BARNIE IS GONE
OLIVE’S FORTY SEVENTH POST
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International postage used on
this 47th. Post of Olive’s blog
2.5 Greek Drachma
38 British Pence.
5.5 French Francs.
22 US Cents.
10.5 Laotian Kip
38 British Pence.
5.5 French Francs.
22 US Cents.
10.5 Laotian Kip
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Mike
For those coming anew to Ollie’s blog, or blob as she calls it, Ollie has just turned 108.
She lives just north of Sydney, Australia, and has been blobbing since February this year with a great deal of help from me.
To be frank, Ollie does not see well enough to doing anything sensible with a computer, though sometimes she likes to fake it.
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Basically, the way it works is that she dictates her stories into a very ancient tape recorder of mine.
I transcribe her words , and a post is born.
But then sometimes it’s not like that at all, like today.
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Now, for the sad News.
Olive’s only son, Barnie, has just passed awayMike
Today, it’s just me alone to tell you what’s happened.
Barnie was 87, and living many hours to the north of Olive.
It has meant that these last years, Olive rarely saw him and yet she thought of him all the time, and missed him greatly
It’s very lucky that there was some warning he was going.
Dear Amber, loyal friend and carer in Olive’s nursing home,
was prepared to drive all day, a mad dash north,
so that Ollie could be with Barnie and hold his hand
one last time before he went.Olive sat with Barnie for some hours. Did he know her? Perhaps. She felt him squeeze her hand,
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They came back the same day. A very long way, Olive exhausted.
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This is Amber on a happier trip. We were taking Ollie back to Broken Hill.
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Here’s Barnie with his Mum that year.
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He was in great spirits for Olive’s 104th birthday party, his older sister Evelyn, next to him.
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And here’s the same events on film, Barnie and Evelyn coming to their waiting mother.
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The threesome on the couch (above) made me think of another photo, a black and white I’d found, the same three, taken 70 years ago.
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Here, they’re working on Culloden, a cattle station in Queensland.
Olive is the cook, Evelyn the serving maid and…..
…Barnie, with the cheeky grin, is the rouseabout, very good on a horse, I’m told
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Time paints it’s story on all our faces, does it not?
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Is Barnie helping his mother learn to ride a bike here?
Not at all, as you’ll find out later
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Olive carried her son’s birth certificate,
Bernard Johnson, born Nov. 13th. 1920
in her purse all these years until todayWho knows why, except she loved him.
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But let’s start at the beginning as all stories should.
It was on a wheezing steam tram like this one. The day was hot.
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………………………Olive was crossing Broken Hill, mid morning, the labor pains increasing.
She was trying
to get to the midwife, Mrs. Rabbish,
before she was past helping.She remembers the tram ride vividly,
one feathered-hatted passenger especially
who fussed about her groans
as she urged the the driver;” Can’t you make thing thing go faster?”
Then, at last her stop in the West End,
the steep hill in front of her.She bent double
with the midwife, Rabbish,
rushing down to help her
up the last few yards.
Up over the very curve of the world, it seemedThen, as Barnie arrived,
all the sirens on all the mines
went off at once as if to welcome him.Whooooo! Whooooo!
The midwife runs out
to see and shout,
“What’s it all about?”
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The famous year long mining strike had ended.
With it, came great gains in safety and wages
for the baby’s dad, Bernard.
(not that he deserved them, the rascal)
Broken Hill lived off wealth from the ground.
New hard won standards helped spread mine safety around the world
as others demanded what Broken Hill had won.
So, Barnie had a lucky beginning.
Life was good in Broken Hill for the family
till his Dad, Bernard Johnson, \
a miner too, started cheating on her,
and Olive whisked her kids away.
A single Mum, she stayed on a while in the red earth town.
She remembers the boiling heat of summer when, with no air conditioning, she’d put the baby in a basket under the peppercorn tree, it’s long silvery tresses hanging down to shade the crib.
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The old tree was in front of their tiny oven of a house………
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She would trickle water onto a canopy of muslin over the basket so that, in evaporating, the water cooled her fretting boy.
She’d made something some of us remember, a sort of Coolgardie safe.
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………………………….Ollie remembers too the day the kids went off to see the first plane to land to Broken Hill.
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……………………………….She was far more worried about where they were than curious about any strange machine from the sky.
They were brought back home by a man in a sulky and Barnie screamed,
“She’s going to murder us! She’s going to murder us?!”But that’s not what mothers do, is it? Indeed the opposite is the general rule.
