‘Queen of the Murray’ Essie Nisbet, 100 years well lived

Born on July 25, 1924 to Robert and Olive Douglass, Essie Olive Douglass spent the first years of her life on a sheep and wheat farm in Buckrabanyule, just outside Charlton.

At just five years old, Essie rode her horse to school — provided she stayed on — about five miles from home, receiving a four pence allowance from the government for making the journey.

When her younger brothers Lindsay and Keith came along, she would bring them to school on a horse and buggy.

After completing grade 8 and receiving her Merit Certificate, Essie worked on the family farm, rounding the sheep and cattle, sheaf turning, chaff cutting and milking cows.

A keen dancer, Essie was often the belle of the ball at the many dances she travelled to, thanks to her father’s teaching and her mother’s seamstress skills.

Taking a break from the farm, Essie worked in Geelong — a place where her family regularly holidayed — as a salesgirl at Ezywalkin’ Shoes. She also regularly travelled to Colac for dancing.

Essie met her future husband, John, known as Jack, on her return to Charlton.

A policeman on relieving duty, he taught her to drive in a 1924 Chrysler and awarded Essie her licence.

In 1950, the couple married at St Andrew’s Bendigo, settling in St Arnaud where their first two children, Douglass and Meryl, were born.

The family moved to Stawell, where they welcomed their third child, Robert, and lived for 18 years.

While in Stawell, Essie became the manageress of a frock shop and the family spent time at their holiday cottage in Hall’s Gap.

In 1972, the Nisbet family moved to Echuca. Essie loved the river and environment of the region — so much so that in 1976 she became the hostess on the PS Canberra.

For 30 years, Essie held this position, making a total of 20,360 trips, working with 32 captains and even rubbing shoulders with royalty.

Around her 100th birthday in July, Essie reflected on the then-Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s visit to Echuca in 1983.

She had the opportunity to meet the pair, shaking hands with Lady Di and exchanging pleasantries.

“(Diana) was coming down to the boats, and we were standing on each side as she walked down the pathway,” Essie said.

“The girls were all lined up on one side, and Prince Charles was walking down the other side.

“I said, ‘I hope they don’t switch over’, because we were going to meet her.

“Next thing I know, I was shaking hands with her, and I said to her, ‘it’s lovely to meet you, lovely you came to Echuca’, something like that, and she said ‘thank you’.”

Essie’s role as hostess on the PS Canberra saw her included in The Women of the River Country travelling exhibition, featuring 20 influential women of the Murray River.

The display was first held in Mannum, South Australia, and was shown at the Port of Echuca in 2016.

Essie’s faith was an important part of her life, teaching Sunday School, joining the Presbyterian Fellowship Association as a youth, and attending the evening fellowship at Echuca-Moama Uniting Church, even towards the end of her life.

For Essie’s 100th birthday, many of her closest friends and family celebrated her life with a party at Wharparilla Lodge.

She is survived by her three children, six grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, as well as her brother Keith.

A service of thanksgiving for Essie was held on Thursday, November 28 at Echuca-Moama Uniting Church, where Reverend Michele Lees delivered the eulogy.