Mary Elizabeth Rollason, the eldest of nine children of Richard John Rollason and Lucy (nee Evans) was born 25 September 1879 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Her mother was a member of the LDS Church and the girls of the family were also members.

Peter Christensen was in Brisbane, possibly on missionary service, when they met and became engaged. Mary left her family and went with Peter to Salt Lake City where they married on the 7 April 1904. She remained a member of the LDS and died in 1966.Mary remained close to her family and wrote regularly of her life.

I have been lucky enough to inherit some of these communications to her mother, Lucy, sister Violet and niece Myrtle who was my grandmother. Postcard collecting was popular as they were pretty and showed scenes of the times. and all three women collected Mary’s postcards into albums. In these, there are mentions of letters and postcards to the other members of her family, who remained in Brisbane and the news was shared between the family.

I'd like to share them with you.

Sunday 4 September 2011

Great Mormon Tabernacle, Salt Lake City

27 August 1911 (Postcard Great Mormon Tabernacle Salt Lake City)

Dear Father and Mother,

Just a line to you hoping you are feeling well. We are well at the time of writing. 

Peter has had plenty of work all summer. Soon his summer work is over and then it is look out for the winter months. H is thinking of going off to work as we have to live and we do not want to go into debt. We have tried to keep out and we have succeeded pretty well. We have a payment to make on our land by the first of January and we are going to try and keep up our payments even if it does cause us all less luxuries of life. 

Glad to hear Father is able to work and get it to do. We have had a fair summer for crops this year. Lots of hay was killed out last winter with the severe cold we had before the snow came so a number of the farmers had to replant seed for hay again. 

Our fruit trees are looking fine and I hope they will continue to do so. Why do you not write at times Father? 

We would be glad to hear from you. 

Best love from us all to you all,
from your loving daughter Mary E Christensen.

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