POLKINGHORNE, Lorraine Lesley (Looker)

Lorraine Lesley Looker was born in Ballarat on the 6th of June 1946, the eldest daughter of Leslie and Phyllis Looker, big sister to Gary.  Lorraine was raised and spent most of her youth growing up in Lyons Street Ballarat.

She attended primary school at St Joseph's before spending a short time at Loreto College before moving to Sacred Heart for the majority of her secondary education.  After finishing school Lorraine's first job was working for Mr. Podger as a dental nurse.  Ironically, her only wish in life was that she could have her own set of teeth!

Around this time Lorraine and a young Kevin Polkinghorne started going out together.  For their first official date together Kevin rang and asked Lorraine to the dance the coming weekend.  A couple of days later Kevin received a phone call from Lorraine.  Lorraine said, "Who do you take to the footy ? to which Kevin replied "no one".  Lorraine said, "how about I come and watch you - I like footy".  What a big part of all the Polkinghorne families' lives would football become?

Following a courtship of approximately 4 years, Lorraine married Kevin John Polkinghorne at the Church of the Little Flower on the 24th of December 1966.  Kevin was commuting backward and forward to Heywood for his work with the Shire of Portland, so Kevin and Lorraine's first home was in Heywood.  Over the next 3 years, they lived in Heywood and during this time Trear and John were born.  However the pull of family bought them home, and they returned to Ballarat to be closer to family and friends.

This is when the rest of the family arrived with the birth of Travis & Grant and a pleasant surprise about 9 years later with the arrival of Briony.  The older children were a bit horrified at the thought of how all this happened.  Briony reckons it's the best "mistake" her mum and dad ever made !!

Over the years Lorraine had several other jobs helping Kevin run and operate a garage for approx. 7 years - 7 days a week before working at the Ballarat Courier Office at night.  However, the one job Lorraine was most passionate about and committed to was that of being a mother.  If you ever had to write a Job Description for a Mother/Wife/Grandmother, you would base it on Lorraine.  She had unconditional love for her husband, her children, and later her grandchildren.  

Lorraine was not a material person, she was most comfortable at home in her trackie at the kitchen table with the grandkids around.  Later in life, it was on the couch with her rug on her knees.  When she wanted to spoil herself she would buy a box of Roses chocolates and have a nice hot cup of coffee out of a china mug (very extravagant). 

With 3 boys playing footy in the depths of a Ballarat winter, there would always be a footy bag or 3 in the laundry.  Lorraine would get the gear out, boots and all, to hose down on the back path before washing it in the washing machine.  She would hang the boots in the linen press and often give them a lick of nugget later in the week.  At times the bath could be found with numerous pieces of football clothing soaking in it. 

In the last 3 to 4 years leading up to Lorraine's death, she was unable to lie down to sleep so she would perch herself on the couch and watch sports all night with the volume down.  She would often remark to Kevin that she was happy to go without but he must pay the $50 a month for the Austar subscription.

Lorraine's family will miss her being there on the sidelines but take comfort in knowing she will always be watching over them and supporting them in their endeavors.

Lorraine passed away with her family by her side at the age of 63 on the 11th of August 2009.  She is buried at the Ballarat New Cemetery in Lawn L Row 13 Grave 23.

Thank you to her family for supplying these lovely words.

Club mourns stalwart's death (Ballarat Courier)

NORTH BALLARAT Football Club is mourning the death of the much loved Lorraine Polkinghorne.  Lorraine was surrounded by family when she died on Tuesday and will be sadly missed by all who had the pleasure of meeting her.

The Polkinghorne family is well known to the club, with Lorraine's husband Kevin being part of the 1963 premiership side and sons John, Travis, and Grant all experiencing very decorated careers with the Roosters.