Dorrit Pearline Blazé
29 October, 1915 – 17 October, 2016

Dorrit Pearline Blazé (29/10/1915-17/10/2016) wife of the late Benjamin Richard Blazé.
> Mother of John, Robin (dc) and Carel.
> Mother-in-law of Annette and Carmen.
> Grandmother of Ann-Marie, John, Richard, Daniel and Katharine.
> Great grandmother of Jesse, Joshua, Amy, Annie, Solomon, Bessie and Kitty.
> Grandmother-in-law of Mark Hermans, Naveen Nara, Cindi and Lisa Blazé.
> In God’s loving hands.

FUNERAL DETAILS
Dandenong Church of Christ
139 David Street, Dandenong VIC
Thursday 27 October, 2016 at 1.30pm
BURIAL DETAILS
Springvale Botanical Cemetery (Baptist Area)
600 Princes Highway Springvale
Thursday 27 October, 2016 at 4.00pm

100 YEARS OF LIVING AND LOVING
A TRIBUTE TO DORRIT BLAZE

On Friday the 29th October 1915 as the sun gradually dipped into the horizon of the Indian ocean, Lilian (nee Gogerly) and Stanley Wait who had waited in eager anticipation had their wish fulfilled when Lilian gave birth to a beautiful daughter at 6.55 pm. Their first child Mervyn a son was born five years earlier and having a daughter was an added blessing to them. They named her Dorrit.

It was a period in time when marriage was taken seriously and morals were valued as part of our existence and the little things in life were counted most.
Thanks to Goggle, I was able to dig deep into the past and I found it interesting to note that when Dorrit was born, the favourite song of the day was ” Hello, Frisco” sung by Baritone Kline Reinald & Soprano Olive Kline and the sensational comedy film was “Fathy’s Tintype Tangle” staring Roscoe Arbuckle, Louise Fazenda, Edgar Kennedy, Minta Durfee & Frank Hayse.

For the 36,000 days she has lived on this earth, much water has flowed beneath the bridge. She has experienced the good times and the bad times. She has lived through World War 1, World War 11, The Great Depression, The Korean War, Vietnam, The Gulf War & The War in Iraq. The assassinations of U.S. President John F. Kennedy in 1963, and the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1968., Neil Armstrong walk on the moon in 1969 and the collapse of the Berlin Wall that divided Berlin from 1961 to 1989. Not forgetting the attack on the World Trade Centre. in 2001.

On the brighter side, her motherland Ceylon became an independent country and received its sovereignty on the 4th February 1948. It changed its name to Sri Lanka in 1972. Sadly, after independence there was much unrest in the country due to the Sinhalese Language policy and the LTTE (The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) that waged war in the north in 1983 that lasted for nearly 26 years. This resulted in the migration of the minor Burgher community, seeking green pastures in foreign lands

But imagine this, our sweet lady was born before Einstein receivied the 1st Noble Prize in 1921, Alexander Fleming discovery of the first antibiotic, penicillin in 1928, the Polio Vaccine by Jonas Salk in 1952 and Bone Marrow, lung and heart transplants. A time when “grass” was mowed, “pot” was something we cooked in, “aids” were helpers, “chip” meant piece of wood, “hardware” was found in the hardware store and “software wasn’t even a word.

Also in the way of useful items to mention a few —the Pop-up-toaster, the Blender, Sunglasses, Disposable razor blades, Sliced bread, Ballpoint pen, Television, Microwave oven, Mobile phones, Computers, and not forgetting the Contraceptive Pill, some of which she has had the privilege to use at some stage of her life.

On a personal note, I understand she had a wonderful childhood and, like all children are, very mischievous. She confirms, she was a bit of a Tom Boy who loved to climb up trees and may I add rob the neighbours mangoes. She attended Bishop’s Collage in Srl Lanka and being a bright student she reached heights in the academic field. Dorrit, like her late husband, took to the vacation of teaching but her interest was mainly in art. Her home was studded with paintings and Sketches, all her own handwork. She won a number of prizes at Arl Exhibitions and had been invited many times to judge at Exhibitions, both overseas and in Australia.
By winning a Fullbright Scholarship, she was able to travel widely in the United States, and followed a fulltime course of studies at the Ohio State University that helped her considerably in her teaching.
She taught at the Presbyterian Girls School, Regent, Street, Carey College, Kynsey Rd. in Sri Lanka and at the Caulfield High School in Melbourne. Dorrit’s interest was not confined to art alone, but also in music. She passed several examinations at the Royal Academy & Trinity Collage of Music.

She took an interest in Scouting and was awarded the Wood Badge for her service towards this Movement. During World War 2 she volunteered as a Red Cross Nurse and her dedication towards the Armed Forces won her three prestigious medals.
As a hobby, she took a course in dressmaking and made herself proficient in all forms of needlework.

Through all the changing scenes of life she has had her share of ups & downs but being grounded firmly in her faith she faced these challenges firmly and today stands victorious giving God all the glory.

Dorrit met Benjamin Blaze when she was very young and at the age of seventeen she married him on the 30th June 1932. They have been blessed with three sons- Rev. John Blaze, Robert (dec), & Dr. Carel, five grandchildren- Anne Marie, John, Katharine, Richard & Daniel and seven greatgrand children- Jesse, Joshua, Amy, Annie, Solomon, Bessie and Kitty. They celebrated their Golden Anniversary in June 1982. They were meant for each other, compatible in many ways. Fortunately, they were gifted with talents and these two accomplished persons did combine their interest to create that “ togetherness” to achieve a life of fulfillment.
Benjamin was the inaugural Vice President of the Dematagoda Christian Guild founded by my late father Shelton Schokman, Snr in 1934 and Dorrit for a short period was the secretary.

They migrated to Australia with their family in 1955. To them the welfare of the Burghers have always been an obsession. From very early years, they provided refuge to the Burgher migrants in their own home and helped them to find employment and to settle down. Dorrit, in spite of her 3 children and the daily chores, she always went that extra mile to make sure that those under her wing were well provided and comfortable.

They have been involved in the founding of the Australia Ceylon Fellowship, The Voluntary Outreach Club and the Burgher Association and have throughout the years contributed towards its growth and success.

With the passing of time, sadly she had to face the death of her parents; her only brother Mervyn, her son Robin and husband Benjamin. However, with a positive frame of mind this did not deter her from doing what she loves most helping others.

Till very recently she played the organ at church, continues to organise carols at the Senior Citizens Home and the New years Eve Service at her church. She attends a Home Group fortnightly and occupies herself in Knitting and doing the puzzles.

Inquisitively I inquired, “ Dorrit now tell me what is your recipe for a long life”. She unhesitantly replied –“ 4 sugars in my coffee & tea, the fat in the pork, crab curry but most importantly regular spiritual food for the nourishment of the soul”

Congratulations Dorrit for reaching this milestone in your life. You have been a great inspiration to many and we pray that your examples, your faith, and your attributes will leave indelible footprints on the sands of time for others to follow.

With God’s Blessings on your 100th Birthday

Charles Schokman