Jo
Jo was the
first of us three to get married, the first to have kids, and the first
to get divorced. Currently, she lives in Cessnock, her hands full
working full-time as a chef at a popular resort, and raising three kids
(Kristianna - the blonde in the photo, Acacia - the brunette, and Josh,
who wasn't born at the time this pic was taken) as well. When she's not
tied up doing
either of those, she somehow tries to have a social life, but it isn't
easy for her. She has inherited mum's
indefatigable spirit, a spirit which sometimes I had as well.
She's
the youngest of us three. At high-school she excelled at art, and still
dabbles in it every now and again with photography. She's also very
creative, and quite street smart, having been a former worker at a
women's refuge. She's also moved around a bit, and like me, got sick of
Tamworth as well.
In the early nineties, she had
been dating John, a policeman, who was the former boyfriend of one of
her friends. They were originally going to get married around September
of 1994, but when we were informed that mum's chances of living that
long were slim, they moved it forward to April. But with mum's rapid
declining health, Jo, in typical Turner fashion, decided that it was
going to take place in 48 hours time, on January 19, whilst mum was
still aware of what was going on. Mum's friends suddenly went into
overdrive. The base hospital
management had agreed to allow the wedding to take place in the
hospital chapel, and even gave us the use of a room for a reception. A
photographer was found, a video camera was hired, caterers acquired,
decorations, dresses, an organist, music, even a priest. In fact two
priests were to conduct the service, a Uniting church priest, who had
been a great support to mum in her last years, and a Roman Catholic
priest. And, to make mum extra happy, I shaved off my beard, seeing she
never liked it.
The chapel was filled to
overflowing, with a number of hospital staff peeking in to have a look.
It was a great service (I think I still have it on video) and
everything went off without a hitch. Mum was lucid enough to enjoy the
proceedings, and no doubt died very happy two days later.
Jo's marriage fell apart not long after she had her second child. John turned out to be an ogre. She thought she could change him, she couldn't and she left him. Custody over their two daughters still continues, but for the time being, they're with their mum.