An Inspirational Life.
Lorraine Margaret Saltmarsh.
Lorraine Margaret Saltmarsh (née Murphy) was born in 194(?) and her story begins in the remote mining settlement of Gaffney’s Creek, nestled in the Victorian rainforests. As the youngest of two daughters, she grew up in a small, rustic community that lacked basic amenities like power or running water. This early environment instilled in her a deep and lasting appreciation for nature, wildlife, and the importance of resourcefulness.
Her father, a man of ingenuity and warmth, was a pivotal figure in her youth. His creative and playful spirit was evident in their cabin, which was the first in the camp to have running water. This feat was achieved after he ingeniously diverted a fresh-water stream using dynamite borrowed from the mine, a family story that became a humorous legend.
At just 12 years old, with so few children in the settlement, Lorraine demonstrated her innate leadership and sense of responsibility by stepping up to teach the youngest students at the local school. She left Gaffneys Creek at 14 to move to Melbourne, where she embarked on her professional journey as a typist in the Myer office.
Building a Life and a Legacy
In Melbourne, Lorraine's life took a new turn when she met Maxwell Donald Saltmarsh at a local dance. Their courtship led to marriage, and the couple relocated to the Cobram/Barooga area to care for Maxwell's elderly grand-parents. Here, Lorraine took on the role of a Probation Officer, with a particular focus on youth support, a testament to her lifelong commitment to helping children. She and Maxwell soon started their own family, welcoming two children, Brian and Dianne.
Lorraine quickly became an integral part of the community, dedicating herself to a myriad of local initiatives. Her involvement ranged from the Cub Scouts and Neighbourhood Watch to the Agricultural Show Committee and numerous other community projects. She and Maxwell, who became a prominent builder in the region, were widely respected as earnest, hardworking, and honourable members of the community.
An Accidental Entrepreneur
A humorous family anecdote from 1964(?) perfectly captures Lorraine's ‘ready-for-anything’ spirit. With a toddler and a newborn, she mentioned in passing to Max that she "rather liked" working part-time at the local fish and chips shop. The following week, Max surprised her by purchasing the business as a "gift," thrusting her into the full-time role of business owner and sole operator.
The years that followed were a mix of immense success and significant challenges. Like many Australian entrepreneurs of that era, the family faced hard times, forcing Maxwell to close his construction company. The family had to sell their home and stay with friends while they rebuilt their lives and business.
Lorraine's strength and unwavering commitment to her family and community were crucial during this period of hardship. Her ability to rally the family and emphasize the importance of community service is a legacy that continues to be seen in the efforts of her children and grandchildren.
A Pillar of the Community
Lorraine's dedication to art was relentless. She went on to establish an Art Gallery in Tocumwal, and travelled interstate to coordinate exhibits for her friend, the celebrated artist Noel Westgate. Her love for art and creativity was a lifelong passion, and she cherished painting trips with artists like Noel Westgate and Joy Barnette.
Her creative talents extended beyond visual arts. Between 1990 and 2010, she published a number of literary pieces, including poems, stories, and even biographies of fellow artists. She was also a long-term columnist for the Cobram Courier.
Lorraine's entrepreneurial spirit resurfaced when she started what may have been Victoria's first driving school, "Two States Driving School." Through this business, she taught literal generations of residents across Cobram, Barooga, Yarrawonga, Mulwala, Tocumwal, and Finley how to drive. She later sold the successful business to focus on her retirement.
For decades, Lorraine worked tirelessly to ensure that visual arts remained a central part of local schools and communities. During the 90s and early 2000s, she dedicated weeks each year to organizing and arranging the annual Art Pavilion Exhibition for the Cobram Agricultural Society Show, a major event for the region.
A Foundation of Family and Philanthropy
Lorraine's retirement was focused on spending her final years with her husband, Maxwell, to whom she was married for 52(?) years. Even then, and in the years since his passing, she has remained an active member of various community groups, including Meals-on-Wheels, art groups, music groups, and musical choirs.
A cornerstone of her life has been her active involvement in the lives of her six grandsons. She often took them on bushwalks, taught them about local wildlife, encouraged them to write and play, shared music, and even used playful methods like smashing dinner plates to help them learn to spell difficult words. As they grew into adolescence, she took joy in teaching them to drive, sharing bush-jokes, and attending their football games. Today, she remains a vibrant and active presence in the lives of her grandsons and her dozen great-grandchildren.
Her unwavering commitment to family and community is the guiding principle
behind the Lorraine Foundation. The foundation, a testament to her life's work,
continues her legacy by inspiring creativity and lifelong learning in children.
