Alva's main interests were reading, travelling and gardening. Alva was also interested in Australian history and family history, with a wide knowledge of most historical topics.