Val Sheehan

1927 – 2015

Historian, Community Advocate, and Beloved Coldstream Resident

“She was a quiet achiever, she held wise counsel, she listened, she was a doer, she had great knowledge, she was a tireless researcher, she had an inquiring mind and she had a spirit of calm”[1]

Valma Jean Sheehan, affectionately known as Val, was a passionate historian and devoted member of the Coldstream community from 1943 until her passing in 2015.

Born on April 2, 1927, in Koondrook on the Murray River, Val moved to Coldstream with her family in 1943 at the age of 16. She spent the rest of her life in the area, becoming a beloved figure in the community and earning the nickname “Mrs. Coldstream.”

Val’s deep love for the Yarra Valley and  preserving its history was evident throughout her life.  Her support of the Coldstream Cricket Club and the Coldstream Football Club led her to compile a record of newspaper articles and photos for the football club’s 25th anniversary in the 1970s.

While her children were students at Yering Primary School, Val immersed herself in researching and documenting the school’s history. This dedication resulted in the publication of Memories of Yering: The History of Yering Primary School for its 120th anniversary in 1989.

This project was the  beginning of her collaboration with historian and publisher Sue Thompson from the Lilydale and District Historical Society. They later worked together on a second book, Further Memories of Yering, for the school’s 125th anniversary in 1994.

Val Sheehan’s passion for historical preservation led her to join the Lilydale & District Historical Society (LDHS) in 1990. She became a highly valued volunteer and committee member.

One of Val’s most important projects was creating a four-book local history series called As It Happened: The History of Coldstream, Gruyere, Yering and Killara. This series documented the history of these areas from settlement to 1960. Val spent countless hours reading through old newspapers, compiling articles, and creating a valuable database of births, deaths, and marriages from the local paper, the Lilydale Express.

“She had the local newspapers on microfiche and would sit in the corner for hours going through it and then she would go out and talk to people… She knew everybody and people were only too happy to give her information and photos.”[2]

Val also authored several family history books, including They Came to Rushworth and The Smith Family.

Val’s contributions to the community were widely recognised, earning her a Certificate of  Recognition from the Shire of Yarra Ranges in 2005, life membership in the Lilydale and District Historical Society in 2008, and an Award of Merit from the Royal Historical Society of Victoria in 2014.

Val was involved in numerous local projects, including the erection of the Coldstream and Yering War Memorial in 1995, a project she worked on with her brother, Les Skate. She also worked closely with her daughter Christine in raising funds for local charities through events such as the annual Wallace Garden fundraiser in Coldstream.

For 39 years, Val worked at Coombe Cottage, where she formed a close friendship with Pamela Lady Vestey, granddaughter of Dame Nellie Melba. Together, they shared a passion for preserving the memory of Dame Nellie Melba. 

“Val was very interested in the new Coombe Restaurant and was a great ambassador for it and I’m sure she encouraged many people to visit and enjoy the food, the venue, the history or a garden tour. The Devonshire tea was her idea!”[3]

The last two projects Val worked on were The Coldstream Panel for Lilydale and District Historical Society at the Old Court House and Wool Bale story for Coombe.

Val passed away in 2015, at the age of 88, after a short illness. A memorial stone was laid in her honour at the Margaret Lewis Reserve in Coldstream.

Val’s warmth, dedication, and unwavering dedication to her community and its history have truly left a  lasting mark on Coldstream and the wider Yarra Valley.

Acknowledgement:

This Biography was written by Her Place Women’s Museum in consultation with family  using the primary resource: Val Sheehan – Local Stories Lilydale and District Historical Society

To discover more about Val Sheehan and other trailblazing women in the Yarra Valley visit the Lilydale and District Historical Society.

Commemoration: A memorial stone honouring Val Sheehan is located at the scenic Margaret Lewis Reserve in Coldstream. The inscription reads,

“In loving memory of Val Sheehan for her generous contributions to this reserve and the local community. Her legacy lives on in many ways, especially in her recording of the rich history of the Yarra Valley.” This plaque was installed by the Friends of Margaret Lewis Reserve Inc. and unveiled on April 2, 2016.

Books by Val Sheehan:

Sheehan, V. (1996). The Smith Family. Lilydale, VIC: Lilydale and District Historical Society.

Sheehan, V. (2017). They Came to Rushworth: The Story of the Skate, Clayton, and Muller Families. Lilydale, VIC: Lilydale and District Historical Society.

Sheehan, V. (1989). Memories of Yering: The History of Yering Primary School. Lilydale, VIC: Lilydale and District Historical Society.

Sheehan, V. (1994). Further Memories of Yering: The History of Yering Primary School. Lilydale, VIC: Lilydale and District Historical Society.

Sheehan, V. (Year Unavailable). As It Happened: The History of Coldstream, Gruyere, Yering and Killara. Lilydale, VIC: Lilydale and District Historical Society.

Additional Resources:

Follett, Neil. “Writing for the Future’ Exhibition at Old Lilydale Court House.” Weekend Notes, 4 Feb. 2020.

Gannaway, K. (2018, March 4) As It Happened …. Mountain Views Star Mail.

WikiTree contributors. (n.d.). Valma Jean (Skate) Sheehan (1927 – 2015) WikiTree. Retrieved August 6, 2024.