Olive remembers racing through the Adelaide night with Barnie, then about 10, on the handle bars of a bike.
She was searching for a GP, a local doctor, who could look into the boy’s ear.
Olive’s beloved sister, Emma, had died of an ear infection at 16, Olive being about 8 at the time.
Emma had been Olive’s favorite person in all the world, and there was no way that the same thing was going to happen to Barnie.
He looks pretty healthy, doesn’t he? A real Tom Sawyer type, I’d say.
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………………………As Evelyn says, they had fun, especially with a section of water tank like the one behind Barnie and his friend, here.
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They somehow rolled the piece of tank down a steep hill, themselves inside like squirrels in a cage, often crashing into the Dunny, the outdoor Loo at the bottom of the garden.Olive remembers Barnie enticing the chooks of a grumpy neighbor through a convenient hole in the fence.
The sale of said captured fowls gained them Picture Palace money.
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She remembers Barnie charming the butcher across the road.He’d roll his eyes in the most terrifying way, all chopping of carcases coming to an abrupt halt.
This earned him the every lasting nickname, Barnie Google (with the googly googly eyes), and this was long before anyone had thought of googling for anything like a sixpence.
That’s what the Butcher’s mate gave Ollie’s boy for his rolling eyes, sixpence!
Olive made Barnie give the money back, and berated the butcher for encouraging him .
“His eyes could’ve got stuck in the back of his head and then where would I’ve been, eh?”
…………….She remembers Barnie going off to the Second World War, and him a year under age.
She tried to stop him. She cried and cried, but he said firmly;
“Mum if you won’t sign the paper, I’m running away to enlist anyway, so you might as well let me go.
His older mate, Ken Julian, promised to look after young Barnie and so he did
Ken wrote the most wonderfully reassuring letters to Olive. Ken also bought Barnie home safely,wounded only three times.
Here are the friends.
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And the reassuring, Ken Julian.
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Now, one of Ken’s letters to Olive.
I love the politeness of the writing. It’s a letter from another century for sure!
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later we discover that Barnie’s apparently been stuffing snowballs down the trousers of a local
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And a fond farewell from a devoted friend.
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Goodbye to you too, Barnie, lad
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Friday, November 23rd, 2007 at 6:02 pm
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54 Responses to “BARNIE IS GONE”
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November 23rd, 2007 at 6:11 pm
Oh! Gosh!! Olive & Mike ..
I am so sorry about Barnie!! May his soul rest in peace!!
I hope Olive is okay. Please take care ..
He was not really with us anymore, Razzler. Ollie will be appreciative, Mike
November 23rd, 2007 at 8:46 pm
Oh I am so sorry for your loss Ollie! Barnie sounds like he was a wonderful son and I know you will miss him terribly! You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Rest In Peace Barnie. You will be missed terribly.
Thanks, Erin. Ollie will be glad to have you condolences. Mike the helper
November 23rd, 2007 at 9:01 pm
Mike - you’ve made a wonderful tribute here to Barney’s life, and to Ollie’s mother-love for her dear son.
Her love *shines*!
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May God bless you dear Ollie, and comfort you and the rest of the family, through your time of grieving.
It was a precious gift that Amber was able to take you all that way to say goodbye and to hold his hand.
With love from Nan.
Thanks Nan, I did want to do Barnie Justice. I worked all day on it. Everyone seemed to like his larrikin character. Ollie will be glad to hear from you. Mike the helper.
November 23rd, 2007 at 10:43 pm
Mahalo for sharing!
A mother’s love for a child is precious.
God bless you Ollie and comfort you and your Ohana through your time of grieving.
Love and Aloha,
Auntie Pupule
November 23rd, 2007 at 10:44 pm
What a lovely telling of Barnie’s life, Mike. Sounds like he lived a full life and we know he was blessed to have a mum like Olive.
My thoughts are with Ollie during this difficult time; even when someone isn’t really with us anymore, it’s still difficult to let him go.
November 24th, 2007 at 12:23 am
Olive, I am so very sorry for your loss. I will be praying for you. ((hugs))
November 24th, 2007 at 12:52 am
So sorry to hear of your loss, Ollie. I think he knew you were there. That was a very nice thing that Amber did for you. I’m sure Barnie is in a much better place now.
Mike…that was a wonderful chronicle of Barnie’s life. To put 87 years together so quickly and professionally is quite a task…you should be proud of your efforts. Ollie has a great friend in you.
