Remembering Mrs Whitby
Housewives do not like to be called heroines. Their standard riposte to such accusations is to point out that it requires the efforts of many people to create a harmonious and successful life. They are right too, in many ways.
But for Jennifer Whitby, the struggle against heroism seems particularly futile. Her life was testament to her quiet influence on many hundreds of people from different walks of life.
She held all those she touched with her presence, spellbound.
Above all she was a true life partner to the ‘larger than life’ Max Whitby. She held him and helped him, unwaveringly through, “good times and the seriously down times” in their forty six years of togetherness.
If Max Whitby’s bravery, competitiveness and swaggering machismo was one side of the coin, Jennifer Whitby’s beauty, gentleness, patience and poise was the other.
She was Whitby’s greatest supporter. Her dedication to her family won her admiration and accolades.
She named horses for Whitby and joined him at all major racing events he attended. A talented woman, she won awards for dress making and design. The beautiful art she painted hangs in their Sydney home. Her elegance and stylishness turned heads and her warmth drew people to her.
(Mrs. Jennifer Whitby is survived by her husband Max Whitby and their daughters Kate and Elisha and son-in-law, Andrew. Jennifer was the cherished Nana of Will, Gus and Archie, and beloved sister and aunt to her loving extended family.)
Credit: Pallavi Shevade pallavi.shevade@secretariatsworld.com