Lineage of love and wisdom: Roma Lond, 97, with her daughter Gail Lond, 74, granddaughter Shelley Poliness, 57, great-grandaughter Jordyn Poliness, 29, and great-great-granddaughter Remi Hill, two weeks old.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
When little Remi Hill entered the world on July 19 at 12.51pm, Goulburn Valley Health became more than just a hospital — it became a place of celebration for three of the now five living generations of Lond-Poliness women.
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Jordyn Poliness’s three-hour, 20-minute labour resulted not only in the joy of childbirth but also in the continuation of an extraordinary legacy.
The day was a tapestry of moments woven together by the threads of familial love and connection.
As Jordyn’s mother, Shelley Poliness, stood by her side, bearing witness to this significant milestone, elsewhere, life’s daily rituals carried on.
In the cosiness of her home, Remi’s great-grandmother, Gail Lond, marked the occasion with the familiar sweetness of a Caramello.
Meanwhile, in Victoria’s High Country, Remi’s great-great-grandmother, Roma Lond, was absorbed in her lunch, unaware of the celebration unfolding.
With Remi’s birth, the women did more than just welcome another family member.
They celebrated the dawn of their fifth generation of women — a legacy that few families can claim.
“It’s unbelievable that I’ve lived this long,” Roma said.
“I didn’t think I’d be here to see my great-great-granddaughter.”
Generations of grace: Roma Lond, Gail Lond, Shelley Poliness, Jordyn Poliness and Remi Hill.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
About 110km separated her from the newborn, as Roma resides in Alexandra.
“I see my mum and grandma regularly. Great-grandma lives in Alexandra, so we don’t see her as much,” Jordyn said.
Regardless of the geographical challenges, the familial ties run deep.
“We’ve always cherished the four generations of women that we’ve had,” Shelley said.
“And now we’ve got the fifth.”
The women also hold on to another unique pattern: every generation since Roma’s mother (Remi’s great-great-great-grandmother) has seen a girl as their firstborn, and Remi is a continuation of this special tradition.
“Remi is a little miracle,” Shelley said.
But it isn’t just traditions and patterns that define this family.
It’s the values and teachings passed from one generation to the next.
“For me, grandma has been an important figure in my life,” Shelley said.
“Since my mum had me at a young age, grandma played a significant role in raising me.
“My values and morals are deeply influenced by her and my mum. It’s my hope that I’ve passed them on to Jordyn, and in turn, she’ll pass them to Remi.”
