Family First

Family First

Written by Miranda Cook

Pearl Bygraves could have travelled the expected path for a young woman born in 1923 and become a stay-at-home mother.

But her determination to give her five children a better life has seen her overcome many adversities during a century, including leaving an abusive marriage and working jobs where she’d spend long days and nights on her feet in corner shops, fruit stalls and petrol stations — often with her young children in tow.

Her hard-working nature is at the heart of her family’s deep-rooted connection to Brisbane Grammar School.

After leaving her husband of 30 years, she worked as a sales assistant at Mathers Shoes, in Brisbane, to pay for her youngest child Phillip Walker ’75 to attend BGS.

“I didn’t care what job it was — I was willing to do it because I wanted to send Phillip there,” Mrs Bygraves told Grammar News

“I just thought it was the best school.

“Phillip worked at a service station before and after school to help me, when he was just 13.”

Three of her grandsons have since attended BGS, including the School’s Director of Finance Brett Walker-Davies who graduated in 2004. His seven-year-old son Harvey and three-year-old son Augie are on the enrolment list.

Understanding the challenges his grandmother went through to afford a BGS education has taught Brett the value of a good work ethic.

“When you look at Grandma’s attitude and what she has accomplished, she embodies the spirit of nil sine labore — nothing without work.

“It shows how someone’s love and dedication can have a multiplying effect across generations.”

It has also influenced the types of services his department offers to BGS parents. Since starting at BGS in 2021, Brett has forged several new financial partnerships to help parents who are saving for or currently receiving a BGS education, and he is passionate about growing the Bursary Fund.

“I know personally the value of diversity for BGS students and want to make sure we can help people of varied financial means to be able to access a BGS education.”

After celebrating her 100th birthday last year, Mrs Bygraves has no regrets over how she has spent the past century.

She recalled growing up on a cane farm in Maryborough, confronting the Great Depression, being the only woman on a train of American soldiers headed north after Townsville was bombed in World War II, and surviving an almost-deadly bout of measles.

Yet despite great challenges, she remains staunchly humble.

“Throughout your life, you just do your best,” she said with a smile.

She said there is no secret to longevity other than to “take every day as it comes”, eat healthy but still enjoy “cake and chocolate when you feel like it”, and commit to regular exercise. She still stands up and down on her tippy toes and does leg kicks to keep active.

Her family is her greatest achievement of all, consisting of her five children, 13 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. Her second husband, Lawrence Bygraves, who she loved dearly for more than 40 years, passed away six years ago.

I’ve been so lucky in my life – I have a wonderful family and that’s what really matters.