Eric
November 24th, 2007 at 2:19 am
I am so sorry to hear your sad news Olive, losing a loved one is always difficult. My thoughts are with you during this difficult time, I am glad you were able to say goodbye. You are such a strong lady.
and have spend many hrs reading to get caught up.
I have only recently found your wonderful blob
I almost feel like I know you. I feel honoured that you are sharing all your wonderful stories with us. You have a fascinating history Miss Olive, again thank you for sharing. Mike, thank you for all your hard work we would not be able to read all these fabulous entries without you, you truly do a wonderful job. You have done a
wonderful job with the tribute to Barnie.
Take Care Ollie & Mike,
Nina
Victoria, Canada
November 24th, 2007 at 3:07 am
Dear, dear Ollie. We all send you our love and thoughts and strength. It was wonderful that you were able to see Barnie and that he obviously knew you were there. It must make things a little easier that you were with him at the end. Your photographs and memories are all so vivid and your stories and wonderful life will carry you through anything. Love, prayers and thoughts.
Ann X (The Cornish Pasty Lady!)
November 24th, 2007 at 5:22 am
Sending hugs and condolences. I hope Ollie has rested after the long drive and the farewell to Barnie. Well done, Amber, for making the trip possible.
November 24th, 2007 at 6:12 am
Oh dear precious Ollie–I am so sorry about Barnie’s passing. I know that no matter how old we get, or how old our children get, they are still our babies in our hearts. May all of your wonderful memories of Barnie sustain you. I know that Barnie knew you were there with him, because I’m sure his spirit and his heart were very close to your spirit and your heart. Please know that am thinking of you greatly in the days and weeks to come. How blessed Barnie was to have you for his mother all of his life, from birth until his passing. and how blessed he was to have your deep love for him.
Many hugs and much love to you Ollie–
from Cindy Swain
St. Paul, Minnesota, United States
November 24th, 2007 at 7:11 am
Dear Ollie,
Hugs to you on the loss of your son. He will live on in your heart! I am glad you have many close friends around you includin Mike and his lovely wife!
Much Love from New Jersey,
Linda
November 24th, 2007 at 12:27 pm
I’m sorry for your lost.
Many blessing to you, Love Dora (Peppylady) From Idaho.
November 24th, 2007 at 12:37 pm
Dear Olive, I am SO sorry to hear about Barnie, your beloved son. Mike’s post is a lovely tribute to your son, and it is nice to know more about him and you as well. You have my deepest condolences. When my grandmother was in her late 80’s, she lost her son, age 67, to a heart attack suffered while shoveling snow. She was inconsolable, and said sadly….”Children aren’t supposed to die before their mother’s do….”
I am sure you feel the same way. I am happy to know that you got to hold his hand and see him in his last hours. Goed bless Amber for taking you to see him.
Kenju in North Carolina, USA
November 24th, 2007 at 12:47 pm
Dearest Ollie
My deepest sympathy on the loss of Barnie. I’m so sad to hear that. Children shouldn’t go before their parents…sadly it happens all too often.
RIP Barnie…may the Angels carry you to heaven.
November 24th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
My deepest sympathy to you Ms. Olive. There is nothing worse than losing a child.
Your friend in Denver, Colorado, USA
Lisa
November 24th, 2007 at 3:50 pm
Oh, Ollie.. I’m so sorry for your loss. Barnie was a wonderful man, and will certainly be loved and remembered by many.
Mike, thank you for this wonderful tribute.
-Scott K, Bumpass, Virginia, USA
November 24th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
Mike:
a wonderful tribute to what sounded like a wonderful man.
Ollie:
My condolences, dearheart. No matter the age, losing a child is hard. Vaya con Dios, Barnie
November 24th, 2007 at 4:29 pm
Heartfelt sympathies to you, Olive, and kudos to you, Mike, for providing such a comprehensive and loving tribute to Barnie. Losing someone, especially your own child, is heartbreaking at any age, but there will be such a wonderful lifetime of memories and images to look back on, and for all of us who relish every morsel written on Olive’s blog, today, for at least a few moments, feel a kinship with her, and share in her loss.
November 24th, 2007 at 5:48 pm
My deepest condolences to you, Olive. I cannot imagine how painful it must be to lose a child.
My sympathies to you, Mike, as I know Olive and her family are like your own.
November 24th, 2007 at 7:26 pm
It is all too common for mothers to see their sons, and daughters , die before them….whether it is as neonates , children,or adults ……
yes, of course it is sad …….. this woman’s son lived to a ‘ripe old age’ …that is a normal life span ..let us congratulate her ……..
