Adapted from the eulogy prepared by Haidee’s niece, Mary Ferguson.

WAS BORN:
17 May 1899, Fremantle WA.

She was the eldest of 2 daughters of Annie and Randolph Pitman, originally of South Australia, to which they returned when Haidee was 8 years old.

SHE LIVED:
At Leabrook, Norwood, and latterly Broadview, Campbelltown and Rostrevor.

HER SCHOOLING:
Was at Marryatville Primary, Norwood High and Muirden Business College.

FAMILY:
She was devoted to her parents until their deaths (at 86 and 90) and to her sister Gwen, her husband and three children. Always called ‘Aunt’ by her niece and nephews and their children, she took a lively interest in them all down to the little ‘great-greats’ – right to the end.

HER PERSONALITY:
Was optimistic, outgoing, a perfectionist in both her work and many projects. Anyone trained by Haidee over the years will attest to her thoroughness. Haidee adjusted readily to the changes in her circumstances brought about by her advancing age. Even when entering ‘Milpara’ in her last year, she was determined to make the most of it and, in spite of her frailty, did so.

TWO MAJOR PASSIONS:
(1) Photography from the age of 19 when she did her own developing and printing in the family cellar.

(2) The family history, The Australians of a Branch of the Pitman Family, was the outcome of a visit to Australia from England in 1949 by the Head of the Pitman Publishing Company.

He was interested in finding out what had happened to the Pitman families who migrated to Australia in 1838, 1840 and 1851.

Haidee was enlisted and her research resulted in a published history in 1954. This book formed the basis for an enlarged edition that was launched at the family reunion in November 1990.

DIED:
13 August 1991, Adelaide SA

During her long life Haidee saw enormous changes in all aspects of living, never looked back, but always forward to whatever life had to offer.

For details of Haidee Pitman’s family line, see the W9 Thomas Pitman and Mary Day section of Pitman Families in Australia 1838-1990 or click the FamilySearch icon.