Mary Orr Harris 1934 – 2013     

Mary Orr Harris passed away in the early hours of Saturday 27 April.

Mary was a long-term and much loved resident of Braidwood who was born, Mary Orr Deas, in Rangoon, Burma in 1934. 

She lived an extraordinary early life in the days of the British Raj surrounded by Persian carpets, polished rosewood furniture, silver tea services, curries and even tiger cubs.

Before she had turned 20 she had lived in Burma, Ceylon (as Sri Lanka was then known), India, Kashmir, Scotland and England. 

She was educated in Kashmir and Scotland, where, in winter, she would skate across a frozen loch to attend classes. 

She was a debutante in London, presented to the newly crowned Queen Elizabeth. She was an extremely beautiful and privileged young woman who led an exotic life.  

In 1955, aged 20, she boarded a ship to Colombo, Sri Lanka for a holiday.  It was on this ship that she met and fell for Stewart Harris, who was on his way to Australia.  Their brief ship-board romance was to have a profound impact on them both; just days after arriving in Melbourne, Stewart telegrammed Mary in Colombo asking her to marry him. 

They married in London in October 1955 then moved to Australia later that year.  Stewart, who had an Australian mother, convinced Mary that they would be in Australia for only a short time. They never returned to the UK but built a rich and happy life in their new homeland.

Mary was deeply loved by Stewart and she adored him in return.  Theirs was a love story built on fun, respect and a great friendship.  They had four children (Nick, Karina, Alastair and Iona).  They settled in Canberra before finally making Braidwood their home in the 1980s. 

Stewart’s job as the chief correspondent for The Times of London saw them entertain regularly and generously.   

Their parties were famous for Mary’s cooking and the eclectic array of people they attracted; writers, Aboriginal activists, Prime Ministers of the day, draft dodgers, African revolutionaries, various ambassadors and other strays.

Wonderful food, free flowing wines and whisky, stimulating conversations and often heated arguments characterised these parties which often ended with Mary challenging other guests to a head stand challenge.  

They had a small fibro cottage at Durras where long hot summers were spent with family and friends. Mary loved to fish, she had a little row boat and would go out, on many evenings onto the lake for flathead and bream or net for school prawns.

In the early 1960s with no farming experience they bought 2,500 acres of wild country just outside of Mongarlowe from Harry and Vi Neilsen and ran Hereford cattle on it. They learned the ropes from Harry and people like Rex and Athol Webb and Mick Nomchong. Mary was a strong horsewoman and grew to love the bush, mustering and working long days in the yards. 

Mary and Stewart developed a love for Braidwood and they were regulars at the annual show where in the late 60s Mary took on an all-male crew to win the “needle race” before, as legend has it, falling off her horse and landing on one of the judges.

It was also around this time that she demanded to be served a beer in the then all-male Royal Mail Hotel despite having no taste for either beer or pubs. She hated discrimination of all kinds. 

Friends were always welcome in Mary’s home; the more people and chaos, the more Mary loved it.

Stewart much preferred a quieter more solitary life but he was devoted to Mary and learned to cope with her joy in a loud, busy and crowded house. 

Mary had a passion for gardening which she passed on to her children and she loved dogs, travelling, spending time with friends; she loved to party. 

She loved a gossip.  She was a tailor and a cordon bleu cook.  She loved art, music and read voraciously.  

She loved a glass of wine, champagne or whisky and she loved playing tennis and bridge. 

In her 40’s Mary commenced a career as a welfare officer in the ACT and then out of  Queanbeyan looking after abused and neglected children and she was good at what she did; professional, compassionate and hardworking.

In the 80’s she and Stewart bought the old dilapidated Anglican Rectory in Wilson St and poured funds and energy into restoring it and turning it into a home. 

Using only local labour the house was transformed into a successful bed & breakfast and then a plant nursery specialising in old fashioned roses; Mary’s favourite plants.

There were many happy days of long lunches and dinners, family celebrations and Christmas’s.

Her beloved Stewart died suddenly in December 1994 and, without her soul mate, Mary’s life was never the same.  She took solace from her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She had a full life in Braidwood, spending days with her daughter Iona and her three grandchildren, Millan, Rahni and Mya.

Mary was often seen walking her dachshund or schnauzer to one or other of the Wallace Street cafés where she would have a coffee and a yarn with friends.

She rarely missed an exhibition opening.

Two years ago Mary was diagnosed with a neurological disease, progressive supranuclear palsy. The disease was cruel and for a dynamic woman, who cherished her independence, her last 6 months were very difficult. 

She retained her independence and dignity with the support of her family and Braidwood and Canberra friends who loved her. 

She was cared for with great dedication and love by the staff of Braidwood and Canberra Hospitals.

Marry Harris died from an acute cerebral haemorrhage, following a fall on Wednesday April 17.  She had an advanced care plan and had requested no intervention. 

Her family and friends kept a vigil beside her bed and for 10 days and 10 nights she was never alone until the last night when she died as she had lived; in peace and with great dignity. 

Mary’s Braidwood-based children, Alastair and Iona, invite her friends to share a drink in her memory at Iona’s Araluen Street home at 2pm Sunday 19 May.

They ask that her friends bring a written memory of Mary to share and leave for her grandchildren.