Our understanding of post-natal depression is quite recent.
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After the birth of their son, May Freame seems to have become quite depressed. Finally, it became imperative for May to return to England and her mother.
Harry pleaded with her to stay, to wait until the following year when he might be able to go with her, but May needed mother and home.
On July 2,1922, May, along with seven-month-old baby Harry and mother's-help Josephine Clarke, sailed for England on board the Benalla. The Freames had found the money to hire Josephine, although it must have been a battle given that they were still trying to establish the farm.
Harry was now alone and would be for the next 14 months. He missed his family. "I haven't has the pleasure of watching my little man... changing out of babyhood to a little boyhood," he wrote to May's family in England.
...There we learn that the Kentucky Sausage King (Mr H. Freame) won the prize for the most original fancy dress costume!
Harry threw himself into developing their little 43 acre block. He also continued to play an active role in the developing Kentucky community, trying to build the social infrastructure and facilities necessary for the community to prosper.
This series was triggered by Harry's colourful life and his role as spy. However, looking at this part of our story, I think that his community life was just as important.
Harry was seeking to establish a stable place for himself and his family, an acceptance as a part-Japanese Australian whose own life was complicated, into a new world where he and his family had a secure place.
Despite the sadness that is coming, I think that Harry achieved that.
On August 28, 1923, May sailed from London for Australia, accompanied by Josephine and Harry Jnr. Her mother was worried about her silent moods, although sister Emily though that she was much better.
The party arrived back in Kentucky on October 9, 1923, an event duly recorded in the Uralla Times. Josephine remained with the family as housekeeper.
May seems to have slotted back into the rhythms of life on the Kentucky settlement.
It had been a bad winter, one that forced some of the settlers off the land. Harry was active on his block and in social, church and settlement activities. We know this from the Uralla Times whose short Kentucky reports frequently mention Harry.
My fancy was especially tickled by a report (November 29, 1923) on a Uralla Cricket Club social. There we learn that the Kentucky Sausage King (Mr H. Freame) won the prize for the most original fancy dress costume!
I wonder what it looked like?
Jim Belshaw's email is ndarala@optusnet.com.au. He blogs at http://newenglandaustralia.blogspot.com.au/ (New England life) and http://newenglandhistory.blogspot.com.au/ (New England history)
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