Matilda ‘Tillie’ Ingram was born on February 15, 1880, at Timmering, named after her paternal grandmother, who lived in Ireland.
When she started school in 1885, she had three brothers, a sister, and five Ingram cousins, including one who shared her name.
As the Ingram girls grew older, they would have been kept very busy helping their mother cope with household chores.
Matilda was about 21 when she left Timmering with her parents and young brothers to live at Springmount.
It is believed she was once engaged to be married and had made many beautiful pieces of embroidery and crochet for the occasion.
Sadly, the marriage never eventuated after her fiancé learnt her health was threatened by rheumatoid arthritis.
Matilda never married but, with courage, she lived a long and busy life, undeterred by her affliction.
She cared for her parents in their latter years and was an active member of the Red Cross during World War I.
After the death of her father in 1916, Matilda and her mother took up residence in Kyneton.
Her mother died in 1925 and Matilda continued to live there for many years.
She worked at Kyneton Hospital and the patients and staff all looked forward to her visits.
As her arthritis became worse, she continued to walk to the hospital with the aid of a stick.
As her arthritis got worse, her youngest brother Tom and his wife Agnes came down from Benalla to assist.
They helped her to pack up her treasures and sell her home before taking her back to Rose City, to live with them.
She was grateful for their care, and although confined to a wheelchair she was able to attend church and enjoyed going to see the gardens, particularly Benalla's beautiful rose gardens.
Matilda spent about two years with Tom and Agnes, and she passed away at their residence, 14 Deas St, on August 5, 1952.
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