Obituary
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Elva McPherson, 1918-2014
ELVA ("Elvie") McPherson dedicated her life to advancing the Australian wool industry, so much so that she flew all the way to Kunming in China at 81 years of age to appear on Chinese television urging the markets to "buy Australian wool, the best in the world".
Elva Lorraine McPherson was born in Waikerie in South Australia in 1918, the daughter of Albert Falkiner and Helen Evans.
She was the second eldest of five children.
The family farmed in South Australia before moving in 1927 to "West Handley Station" at Rand.
Elvie's education was interupted early on when her mother became seriously ill. Elvie was needed to help care for the family.
However, thanks to the encouragement of a local doctor she persuaded her father to allow her to train as a nurse.
She was very proud when she graduated from Wangaratta Base Hospital, later taking on postgraduate studies at The Mercy Hospital in Melbourne.
She worked 12 hour shifts for 10 shillings a week, rising to one pound in the third year of her studies.
In 1943, Elvie married Alan Jelbart, the son of the local doctor who encouraged her to take up nursing, and they lived together at "Rainbow" in Pleasant Hills.
But sadly in 1953, Alan was stricken with a brain tumour and died, leaving Elvie to raise two small children on her own and manage the property.
Despite some difficulties over the years with frozen funds, probate to pay, sheep thieving and "no new lipstick for four years", Elvie was a formidable player in the wool show world.
She did woolclassing training, drove the truck to sheep sales, attended agricultural shows (where she would win ribbons for her Polwarth Stud) and joined the Country Women's Association.
In 1973, she was awarded the honour of "Australia's Best Dressed Woman in Wool". Soon after she joined the Dalgetys World Wool Study Tour and returned to Australia with a passion for promoting wool.
She worked closely with Wagga's Golden Gown Award and with designer John Claringbold.
In 1989, after 35 years a widow, she married Collingullie farmer Stan McPherson and they lived 20 happy years together. After marrying, they made many trips together across the world.
In 1999, Elvie joined then-mayor John Harding for Wagga's Economic and Trade Delegation to Kunming where she would have her 15 minutes of fame on Chinese television.
Elvie McPherson is survived by her sister Gloria, her children Ellis Jelbart and June Robertson, and son-in-law James.