Mary (Mollie) Christian Hope was a twin with her sister Jessie Euphemia Hope, and they were born on 8 October 1889 at Powers Creek

Molly had just turned 82 when she died on 29 October 1972 at her home in Northcote, a suburb of Melbourne.

She was a teacher, having taught for many years in country schools. One of her schools was at Dunrobin, a school about five to six miles out of Casterton, where she taught from the beginners class through to grade 8; being the only teacher in that school, as was the case in many other country schools at the time.

She was a very devoted, caring and loving person towards many members of the family. Being there, she faithfully stood by those in need, many times placing herself in a sacrificial position by foregoing her own needs to do so. She was always available regardless of the area of need that confronted her. She had a lot to do with my upbringing, having lost my mother at the age of 13 months.[1]

Her interests included sewing, knitting and crocheting at which she was very skilled, as well as reading being one her great loves. She played the violin, I recall her having a violin but it was not to my knowledge one of grandfather's violins. I'm sure she bought it whilst teaching at a country school in the western district of Victoria. But above all her other interests, she loved people and tended to their needs as best she could and gave them her friendship.

"Shortly after the sub-division of Mooralla and Kenilworth estates, the Department supplied a teacher to set up a school first held in a barn on a property now owned by B H Mayfield. On 15th June 1911 the school officially opened on a Departmental building known as SS3698 Mooralla Estate. Head Teacher Mary C Hope took charge of 11 pupils." The name was changed to Bulart in 1916 (location south of Rocklands Dam). Her name was written in full as in the Glenelg area another teacher called Mary L Hope was also teaching.[2]

Her last posting was at Westgarth Primary School (Melbourne), where she taught the Grade 1 and Grade 2 children. She retired at 65, but went on teaching until she was 70 years old. as was possible at the time in the Education Dept.

Mollie was often called Polly by several members of her family but she hated the shortened version of Molly (Moll). She learnt and played the violin. a gift inherited from her father.

[1]Isabel McLean

[2]Vision and Realisation-Official History of the Education Department of Victoria, Vol.11,P105

Regretably, I have no further information about the life and times of Mollie Hope.

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Richmond Armstrong Hope (father)

Thomas Hope (grandfather)