Dad would have liked to take his education further, but times were
tough. So it was of to work to ease the burden on the family gaining
employment at the Shell Depot as a junior storeman. Of course it was only
temporary but in a way it was a job that lasted a lifetime.

Dad enlisted in the army in Sydney on 14th November 1942, just short of his
nineteenth birthday. He was sent to Homebush for training and then drafted for
overseas services in 1943. Also in 1942 Dads youngest sister Royala was
born. It was a deep regret that he missed all those early years with his
younger sisters. Dad served in New Guinea and New Britain, attaining a rank
of Sergeant and was discharged in 1946. He returned to Lismore for a short
break to see the family before beginning work in Sydney for the Shell Oil
Company. His father said, "You know they’ll send you to Bourke don’t you"?

Dad went back to Sydney to begin his job as a driver. He was transferred to
Tenterfield and then onto Bourke. Dad always talked about his days at
Bourke, where playing football and having fun as a young man were fond
memories.


Dad was then transferred to Moruya in about 1949, his fathers home town. He
quickly became involved with the Moruya way of life, football and the surf
life saving club. He became secretary of the Moruya S L S C. In January
1950 Dad was at a dance chasing sheilas when he spotted the girl he would
spend the rest of his life with, Nella Knight. He began courting Nella and
they were married on 11 June 1951.  Dad was promoted to
superintendent of the Moruya depot. After about 12 months in Moruya they
were on the move as the Shell Company transferred Dad to a new location.

In February of 1952 they arrived in Tathra as Dad took on the position of
superintendent at the Tathra Shell depot. This began a life long association
with the town and its people. While at Tathra Dad was secretary of the
T.S.L.S.C. and secretary of the Far South Coast branch of the S.L.S.
movement. Through the surf life saving community Dad and Mum forged a life
long friendship with Joe and Zell Caddey. He loved his football and played
for Tathra in the front row in two premiership-winning teams in 1952 and
1953 and runner up in 1954.

On the 27/11/53 Mum and Dad’s first child arrived in the form of a bouncing
boy named Robert. Then on 18/04/56 Helen arrived as number two (but she has
been in charge ever since).

Now with a family to think about Dad took the offer in 1957 of a promotion
to a larger depot. With the future of the family as his priority he moved
from the sunny beaches of Tathra to the cold snowfields of Lithgow. Here on
19/03/58 the third child arrived Ian.
After 2 years in Lithgow Dad felt that the family’s future was best served
by getting a depot agency. Forbes was offered to Dad and in February 1959
they were off to Forbes to start the next chapter in their lives.

FORBES
As moves go this one was normal that is nothing goes smoothly. Just before
the move Robert came down with a bad case of the mumps. Mum and Dad were
always thankful to the removalists for their great help during this time.
Robert was last on the truck and first off which helped them greatly.

Dad wasted no time throwing himself into the job. He was lucky enough to
take over just in time for the 1960 flood, and 1961 and 1962 and 1963. Which
made delivering fuel on the dirt roads just a tad more difficult. Dad spent
many long hours in the field building a business around the farming
community. The business grew and was a hard labour intensive job as all fuel
was delivered in 44-gallon drums in those days and on farm tanks and
delivery tankers did not come about for many years.

Many of Dad’s customers from the early days became lifelong friends and they
stuck with each other through the good and bad times. This was a reflection
of the integrity and honesty that was part of his relationship that he had
with his customers. Of course, the occasional bonding session that the male
of the species requires was carried out at a few of the Watering holes
around the district. (Bedgerebong Picnics and Caragabal Pub).

On 24/01/1961 the fourth child, Mark arrived on the scene and on 6/07/1963
Peter was born and so the family was complete with the perfect mix of 4 boys
and 1 slave.

The 60’s were a great time for the Bown children, we didn’t know that in the
farming game ­ which we were dependant on - that there were good and bad
seasons. Dad and Mum never let us know when times were tough, they handled
it and we played footy or cricket rode bikes and walked down the back lane
to the pool. We made trips to Mum’s parents place in Moruya, many early
mornings we would wake up in the back of the EH wagon look up at the star
and knew we were on the way to Nan and Pops place all seven of us.

We all started school and Dad made us walk, we had to walk across the street
through the neighbour’s yard and in the front gate of the school, 60 seconds
from our front gate to the school gate, Dad thought we had it easy. Dad had cross the flooded stream’s barefoot, lighting, thunderstorms and the Dingos howling. (His favourite story.)

In 1967 Dad drew a block of land in Pacific Street Tathra in the government
ballot Land draws. After ten years away the connection with Tathra had been remade.
Dad built a small holiday cottage on the block, there were many weekend
trips made with the builders from Forbes to eventually complete the project.
We had many happy holidays in that house.

1967 also brought one of Dads saddest moments with the sudden and tragic
loss of dad’s sister Eunice in Lismore during childbirth. Eunice’s son
Daryl is now 35 and living in New Zealand, married with 2 children. Royala living and teaching in Junee, arrived in Forbes in the evening and they both drove through the night to Lismore. This was the first opportunity in 25 years they had been together, alone and able to have a long conversation. Sadness brings us together, sadly how this happens.

