All about .... Jack Bown

ALL ABOUT ........ JACK BOWN

Jack Bown's story- written in January 1999.

I was born Russell John Bown at 68 Wilson Street in South Lismore on the 24th January 1930.
I started school at Dorrouby (near Dunoon, NSW) at small school. I don't remember going here cause we moved to Corndale soon after. We used to walk to school through the long grass, terrified of black snakes and wild bulls. At this stage I was the youngest of five children and we all went to school together. When I was in 5th class we moved into Lismore to the house where I was born for a few months until we moved to Woodlawn. I went to school at South Lismore all this time by train.
When I was 14 I fell out of a tree and broke my arm. This took a long time to mend as I spent 3 months in hospital with my arm suspended in a frame. I didn't do much more schooling after this. I worked on the farm, milking cows and digging tussocks and thistles. Football came into my life at 18. I used to ride my pushbike into South Lismore (Nesbitt Park) but I played for North Lismore Club.
In 1955 I moved to Sydney to work, doing all sorts of jobs. I ended up becoming a crane driver by 1960 which I am still doing now (1999). Some interesting moves I have made include the lifting of the Australia 2 (winner of the America's Cup). I married Barbara Whiteland in 1958. We had our first daughter Debra in 1960. Neil was born in 1962 and Julie was born in 1964. (We have divorced since).
The children all live in Sydney and I am now the proud grandfather of Ben and James (sons of Julie and Robert Callow) and Michael ( Son of Debra and John Punch) and Eric ( son of Neil and Michelle Bown). My main interest in life is watching my grandchildren grow up.
Post Script: Jack passed away on May 4, 2000. The family all joined together to farewell him in Lismore where he was laid to rest with his sister Eunice, beside his parents Eric and Beat. Sadly missed by all.

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