95 year old Dot Harrison has seen many changes to her hometown
By Sonia Isaacs
Dot Harrison recalls how, when she first moved into her Beerwah street back in the 1950s, her family-built home was the only house there, surrounded by paddocks.
Now 95 years old, Dot still resides on the same street, which is now near the bustling main area of Beerwah.
The old farm paddocks have been replaced by tree-lined streets with houses stretching as far as the eye can see.
Born Dot Weyer at Beerburrum Hospital in April 1929, she grew up on her family’s pineapple farm on Peachester Road.
She attended Beerwah State School and, as a young teenager, would catch the train to Nambour Rural School to study dressmaking and cooking.
“When I was around 17 or so, I set myself up as a local seamstress here in Beerwah,” she said.
“I used to get a lot of my material from the old McDonnell and East department store in Brisbane and make all the kids’ clothes.”
Dot recalls her main entertainment growing up was going to dances and the travelling ‘pictures’ that regularly took place at the old Beerwah School of Arts Hall (which still stands on Simpson Street, where Toothkind dental practice is now located).
“I loved to dance, and we would go to dances here in the hall or catch the train to other local dances in nearby towns every Friday and Saturday night,” Dot said.
“The other big draw for the town was the pictures in the hall, where they would set up low-back canvas chairs.” Dot laughed, remembering how as teenagers they would ride their bikes full tilt down the range from Peachester just for fun.
Dot met her husband, Roy, at a Sunday afternoon social in New Farm Park in Brisbane. The couple married at the ‘bush church’ next to Beerwah State School and went on to have six children.
Around 1979, Dot relocated to a new home on the same street, where she still lives today. Around this time, she started attending the Senior Citizens Club in Nambour where, following her divorce, she met her gentleman friend Tom, who became a long-term companion.
Dot said that back then she would go dancing four times a week, and she and Tom also discovered the joy of caravanning and travelling overseas on cruises.
In 1984, a local senior citizens club started in Beerwah, and Dot, along with her mum and a couple of friends, were founding members. “I remember we walked down to the very first meeting at Beerwah Hall,” Dot said.
“It turned out to be a really popular seniors club, and we would all get together, chat, have cups of tea, and socialise.”
Recently, the Glasshouse Country Senior Citizens Club marked their 40th anniversary milestone with a gala lunch, with original member Dot attending as one of the guests of honour.
Dot says she has slowed down a bit in the last couple of years but still lives in her own home and enjoys gardening and knitting.
For many years, she has contributed by knitting for the needy and for wildlife care initiatives and still enjoys getting out into her garden.
Dot said she was fortunate to be able to travel when she retired, and advised others to get out and live life while they can. “Just go out and enjoy yourself! Travel while you are young and don’t wait until tomorrow to enjoy what you could enjoy today!”
