Norah St George (Lee) Butter (1886 - 1971)

1914 Apr 20 ROMANCE LOVE ON A LINER.

"Happy's the wooing that's not long a-doing," says the old proverb. Mr. William Butter and Miss Norah Lees have probably put up a record for Australia in this respect. They only knew each other a few days before they were engaged, and the marriage is to be celebrated a month after their engagement. It was on the R.M.S. Moldavia, that they met when Miss Lee was accompanying her mother to West Australia to see a relative. There was a concert in the stateroom one night, and when fair-haired Miss Lee entered the room, Mr. Butter exclaimed to himself, like a hero of romance, "That girl and none other shall be my wife." They did not speak that night, but Miss Lee who is of Irish extraction, her father hailing from Dublin, no doubt saw that she was observed. Next day the pair were introduced, and on March 17 the engagement was ratified. Mr. William Butter (pronounced Booter) is the organising secretary for the Colonial Exhibition to be held at Samarang Java, from August 17 to November 17, and has done well in Australia in many senses of the word. He returned from the West with Mrs. and Miss Lee, and is now staying at Glen Roona, Bondi. He is the fourth son of the late Weled Heer Machiel Butter, and was born in Amsterdam. The Butters are a devoted family of six sons and two daughters. They are great yachters, and often sail across to England and back in good weather. A younger brother, Carl von Hulst, made his debut by Royal command at the Opera House, Berlin, as the baritone in "I Pagliacci," Caruso singing the tenor part. William Butter's voice was said to be superior to his brother's, but a professional life did not appeal to him. However, as an amateur he sings beautifully. 'Music, which is such a great match-maker, is a bond between these two. Miss Lee is greatly attached to her piano' and singing studies. Whenever there is a Grand Opera season in Sydney her friends say that Miss Lee's address is "The Theatre." She has taken part in several of the University Glee Club concerts. Mr. Butter's youngest brother is an artist, and has pictures accepted for the Salon in Paris and the Royal Academy, London. His sister Frau Hahn, used to sing in Grand Opera before her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Lee have three daughters and one son living. The family have never, quite got over the death of the gifted and beautiful Thelma, who died about three years ago. Mrs. Alfred Lee is a sister of Mrs. Leonard Dodds and Mrs. Corbould, and of Mrs. Lukin, of West Australia. They are a handsome and accomplished quartette, and the members of this generation are carrying on the family traditions. Mrs. North Lee [sic] [Miss Norah Lee] went to the University and studied Arts and Science, but had to leave without a degree, owing to ill-health. After the Java Exhibition the young couple will move to Terabaia, where they hope to live for the next five or six years. The wedding of the music-loving, sea-loving pair is to take place, on April 22 at St. Mary's, Waverley. Only the family will be invited to the house after. But all their friends will go to the church and give them a send-off at the railway station, when they leave for Brisbane.

SMH 28 Apr 1914: MARRIAGE BUTTER-LEE- April 22 at St Mary's Church of England Waverley by the Rev Robert MCKEOWN. William BUTTER of Sourabaya, fourth son of the late Weld Heer Machiel BUTTER and Clara Antonia Van Hulet BUTTER of Amsterdam Holland to Norah St George Third daughter of Alfred LEE of Glen Roona, Bondi, Sydney.