It's 12 months since Dad passed away, during Covid-19, where only 10 people could attend funerals. We had hoped to have held a remembrance service mid year but again, Covid prevented it.
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This is Dad's story.
Robert Charles was born September 1, 1932 to Vieva and Charlie Lee of Inchgower. He had an older sister Ethel and later, Margaret arrived. When Dad was about 2 years of age, the family moved to "Degilbo", where Dad lived for 85 years.
Dad had very little schooling, for two reasons. Firstly he had to walk to school at Yarrangong, then later at Inchgower and secondly he was needed to work on the farm. He was always embarrassed because he couldn't read and relied on Mum to complete paperwork. Dad was quite good at Maths though.
Dad seldom went to town, maybe twice a year. Twelve miles was a fair distance then. Mail and anything else required from town was delivered fortnightly. Neither of his parents could drive and there was no electricity or running water in the house.
Dad worked the farm from a young age, milking 3-4 cows when he was about 7. Around 14-15 years of age he worked with Pop on 'Mungarra': rabbitting, fencing, burr cutting and removing trees using a cross-saw. To get horse teams through to sow crops, he first had to cut down the burrs. Whatever jobs needed doing, Dad did it. In wet weather he would ride a horse to work. Over time he had seen many droughts and floods. Farming was seven days a week.
Dad bought an old car which did the timing chain on its first trip to town. A bit later on, he bought a 1937 Ford truck for 30 pounds. Pop was mad with him but stopped whinging when Dad could take him to town. A story to share about this truck. Dad painted it red, and it had a small tray. It broke down at Millers and Ronnie helped him clear a fuel blockage. Ronnie told him to pull the tank out when back at home. Dad found it full of broken glass. As with many farmers, Dad learnt to do all his own mechanical work.
Dad share farmed at 'Mungarra' for about 3 years, until late 1956. In 1955 at a dance he met a lovely Cowra girl called Rosemary Noble and they married in November of the same year. Dad built a 2 roomed house, a bedroom and an 'everything else' room at "Degilbo". Still no electricity or running water. I arrived in 1956 during the floods. Dad had to take Mum through floodwaters at Bob Acheson's, to get to hospital.
More girls arrived: Sue 1957, Sally 1958, Sharon 1959, Jocelyn 1961 and the twins Angela and Jennifer in 1965. Dad was proud of his girls. Electricity was connected then, and as the joke goes, Dad bought a TV and no more children.
When Jocelyn was born, a kitchen, dining room and bathroom were added and then another bedroom and verandah in preparation for the twins' arrival. Dad did this work with the help of neighbours.
Over the years, Dad worked for many people as a farmhand and later baling contracting and hay carting. Some of the people he worked for were Bruce Acheson, Pat O'Connell and later his son Bill, Gordon Davies, Ross Bolam, Charlie Morton, Ted Clifford, Bill Looney, Matt Dwyer, Ron and Danny Miller, David Nocks, McIntosh's, Pietsch's, Alan Perry, Dan and John Herbert, Riley's and Bob Acheson. Dad always loved horses, particularly trotters. His uncle Eric had 'Lawn Boy' and later, Dad had 'Swift Speed', who raced at Harold Park. When 'Swifty' came home, Dad decided to get his licence and he drove 'Swifty' for a while. He also bred 'Gene Robert' who ended up in USA.
Dad drove many horses over the years. For 65 years he was a volunteer at the trots, at Forbes shows and trotting club meetings, and for this he was recognized with life membership and a volunteer award. Dad would have been a great vet, as he was so good with healing and handling animals. I was fascinated watching him breathe life into newborn lambs and piglets. Some owners couldn't get their horses going but, with patience Dad did. His knowledge was gained through an uncle, trial and error, listening and picking the brains of other trainers.
A young Mat Rue was forever grateful that Dad let him drive 'Catch A Tune' which was Mat's first drive in 2007. He later drove 'Sure Whatever' to be Dad's last winner in 2015.
After prostrate cancer in 2009, Dad slowed down, less farming and horse training. He still kept his sheep until about two years ago. He was diagnosed with early dementia in 2017 and this gradually slowed him down even more. With mum quite sick in hospital, Dad went to JRV for respite in January 2020. Then mum joined him as she wasn't well enough to go home.
They became permanent residents. It wasn't what they wanted, but it was the safest place for them at the time. Dad had several trips to hospital over 12 months, with his final trip being March 19 2020, when he quietly passed away. During the last 5-7 years, I built a stronger relationship with my parents, as I took on more of a caring role. On the many trips to Orange there was no limit to the range of topics Dad and I discussed.
The most precious gift Dad gave me, besides his unconditional love, was his trust. Trust to manage his affairs, deal with doctors/hospital visits and he'd ask for my thoughts or advice.
Dad was a gentle caring and well-respected man. He was many things to many people: a farmer, farmhand, contractor, horse trainer/driver, neighbour, friend. He was a loving and hardworking husband to mum, loving father to his 7 daughters and grandfather to 18 grandchildren and 30 great grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his parents, his sister Ethel and grandchildren Luke and Melinda.
Contributed by Winn Sideris