Beesley_Midge--- author of the book:Raymond Island ,Past,Present and Future

Not everyone who lives or has lived on our island leaves a mark
.
It can be said that Midge did.

She and husband Wally arrived here in 1983 and intended to settle down to a life of relaxed and peaceful retirement. As the two became part of our community Midge realised the rich and varied history that existed here and the many people who had such wonderful and interesting stories to tell.
Midge always enjoyed writing and here was an ideal opportunity to combine her hobby with the need to research and then write about the island and its people.
That she did. Midge set about reading every bit of information she could about us. Not satisfied with that she started interviewing residents, as many as she could and often.
The result was that, in June 1986, she published her book

"Raymond Island” past-present-future.

A publication covering almost 300 pages including the indexing of all people mentioned for easy reference. It was a labour of love which represented then, and still does, an invaluable reference for readers.
Many of us, who want to know something about the island and its people, refer to her book first as we know that Midge was bound to have recorded something.

We contacted Vanessa Cannon, Midge’s daughter, and asked her why, after putting so much of herself into the island, did they leave.

This is her reply :

“It is interesting that you should ask about the reasons for Midge and Wally moving on - I am sure that had it been up to Midge they would have stayed there. Wally was something of a restless soul and I think he found the island a little restrictive.

They had moved up and down the NSW and Victorian coast quite a bit and even spent two years in Borneo before discovering the joys Raymond Island.
But they also came to realise that they were getting on and maybe should be closer to one of their children in case of ill health or even being unable to drive.
Son Martin lived in Sydney and daughter Vanessa near Melbourne - and as they had spent most of their lives in Melbourne, they found a home at Mornington and remained there until Alzheimer’s - an exceptionally cruel disease for someone who so liked to use her brain to the fullest - forced Midge into a home where she died.

I must agree with your sentiments about the work involved in researching and writing the book. Midge had the capacity to work hard and be very organised and she had previously devoted similar amounts of drive and energy into other community activities and events. It was one of her often expressed adages that “you get out of a place what you put into it.”

Midge passed away in February 2007 and Wally passed away in December of the same year.

a note from Mark BRENNAN:

This is a delightful and well informed piece. Thanks everyone for putting it together. As a fellow "island writer" I was in touch with Midge, mainly through Georgina Evans. She was always forthcoming with her responses and suggestions and even though I never met her in person was a recipient over some 15 years of her intelligent generosity. Thanks for taking the trouble. ..
Cheers...Mark Brennan

click on photos

Dowm memory lane click on photos

Editor’s notes: We had some difficulties in tracing the Beesley family. In the end Vanessa and Martin, their children, helped us all they could to produce this page. We are grateful for their help.
We also acknowledge Irene and Andrew Bould's help in identifying the people and places in the photos shown .
May 2011