By Corey Everitt
The community is remembering Verna Thewlis as a ‘marvelous’ and ‘unassuming’ woman who quietly dedicated her 90 years of life to the betterment of Pakenham.
Ms Thewlis died on Thursday 1 February at the age of 90, for the last few years of her life she was a resident of CraigCare Berwick.
Her death leaves a lasting legacy on the strong local organisations of the Pakenham Opportunity Shop, Berwick-Pakenham Historical Society and the Pakenham Agricultural Society.
Fellow friends Sue Johns, Helen Cook and Win Reed were close to Mr Verna through their work at the Op Shop, they remember her as a sharp mind that asked for nothing in return for her years of consistent work in the community.
“She was marvelous, she was spot on. Even get around at 90, no walking stick, nothing,” current Secretary of Pakenham Opportunity Shop, Ms Johns said.
“She was so with it, with everything she did up to the day we saw her three weeks ago.”
Helen Cook worked with Verna for many years at the Op Shop as it’s secretary for many years.
“She was unassuming, she took everything that came her way,” Ms Cook said.
“Maybe the Op Shop wouldn’t be what it is if it hadn’t been for Verna.”
Many would recognise the name Thewlis, she was born in Berwick and raised in Pakenham by parents Sydney and Ella Thewlis who were both prominent community figures with her father serving as a councillor in the Shire of Berwick, while her mother played a significant role in the Country Women’s Association.
She grew up on the family farm which was on Cemetery Road, now known as Thewlis Road. She would spend most of her life on the farm, milking the cows and mowing paddocks.
The quiet and determined work on the farm bleed into her work in the community as she spent decades working with various community groups.
She contributed almost 50 years to the Pakenham Opportunity Shop, more than 30 of those years serving as Treasurer.
She was a common sight in Pakenham on her walks between the op shop and her John Street residence. Her demeanor is remembered as quiet, but strong. She has been described as humble and a workhorse, concerned with getting the job done.
“She was the one that gave the Op Shop a backbone,” Ms Reed said.
“I liked her just as she was.”
Her parents were heavily involved in the Pakenham Agricultural and Horticultural Society and the Pakenham Show, Ms Thewlis continued that tradition being involved with the show for almost 60 years.
She would serve 30 years as treasurer of the society and was granted a life membership to the committee.
She also served on the committee for the Berwick-Pakenham Historical Society for 30 years and was treasurer of Berwick Senior Citizens for more than a decade.
Outside of her community work she was an avid line dancer, when living in Pakenham she was known to go dancing several times a week.
In 2010, Ms Thewlis was the subject of a People in Profile feature, there she was asked to talk about her strong dedication to her community work.
“Not sure why I do all this, I guess I’ve always just done it,” she was quoted as saying.
“I’ve enjoyed my life, so it never crosses my mind, it keeps me well and truly busy – someone has to do it.”
