The fascinating life of Penny Drake-Brockman

MOST people enjoying Gloucester District Park are likely to be unaware that they have 90-year-old Penny Drake-Brockman to thank for many of the trees and shrubs that give the park its beauty.

Until a recent hip replacement temporarily curtailed her activities, Penny could often be seen, either on her own, or with others, pulling out weeds or planting native trees and shrubs in the park.

Although Penny can probably now claim to be a Gloucester local, having lived here for over 30 years, she began life as one of four children, in Luton, England just before the second World War.

During the war the family lived on England’s south coast, and Penny recalls watching “dog fights” overhead, and once got chased away after trying to climb through barbed wire into a nearby “ack ack” gun emplacement.

Penny’s mother’s ambition for her daughters was for them to marry and have lots of children, a hope shared by the nuns at convent school.

Penny had other ideas however, and completed two years at art school.

“At art school the world opened up to me and I discovered music and the Russian and French authors, as well as art,” said Penny.

“I played the piano from the age of five.”

After art school Penny headed up to London where she got work as a secretary, which was one of the few options open to young women at that time.

In London her horizons, particularly surrounding the arts, broadened even further.

“When in London I went frequently to classical music concerts and to the theatre,” said Penny.

“There were also lots of coffee bars, usually in a damp basement, where someone would play the guitar in a thick smoky room.

“I met new and interesting people all the time.”

Penny did succumb to social convention when she met and married Anthony, eventually giving birth to two sons.

As well as being her husband, Anthony was also Penny’s boss at work.

When she resigned her job the relationship deteriorated, and after a visit to Australia she decided that she’d emigrate, which she did in 1983.

Soon after moving to Sydney, Penny got a job with the Conservatorium of Music running the Sydney International Piano Competition before being invited to help set up the first London International Piano Competition, but after fifteen months she returned to Australia.

For a few years before retiring Penny ran the public music examinations program at the Conservatorium.

All her life Penny has been interested in the natural world, particularly birdlife, and this interest took her to various parts of NSW.

Gloucester was one area that she found particularly attractive, so she decided to stay.

“For me Gloucester ticked all the boxes and had, and still has, the feeling of a village,” added Penny.

After moving to town, Penny joined the Gloucester Environment Group of which she has been active ever since.

For many years she was the inspiration behind the group’s Rivercare project which carries out regeneration in Gloucester District Park, and other parts of the town.

Penny still joins in the Environment Group’s bird watching and other activities.

By John WATTS