Lynette Gai Ert

Lynette Gai Ert (Most: Lyn, Simon and Mel: Lynny; Mitchell: Ma) 1943 to 2024
Born 4 July 1943 during WW2 to her loving parents, Sylvia and Les, and older sister Norma (who passed away in 1987)
She grew up in Arncliffe, attended school there, and started her career singing on 2CH in the early 1950s.
Then, she studied singing and dancing, which took her into opera and musical theatre (some of her great loves).
Lyn also taught Sunday school at St David’s church Arncliffe.
After leaving school, she had many secretarial/clerical jobs and was even a tea lady. She made a great cup of tea!
Lyn joined Rockdale Light Opera in the early 1960s, where she had lifelong friends with Joy and Jane. Starting in the chorus, she progressed into leading roles and met and shared a unit with Trish, whom she met through the Tony Price productions. This, in turn, led her to meet Michael, a good Jewish boy from the North Shore.
Back then, interfaith relationships were frowned upon. When Michael announced the engagement to his father, he first asked,“Is she pregnant?” which Dadd didn’t comment on (1970). On a side note, nine months after marrying, Lyn went up to her father-in-law and said,“Look, Addy, no baby” Michael’s mother, Evelyn, and stepfather, Frank, welcomed Lyn into the family with open arms, as did the rest of the family.
Three years later, they welcomed Simon into their family, who was originally going to be called Daniel, but upon filling out the birth papers, they realised that ‘D.Ert’ wasn’t going to be a great start in life, so they changed to Simon Michael Ert.
Lyn, Michael, and Simon were Team Ert. Michael and Lyn trod the boards together for many years, making many friends and greatly influencing Simon before he went to the dark side’’ and became a jazz drummer.
In 1981, they decided to open their own business, Mike’s Pet Place, which started in Knock and Kirby’s (only closing in 1989 after Michael died).
Every weekend, they cleaned dog cages, cat cages, fish tanks, etc., only to return home to look after their own menagerie of pets (including their beloved poodles)! In between, they ferried Simon to drum lessons, band and musical rehearsals all over Sydney.
Lyn’s love of opera and theatre got her through life’s ups and downs, including Michael’s dialysis treatment three times a week in his later years and coping with Simon (and Al) as he navigated life and his dad’s situation.
After Michael passed, it was touch and go if they would lose the house, but Evelyn and Frank helped out, and they stayed in their own home for many years.
With Michael’s passing and after the business ended, Lyn returned to clerical work in the drug and alcohol wards at RNSH and volunteered with the Bennelong Club in the Opera House. She was surrounded by friends, family, animals, books, and the occasional New Idea magazine.
During this time, Lyn was very supportive of Simon and his music. She pushed Simon to have lessons with John Morrison, which started a lifelong friendship (He was a rock for Simon in these years). In 2009, life completely changed when Simon fell head over heels with a girl from French Forest – Simon says it was love at first sight when he noticed her .. eyes.
After four months, Simon proposed, and Mel said yes! Lyn said they were rushing into it but loved Simon and could see Mel’s integrity and compassion, so Lyn gave her mother’s an engagement ring for their engagement. Simon would niggle Lyn by reminding her about this over the years. In 2010, they were married!
Lyn welcomed Mel with open arms and, later, said that she would kick out Simon and keep Mitchell and Mel at home if Simon ever treated them badly!
Simon and Mel struggled to have kids, and without Lyn’s love and care, they wouldn’t have had Mitchell with IVF. Mitchell called her Ma, just like Simon did for his grandmother. Lyn loved her grandson deeply. They had a very close relationship, and Mitchell misses her dearly.
As the years progressed, Lyn suffered from various ailments, mental health and disabilities. So, they all moved in together to look after each other, as family does.
In 2017, they heard about development proposals in Chatswood and moved up the Coast (Gorokan). Lyn loved the lake and said, ‘‘The only way you’ll get me out of this house is in a box.’’ (Here, I referred to the comment Lyn made to Jan about how content she was in the house, surrounded by her loving family, but I have forgotten the exact wording, so I’ll leave you to add it later.)
Her family misses her terribly, as well as her continuous love and support. We love you and miss you mama.