From: Biological Stn. Pearl Beach
Via Woy Woy
NSW

July 15, 1968

My dearest Edith (?),

It was such a great pleasure to have your letter of May 31st a few days ago, and to know you were thinking of me! I cannot remember when I heard from you last, but it must have been quite a long time ago. Please forgive me if it was not answered.

I have just been celebrating my eighty-seventh birthday (June 29th) and I have so many cares and responsibilities, and have so much to do that I am no longer able to cope with all I would like to be doing. When I retired at sixty, I devoted all my means and my time to the conservation of our beautiful flora and fauna, and set up this Biological Station and gave it to the Sydney University for that purpose.

At the moment we have eighteen Sydney University students in occupation and with myself and the 'caretaker' there is a busy household of 20. This group is from the Botany Department.

Please excuse my bad writing. My sight is no longer good but I am glad to say my general health is good - otherwise I could not cope with all I have to do. With the help of an old friend who comes for the morning once a week I do all my own housework but cannot go for the long walks I once enjoyed so much.

I was given the M.B.E. decoration some years ago and at that time was able to go to Government House, Sydney to receive the decoration but I am no longer able to do much walking and have not been away from home - or even to our little Post Office for a long time.

I hope you will write and give me all your news. It was such a great pleasure to see you all when I 'went home' [in 1936] so many years ago. I wish you could come and see me, but now we are both restricted to our memories. Do let me know if I could do anything for you or send you anything from this part of the world.

With love from Minard F. Crommelin