Dear Mrs Smyth December 6th, 1965
The baby is doing wonderfully, her name is Catherine Elizabeth.
Her daddy had the name picked out months before she was born.
She weighed 8 lbs 13 oz when she was born on ----------- at 6am in the morning.
Henry saw her when she was 1 1/2 hours old and he was left speechless.
He said to everyone that his little daughter would be Miss Tasmania 1985,
if only the baby grows up to remember that!
She now weighs 10lbs 2 oz and she is losing her hair very quickly
but the new hair that is coming back is the colour of Henry’s, what’s more its curly.
She is like him in ever so many ways — she has his shaped face and lips,
his eyes, his quick temper and I’m sure her hair will be like his.
The baby was three days old when it happened and I wasn’t very well at that stage.
I was so heavily drugged that I still haven’t got over it.
I’ve had a headache nor for three weeks and nothing seems stop it.
I’m so lonely now and at times I feel as though I can’t go on but I must for the sake of the baby.
The funeral went off well but was very sad.
I had a service in Queenstown for him as all his workmates and friends could go.
They left me out of hospital for it but I had to go back.
the funeral procession then went 168 miles to Hobart where another church service was held
He was buried at Cornelian Bay, the most beautiful cemetery in Tasmania.
His beautiful coffin was carried by six irishmen, all of whom were Henry’s closet friends.
It was a very big funeral and many people went he 168 miles from Queenstown to Hobart.
Of course I’ll see flowers are kept on the grave and everything is perfect.
I will have some studio photos done of myself and the baby to send to you.
There is only one thing I’ve love to have.
I’d truly love a photo of Henry to treasure.
I do not have a photo of him and I’d dearly love one.
We were married at St Martin’s Church on August 10th at Queenstown .
We were just as excited and nervous as if it had been a big wedding.
As you know, I could not be married as a bride—I wore an aqua coat with white accessories.
You see August is winter here and it was a cold day but the sun shone.
The people at the motel where Henry used to work
gave a little party for us and we had a beautiful wedding cake.
I have a beautiful wedding ring — it’s two-tone gold and silver.
Well the baby has just woke for her feed so I must feed her.
You must write again.