Births, Engagements, Marriages & Vale Notices

Jody (Cog) Kelso (Cook, 1969)

Jody came from Northmead near Parramatta and started her Pymble journey as a boarder in 1964 in Room 1, Lang House with 5 other girls and somewhere along the way acquired the nickname “Cog”. Jody embraced school life with enthusiasm and good humour and formed lifelong friendships.

Her mother had passed away when she was younger, so her father thought it important that she should have an opportunity at Pymble. We remember her beautiful handwriting, which she acquired as a result of some long-forgotten misdemeanour and compulsive practice of the Modified Cursive writing style, her love of Women’s Weekly Mills and Boon and the fabulous tan she acquired every summer at Bungan Beach, where even her underarms were brown! There are many happy memories of rooming in the “dog box”, free weekends at the Bungan beach house, and holidays with the boarding friend’s families. We remember Jo as a competent, reliable and generous friend.

In Year 12, Jo participated in the A Netball team as Goal Shooter and left Pymble with a Commonwealth Scholarship to Hawkesbury Agricultural College where she studied Food Technology. She then joined EastWest airlines, based at Tamworth, as an air hostess. It was at Tamworth that she met Tom Kelso, a local beef producer & poultry farmer. Jo and Tom were married in Tamworth in 1974, and settled at Bithramere where their three sons, David, Glen and Mark were born. Jo then became a very competent partner in the farming and subsequent businesses.

Retirement found them at Yamba where Jo reconnected with a group of ex-Marden boarding friends, and enjoyed regular lunches together. In true boarding spirit the girls were there for her during many tough times, and supported Tom where possible.

Jody passed away in late 2025 after a battle with Alzheimer’s Disease leaving Tom, her son’s and their families.

Margaret Capp (Knapman, 1969)