Wendy Dart (nee Kosbab) by Derek Kosbab

My mother’s first child was a girl, Hazel was born with Spina bifida and died before she was one year old.  Then, she had me, Derek; and then five years later, Michael. Eight years later in Melbourne, she had Brian and then eighteen months later, Wendy. As Doris’ only daughter, Wendy was special.

Wendy was special in many ways. She was a good sportswoman, brainy and practical, and funny. Wendy married Terry Dart, had two children, Adam and Nicole, and went to live on the Gold Coast in Queensland.

Wendy died from a brain aneurism when she was forty. Wendy died with a huge dislike of me. The dislike had its origins in those sorts of misunderstandings—unwarranted and untrue—that sometimes develop in family relationships and, seemingly, cannot be undone.

The picture of Wendy above captures closely her fun nature when she was in her twenties.

Acrylic on canvas: 460mm x 710mm