By the 1970’s Dad had the business well established and was well involved in
the community’s affairs.
Dad was Rotary president from 1963 to 1964
RSL Sub Branch president from 1966 to 1970
Forbes Services club president 1974 to 1977
He was made a life member of both Services Club and Sub Branch of Forbes and was patron
of Forbes Services Club until his passing.
He was president when the late Sir Roden Cutler laid the foundation stone in 1975 for the
renovations to the Forbes Services Club.
Dad was chairman of the Forbes Swim and Gym Committee when a group of 8 local

Businessmen decided to build an indoor swimming pool and complex in
Forbes. Many a long night was spent fundraising through the local
establishments selling tickets in the art union’s etc. This Complex is still going strong today.

In the 1960’s dad become involved with the Legacy movement, this became his
passion for the rest of his life. Legatees were given wards to look after.
Dad took great pride in being able to give some these wards away on their
wedding days, even standing up in court for those wards who had no Father
when sometimes they fell of the rails, he felt they all deserved a chance.

He was President of Forbes Legacy and Lachlan Legacy at various times while
in Forbes.

For the Bown children the 70’s were a disaster. Dad reckoned when you
finished school you should go to work, this seemed odd as it was all going
pretty good up till then. In 1970 Dad saw Robert off into the Navy, Dad was
very proud to have Robert in the services and loved to have him and his
mate’s home on the weekend visits, which always created a loud and funny
house for the weekend. Dad had particularly fond memories of a couple of
Anzac Day trips the boys made and one particular Bedgerebong Show weekend.

Helen finished in 1973 and went onto a successful career in nursing. Also
in 1973 Ian competed his school certificate and wasn’t keen on going back
for 2 more years, Dad needed someone at the depot so Ian became the new
storeman at Stephen Street, Forbes. The job wasn’t meant to be long term,
Ian only lasted 21 years before moving on. Mark left in 1978 and started an
apprenticeship as a electrician at Garden Island Dockyard in Sydney. Peter
left in 1979 and he also got an apprenticeship as a fitter and turner in
Forbes.

Dad never said so, but he was very proud that all his children had survived
school and found their chosen careers. One of his goals was achieved.

In 1978 Dad suffered a heart attack, which shook us all, especially Mum and he
spent 3 months convalescing. It was at this point that Dad realised there
was more to life than work, he began to think more of retirement and was
looking forward to his target at 60.

No prouder man could be found than dad when his children started getting
married in the 1980’s. Mum and Dad decided in 1984 it was time to sell up
and start having fun. So at the end of April in 1984, 2 things happened
that made dad a very happy man. On the 21st April his 1st grandchild
arrived and on the 30th dad stepped into retirement. Halley’s Comet was
flying high in the sky as it does only every 76 years. With all this spare time what was he to do, first move to paradise, Tathra.

Then, of course, there were his grandchildren Nicholas, Timothy, Kira,
Christopher, Charlie (deceased), Ayla, Emma, Sasha, Katherine and Rebecca
who all adored visiting Grandpa.



TATHRA

Once In Tathra, it was have caravan will travel. Dad always said Australia
comes first and he didn’t need to travel overseas. Dad and Mum took 10
years to see Australia, they’d pack up and away they’d go. Robert and Kim
lived in WA near Perth so it was always a good excuse and catch up with
their WA family. Dad loved the outback and Northern Queensland and could
travel for months on end and always marvelled at the beauty of Northern
Australia, Dad made a great billy tea but we are yet to be convinced that
the green stick over the billy stops the smoke from getting in. During
these travels we were always amazed how he could manage to run into someone
he knew but we were not surprised that who ever they were they were always
genuinely please to see him. Dad loved nothing better than to sit on his
stool by the campfire and talk to new and old friends.

His community spirit never waned in his retirement years and continued with
his involvement with the RSL sub branch and legacy, Dad went on the board of
Wollongong/far South Coast legacy and spent one term as President of
Wollongong legacy.

Of course, Dad had to have some social life, he loved to go fishing and
sometimes mum went with him. They also enjoyed their prawning out at
Wallaga Lake.

His brother Jack predeceased him in May 2000.

He always enjoyed his family coming to visit in Tathra; his children and
grandchildren loved coming to visit Grandpa and Grandma in paradise for
Christmas and holidays. In 1990 dad lost his father and mother, 3
years short of their 70th wedding anniversary. At Eric’s funeral he
caught up with Bluey Went an old army buddy and spent 3 hours of just
walking the town of Lismore, talking about old times, dad always enjoyed a
good chat.

As dad’s health fell away in the later years I often thought back to that
walk with Dad and Bluey to how bright and happy he was that day.
The calibre of Dad’s character is shown by the quality of the family and
friends here with us to day and those that are here with us in spirit

Arthur Henry Bown
24th November 1923 to 25th June 2002
Rest in Peace, AB