Frances Ethel Qona WILSON [1140]

  General Notes:

Obituary
A BRIEF OUTLINE OF THE LIFE OF F E Q CLIFTON
Frances Ethel Qona CLIFTON was born on Norfolk Island on January 24th 1903.
She was the third Daughter of Bishop Cecil Wilson of the Melanesian Mission which had its headquarters on Norfolk Island. Her mother was the daughter of Archbishop Churchill Julius of New Zealand so the Anglican Church has been a major factor in her life from her earliest days. Life on the Island seems to have been very happy and carefree for the children, though there were many worries to be faced by her parents. Friends and relatives were quite remote.
Their second daughter had died at age one.
The bishop was absent for long periods each year because visits in the area covered by the Mission could only be made by ship. Also due to the fact that missionaries had been killed by natives in the islands to the north not so long before.
When Qona was eight, in 1911, the family moved to Walkerville in Adelaide where they remained for six years before moving to Western Australia. Again she left with many happy memories.
Cecil Wilson was to become Bishop of Bunbury. Qona spent several years at school at Perth College and formed many friends there and in Bunbury. She was a keen member of the Bunbury Tennis Club where she met with much success. By this time the family consisted of an older sister, two younger sisters followed by three brothers.
On August 31st 1929 she married Philip Clifton and went to live on a farm at Dinninup east of Boyup Brook.
Four sons were born in the following years. These were difficult times with the Great Depression but they could do much to feed themselves with their own farm produce. Her third son, Jon died in 1939, in his fourth year and her beloved father in January1941.
Later in 1941 her husband Philip joined the Airforce and towards the end of 1942 the family moved to Bunbury for the duration of the war.
In 1950 Philip commenced farming a property 'Kerepei' at Arthur River. The next 30 years was a period of stability (as much as farming can be stable). In the early years sons were away at school or University or on National Service etc.
She was involved in the local church, CWA and played Golf regularly. During most of this period the farm was run by Philip with assistance from her second son, Christopher.
Philip died in 1980 and Qona remained on the farm at Arthur River with Christopher who was unmarried. This continued until 1991 when Chris became seriously ill and she then moved to James Brown House. Chris Died in November 1991. Qona is survived by two brothers (one in New Zealand), two sons, Mark and Robin, four grandsons and six great grandchildren whose ages range from 19 years to four months.
She will be sadly missed.
Given at the service at Karrakatta 18/8/95

Frances always preferred to be called Qona, a Norfolk Island name , and had a nic name Coco.

Frances married Philip Robert Cecil CLIFTON [1141] [MRIN: 360], son of Robert Cecil CLIFTON I.S.O. [34082] and Rose Louisa LEAKE [34083], on 31 Aug 1929 in St Pauls Bunbury WA. (Philip Robert Cecil CLIFTON [1141] was born on 6 Oct 1900 in Perth W.A. and died on 25 Oct 1980 in Wagin WA.)