November 25th, 2007 at 3:10 am
I’m so sorry to hear of your loss. I hope the knowledge that you have people all over the globe thinking of you in this sad time affords you some comfort.
Bevin, Kamloops B.C., Canada
November 25th, 2007 at 5:11 am
So sorry to hear of your loss. Your memories of your son lives on in your heart. Kathy in Alabama, USA
November 25th, 2007 at 4:14 pm
I just discovered this blog. Sorry for your loss, Olive. Barnie, may you rest in peace.
Mike, what a great job you have here helping Olive keep a blog and telling her wonderful story to the world!
November 25th, 2007 at 11:30 pm
Words are small comfort when you lose a child and they are still a child to a Mother no matter how old they are. Just know that our thoughts are with you Olive and we hold you in our hearts and weep with you for your loss.
Linda - Saint Simons Island, Georgia, USA
November 26th, 2007 at 7:35 am
Ollie-
My condolences to you on the loss of your son Barnie. I cannot image how it feels as a parent to lose a child, but at least in your case and Barnie’s, you had many years on Earth together and I have a feeling, knowing as much as I know about you, Barnie was probably an excellent son, a person you could be so very proud of.
Ollie, you are inspiration to so many people, you are touching the lives of people all over the Earth. It is a privilege to read your blog, it enhances my own appreciation of life.
Mike, thanks so much for the tribute to Barnie, not only is it a tribute to a cherished “family member”, but it is a window on a slice of human history. It is so fortunate that you and Olive found each other.
November 26th, 2007 at 10:47 am
I’m so sorry to hear about Barnie, but what a great tribute you’ve put together for him.
November 26th, 2007 at 3:34 pm
So sorry to hear about Barnie, Olive. Loss is never easy no matter what the circumstances. Your tribute on Olive’s behalf is lovely, Mike.
Jo Ann/Joared
November 26th, 2007 at 10:57 pm
No doubt Ollie was comforted to have been able to see Barney but it must have tired her out. Reading about him brought tears to my eyes but it also showed what a happy, carefree youth he had. All credit to Ollie for being such a super mum.
Love and hugs.
P.S. Mike I haven’t forgotten your stamps. They’ll be on the way soon.
November 26th, 2007 at 11:53 pm
Dearest Olive, your loss is felt around the world. Hang onto the dear memories of your son, let them bring smiles to your face and joy in your heart, how fortunate you were to have such a blessed boy and for such a long time. You will meet again I am sure.
Mike you are in our thoughts as well as you continue to be of such great joy to Olive. Best to you all. Peace & xoxoxo’s
November 27th, 2007 at 12:02 am
Ollie,
So sorry to hear about Barnie, but how wonderful that you were able to see him again. You have such caring people around you, and that extends out into blog-land. Mike, thanks for the lovely tribute.
Rosemary in North Carolina, USA
November 27th, 2007 at 1:54 am
My dear Miz Olive,
I am so sorry to read of your son’s passing. I know at any age the loss of a child is very sad. But I smiled many MANY times reading the stories about his life. It was a long life…and well lived. It seems he inherited many things from his Mama!
Be well blessed Olive…
katherine.
Santa Cruz, California.
November 27th, 2007 at 3:58 am
My condolences to you Olive.
It must feel very strange to be so old and have your own child leaving before you… where ever he is he will be waiting for you now. (but please stay with us for a while more
November 27th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
Olive - I’m so sorry to hear about Barney - What a wonderful life he must have had with you as his mother. I love reading your blob - Kudos to you Mike for putting together such a wonderful tribute to Barney and for keeping us up to date with the Olive. What spirit you have, wonderful lady! God bless!
Mindi from Nebraska
November 28th, 2007 at 2:31 am
God bless you dear Ollie, and Mike thank-you for posting such a beautiful tribute.
I’ve been keeping up with this wonderful and inspiring ‘blob’ from Victoria British Columbia Canada. It really is such a joy to read and to see the joyful glow in dear Ollies eyes.
My heart goes out to you Olive, it is so good to read about a mother who made the time to have fun with her son — something I love to do with ours too.
You really are a joy and inspiration.
God bless, Tracy
November 28th, 2007 at 3:48 am
so sorry for your loss, ollie. God rest his soul.
