Wilma Severin
Wilma Mary Griffiths came into the world on the 4th of September, 1939. And as she would say… “World War 2 began on the 1st of September 1939, and she wanted to get in on the action.”
Wilma was born in the family home at 61 Oxford Street, Newport, Victoria, to parents William and Edith Griffiths. She was the youngest sister of David and Isabel. Her father was a proud Welshman who joined the English Navy before settling in Melbourne and working for the Melbourne Harbour Trust. Edith had an English background and was a devoted wife, mother and homemaker.
Wilma enjoyed a happy childhood with regular attendance at Newport Baptist Church and was always keen to help around the home. Train trips to Ballarat for holidays were a highlight, visiting family, including her uncle who was the Mayor of Ballarat.
Hospitality was always an important part of her life growing up and amongst the many guests in their family home was the Rev. John Flynn who went on to start Australia’s famous Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Wilma disliked school so on her 14th birthday, she proudly marched up to the headmaster’s office with a letter from her parents permitting her to leave school. Her first job was at a solicitor’s office in Collins Street Melbourne. She didn’t love the job but anything was better than being at school. After a couple of years, she began work as a dental nurse and studied at night school to gain accreditation.
A very active and social young woman, Wilma was heavily involved with the Blackburn North Baptist Church and youth group. In 1964 she expressed to the pastor a deep desire to be a missionary and having no formal qualifications, she said she just wanted to cuddle babies.
The pastor replied with: I think there is a perfect place for you. It’s in Western Australia at a place called Marribank where you would be caring for Aboriginal children. She was led by God and moved West.
Delighting in her new life, she was the house mum for young boys at the Mission. It was there that she learnt a variety of new skills. She learnt to drive in the Mission’s minibus and became netball coach to the young women. She went on to enter a team into the netball competition in Katanning on Saturdays.
It wasn’t long before this sassy city gal caught the eye of a handsome local farmer and she began courting Lawrance Severin. After a short engagement they married in Melbourne in January 1967. Greg arrived later that year, then Lynn in 1969 and Nyree in 1972. They raised their family on the farm known as Homebush on Withers Road Katanning.
A vibrant woman who loved organising she was always busy doing things but was never too busy not to be there for family, friends or anybody in need. To her, love was a verb, a doing word and she had a lot of love to share.
To supplement the farm income, Wilma sought work in Katanning and after a few years in various positions, a perfect fit was found for this community-minded, caring woman. It was a job as a receptionist for two local doctors Liew Ing and Hock Lai Ong. Her cheerful countenance was well noted and her phone answering voice was always bright with a bouncy inflection.
In the 80’s the world was different from today and amongst Wilma’s volunteering was something called Hospital Visitation. A service unimaginable today, where ladies from the church would make sandwiches and baked goods to provide afternoon tea to patients in hospital. Think cream puffs, vanilla slices, sponge cakes, slices and biscuits delivered to each ward on a Thursday afternoon with a smiling face.
Beautiful life-long friendships were created, occasions celebrated, dinner parties and holidays enjoyed. Wilma still had time for sport, tennis, basketball and badminton.
In September 1994 she embarked on an adventure to Africa. Beginning with a holiday accompanied by her brother and sister, David and Isobel, to South Africa, Botswana and Kenya. Then she spent two months volunteering with Baptist Missionaries in Malawi.
In 1995 she was elected as a Shire Councillor at the Katanning Shire, serving two terms.
Wilma and Lawrance were early to rise and Wilma was always the last to go to bed in the evenings.
She took time out between 2-3pm in the afternoon to do her “Study”. Wilma would lock the door, draw the curtains and immerse herself in a very educational documentary called “Days of our Lives“. It must have been a very good series because she followed it for 25 years!
With a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s around 2019, each day she was robbed of her vibrancy. Deteriorating to the point of needing residential care at Juniper Bethshan in August 2023. Alzheimer’s was to finally take her life after a short stay at Katanning Hospital on the 23rd of April 2025.
EDITORS NOTE:
I had the privilege of serving with Wilma Severin on The Katanning Shire Council during her two terms. She was one of the most caring, beautiful ladies’ (in the true sense of the word) that I have had the pleasure of knowing and to have as a friend. She still owes me a coffee! R.I.P. Wilma. AT.
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Wilma Severin. Wilma Severin
Wilma Severin. Wilma Severin.