Who was Mrs Walker?


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Posted by Robert Dilley on September 08, 1998 at 21:17:50:

A new thread that might spark some interest -- what was the background of "the Best of All Natives?" We know she grew up close to Sydney Harbour, and that later she was in Australia's sheep rearing country (thousands of sheep dying in drought is not a common problem within sight of Sydney Harbour). Yet I am not aware of anywhere in the books when she uses any Australianisms in her speech -- most unusual in someone who spent her formative years in the country. Even if her parents were Brits, her environment would surely have shaped her speech patterns. My Canadian-born and -raised daughters, after eight months in England, were accused by their schoolmates on their return of having British accents. And how did she end up married to a RN Officer? Was Ted Walker's boat based in Sydney long enough? Was she (maiden name unknown) brought or sent to England to be "finished"?
On a related topic: it is curious (though capable of explanation) that in S&A, when the behaviour of Captain Flint is being discussed, it is noted that the Swallows were somewhat out of their depth as they had no uncles of their own (I don't have the book with me for exact wording). In Swallowdale, when contemplating the GA, the Swallows note that none of their aunts were like her. This implies that either Capt or Mrs Walker had unmarried sisters -- presumably at least three between them (one would have been "their aunt was not..." and two "neither of their aunts was....)
Any takers on these threads?


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