November 28th, 2007 at 11:37 pm
Dear Olive,
I am so sorry to hear about your loss. I am a mother of two and I know it must be so difficult to lose a child. Just remember you will see your son again when you reunite in heaven. I loved reading the story about Barney’s life and yours. Blessings, Karen
November 29th, 2007 at 6:10 am
Dear Olive,
This is the first I have stopped around since your Birthday, but I now have you listed on my blog so I can check yours everyday.
You have my deepest sympathy regarding your son Barnie. I hope you will soon be able to feel better. I remember my Mother saying the death of my Sister was the worst death she has ever experienced. It took her some time to get over her loss. I am sure it will you also. By the way, my Mother’s name is Olive, but she goes by her Middle name, May. Her Grandfather always called her Ollie.
God Bless You. Take care of yourself.
Your friend across the ocean.
Patty
November 29th, 2007 at 3:45 pm
I have one of those stamps. the stamp collectors are so cool. They can keep them in an album and look them anytime they want. Stamps have many pictures and drawings.
November 29th, 2007 at 4:16 pm
Dear Olive ~~ I am so very sorry to hear of the loss
of your dear son, Barnie. My thoughts and prayers are with you dear lady. I am so glad that you were able to be with him. Many sincere thanks to Amber for taking you. I hope you are not too tired after
such a long trip. Mike’s tribute is excellent and
you have done really well, Mike. Thank you.
Take great care Olive, you have love from all over the world to help you through this sad time.
The stamps ere nice too Mike. Love to you all, Merle.
November 30th, 2007 at 6:57 am
Dear Olive I was so sorry to hear about your son Barnie. My thoughts are with you here right on the other side of the world…
November 30th, 2007 at 11:55 am
Sorry to hear about your son Barnie.
May our Creator give you strength.
My thoughts are with you.
November 30th, 2007 at 11:57 am
Hi Mike. It is good Olive has you and Amber. Thank you.
November 30th, 2007 at 8:35 pm
Dear Olive
Sorry to hear about Barney
take care of yourself..
Mike…
this post was a very nice one.. thank u
November 30th, 2007 at 9:50 pm
I’m very saddened to hear the news, but I hope everyone is doing alright now. You are all in my prayers.
December 1st, 2007 at 10:50 am
Oh, Ollie, I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your son. He led a fascinating life. Thank you for sharing so many of your stories with us.
love,
Christina
December 2nd, 2007 at 2:02 am
Olive,I was sincecely sorry to hear about Barney but at the same time delighted to learn of your computer and web expeditions at your young age.I started late on the 0’s and 1’s but get what I want from it.I am a retired communications worker and find much joy on the compyter.I wish you many more years of good health,lets set an all new record.I live in the eastern USA and will look in on you across the waters. God Bless and keep you!!
Rev Lewis Demyan ULC
Hello, Rev. Nice to get some personal details from you like that. We do know that Ollie’s acting as an inspiration in sharing her life like this on the blog and taking an interest in technology so far from the year of her birth. of course she’s not typing or posting , but she is using the technology. She was so eager to put up the stories about welcoming back Barnie. I was on orders to rush over and film it. Mike the helper
December 2nd, 2007 at 3:42 pm
Dear Olive,
I just found your webpage, and I was so sorry to hear that your beloved son Barnie has passed from this life. Please take good care of yourself in this difficult time, because I can’t wait to read more stories about your life and times! I live in Tombstone, Arizona, where Wyatt Earp and his brothers fought the Cow-boys at the OK Corral, so bringing the past to life is very important to me. Bright Blessings on you!
And to Mike, you brought Barnie to life for us, thank you for your superbly written account of his life and passing. To Amber, bless you for being there when most needed!
All the Best,
Miss Rosie Wylde
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:46 am
Dearest Olive
Please take care =)
Thank you, Mike.
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:28 pm
My sincere condolences.
December 5th, 2007 at 8:32 pm
Dear Olive and Mike the Helper,
I’m so sorry about Barney! Looking at his letters I could tell he had very good handwriting. Plus, you and him were both quite good looking in the photos!
Take care!
Carrie
Carrie, that was the handwriting of his friend, Ken Julian, writing to Ollie about her son. Mike the helper
December 7th, 2007 at 7:55 am
Dear fabulous Olive,
I am so sorry for your loss. I hope you will feel better soon.
x
December 7th, 2007 at 8:34 am
It’s actually quite a privilege to be let into someones life in this way. RIP Barney.
February 18th, 2008 at 2:17 am
I have a question, Mike:
Is Evelyn, who you wrote was even older than Barney, still alive, and how old is she exactly currently, please?
Bart, Evelyn is still alive and 88. Mike the helper