STORY - "Happier by the Dozen"

Chances are you’ve not heard of Hal and Faye Moloney and their 12 children. But if you live in Our Lady of Lourdes (OLOL) Beresfield Parish, you may have worked with them on school fundraising and sporting events. You may have joined Faye in OLOL’s reading program, something she has enjoyed for eight years, or have driven in one of Hal’s many fundraiser car rallies. You will have heard of, and may have benefited from, their contributions and fundraising efforts to CANTEEN, The Starlight Foundation, and Camp Quality. “You are bound to have rubbed shoulders with one of them in your time,” insists family friend, Karen Armstrong. And you may also know that this year marks the end of an era for the Moloneys at OLOL Primary School.

The Moloney children have been continually enrolled at OLOL since 1979, when Michelle, 37, first attended the school. The OLOL Primary School community farewells the family at the end of Term when Brydie, 11, completes Year 6 to become the last Moloney to attend the school. “It is pretty good at OLOL and I’m looking forward to going to St Peter’s next year,” Brydie says. Hal explains that there was never a question of the children not attending OLOL. “It was the local Catholic school, so that’s where they went,” he says matter-of-factly. “Faye has always liked the school and the teachers, and the kids have received a good education there.” Although the school has grown considerably, Faye says they have always made her feel welcome. “You can always go and talk to the teachers and they know you by name. You know that if anything happens that you can go and discuss it with them.”

The family has seen many changes at OLOL since settling at Beresfield in 1971. Hal lists the parish priests since then from Fr Hanrahan, who welcomed them to the parish, to Fr Fenton in the 1970s-80s, whom Hal recalls fondly: “He drove a Torana in my 1978 fundraiser car rally. He was a terrific bloke”; to the current and much loved Fr Ron Pickin. Although the school uniform hasn’t altered, Brydie and brother Denny, 15, recount other changes at OLOL like the canteen ‘going healthy’, to the chagrin of many customers, chalk boards superseded by white boards and more recently by electronic smart boards, introduction of computers in classrooms, and new buildings.

Hal and Faye observe other subtle changes, more reflective of society. “Everything is rushed now,” Hal reflects on changing attitudes and lifestyles of families today. “Parents lead a much more rapid lifestyle. They don’t have time to talk like they used to.” He implies that this hectic lifestyle can give the impression that the community is not as friendly or as close knit as in times gone by.

You might think that life in such a large family would be hectic. Their modest home, having morphed from a few bedrooms to nine, houses a collection of vehicles lining the driveway and front yard, a sure sign that teenagers are close at hand. With five children still in residence, space is always a precious commodity. Venturing inside, Hal’s library is a cosy wall to wall assortment of car books and magazines. There is a scattering of model cars, mainly of the iconic Leyland P76 about which Hal has written a book. “Don’t mind the mess. Just walk around it,” he casually suggests. Some people might be overwhelmed by a room that looks like it’s about to breathe a life of its own, but Hal is comfortable and unperturbed.

“No, no it doesn’t feel chaotic,” Faye remarks of their family life, somewhat bemused by the inference. However, Hal admits, “It’s always a bit of a riot when we have them all over for tea, like for a birthday.” I get the impression that the house is occasionally a constant stream of children and friends, providing a haven for kids in transit. But Hal and Faye are relaxed and down to earth people who take everything in their stride. As Faye says, “The Moloney family just happens. What happens, happens.”

This philosophy is reflected in their ‘open house’ policy. “Even when the girls were little, their friends would come home and sit and talk with us. A lot of them used to say they could come in here and feel comfortable and talk more than they could at home,” Faye recalls fondly. She believes that you always have to listen to what your children are telling you and she urges, “Don’t discount them. Whenever a situation comes up we talk about it, irrespective of what it is. Right from the beginning we’ve always talked, not screamed.” Speaking of how she relates to children, Faye shares her grandmother’s advice, “Get down to a child’s level to be able to accept things how they see them.”

A respect for and acceptance of one another characterises Hal and Faye’s parenting approach. “None of the children have been compared to each other. They are all individuals, even from when they were little. They’ve never been a number,” Faye insists. “They have been taught to think for themselves, assess a situation, work it out, and know that whatever decision they make we are behind them.” Hal and Faye have instilled in their children their virtues of respect, resilience, and reliance, which people now observe in their ten grandchildren.

The Moloneys are a unique family, resilient and generous, but Faye admits, “Life is not always a ball.” Explaining that they are simply trying to be the best parents they can, Hal reveals, “It’s been a struggle at times, there’s no doubt about that. But when it’s good, it’s very, very good.” They are admired for their family values and community spirit and until grand-daughter, Georgia, starts school at OLOL in three or four years, the Moloney absence will be felt. As Karen Armstrong remarks, “We will miss their beautiful sense of family.”

Scott Moore

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