“The Australian Women's Weekly” 25 January 1941

MEET THE FADDEN FAMILY

Wife of Acting Prime Minister talks about their home life
By our Brisbane representative

Political honors are falling thick and fast on Mr. Fadden, Federal Treasurer, and at 45 he is youngest Acting Prime Minister, after four years in politics.
Devoted family man that he is, these honors will not fully counterbalance the long separations from his wife and children inevitable in his job.
From Toowong (Qld.) to Canberra is a far cry. Still, Mr. Fadden spends a lot of time with his family over the long-distance telephone.

When I called to see Mrs. Fadden at her Toowong home she was playing Chinese checkers with her family, Betty, Mavis, John and Gordon.
She was awaiting a telephone message from her husband at Canberra.
Speaking of her husband's appointment as Acting Prime Minister during the absence of Mr. Menzies abroad, Mrs. Fadden said:
"It all seems such a whirlwind. I can hardly realise that my husband has attained such a high position in such a short period. I am sure he will carry out his job to the best of his ability. In view of his new position my time will now be divided between my home here and Canberra.
"I shall never get used to my husband being away from home so much on political duties.
"He, too, is missing the best of his children's lives. But these sad days we all should be prepared to make sacrifices. I feel mine are very small compared with so many others whose homes have been altered and saddened by this horrible war.

Political honors are falling thick and fast on Mr. Fadden
"My husband is a heavy smoker. He likes cigars, but uses his pipe when he is thinking.
"He hasn't very much leisure, but what he has he spends with his family. He likes nothing better than a picnic in the bush, and prefers the countryside to the seaside. The lighter side of literature appeals to him. He likes humorous short stories. He is not a radio fan, and seldom listens in.
"He is an excellent host, and likes to entertain his men friends at home. He is not fond of dining out.
"And I am not really ever lonely. The children see to that. All the same I wouldn't like to think I have to live this life always.
"Meanwhile, there's the telephone which keeps us in touch with each other. "
Of medium height, with a slim, youthful figure, dark complexion, brown eyes, black hair parted in the middle, done in a soft roll, Mrs. Fadden looks ridiculously young to have a grown-up family. It is hard to believe she has been married nearly 25 years. Betty is 23, Mavis 21, Gordon 18, and John 16.

He likes cigars, but uses his pipe when he is thinking.

Excellent cook

Mrs. Fadden is a very good cook, and according to Mavis is expert at making dark rich fruit cake.
Travelling greatly appeals to Mr. and Mrs. Fadden. When the children were quite young, Mr. and Mrs. Fadden left them in charge of their grandmother and had a trip to Canada and the United States of America.
Periodically now she leaves them in charge of Betty. "And they survive," says the eldest daughter.
The Fadden family is a very musical one. Betty is a fine pianist and has a very sweet soprano voice.
She has won the A.Mus.A. for the piano and passed Grade 1 for singing.
Betty prefers classical music. Mavis, Gordon and John, all great music-lovers, have a preference for jazz, "but not too hot," says John. Gordon says he "plays the gramophone." He buys at least one record a week.

 

Travelling greatly appeals to Mr. and Mrs. Fadden.