Courtesy of The Chronicle Toowoomba
ARTHUR APPLEGARTH
1929-2000
Eminent Toowoomba accountant, dedicated community member and much loved family man, Arthur John Applegarth died on October 12 aged 71. Arthur John Applegarth was born in Toowoomba on February, 16, 1929, the eldest son of Tom and Molly Applegarth. His childhood was happily spent on a dairy farm at Wyreema with his younger brother and sister, Bob and Joan. His high school years were spent at Toowoomba Grammar School where he was able to follow his passion for sport, especially cricket and tennis. He left school at 14 and by the time he was just 18, Arthur topped Australia in his accountancy exams, having studied externally while employed as a junior with Statham and Cheesman accountancy firm. This began a career as a highly respected Toowoomba accountant for more than 50 years. Arthur was president of Toowoomba's Branch Council of the Australian Society of Accountants for many years, gaining special recognition for 50 years' service. In 1985, he reduced fulltime work with the firm and became a consultant. It was only in January this year that he retired completely. In 1952, aged 23, Arthur married Violet Allen. They had four children, six years apart, daughters Ann, Kaye, Cathy and Wendy, all of whom attended Fairholme College where Arthur was on the school council for several years. Vi had a life-long passion for horses and Arthur supported his family as they competed every weekend at shows, gymkhanas and events across the Downs, Lockyer Valley and in Brisbane. In an official capacity, he was president of two pony clubs for many years. Arthur's early involvement with horses led to serving on the committee of the Toowoomba Royal Agricultural Show Society, beginning more than 20 years ago. He was ringmaster for 12 years. Arthur became treasurer of the RAS and held that position through most of the development years of the new show grounds at Glenvale. A long-time keen cricketer, he captained Past Grammars and went on to play for Toowoomba. Later, lawn bowls became his passion and he ended up treasurer, president and patron of Pittsworth Bowls Club, who formed a guard of honour at his funeral. Arthur was a member of the West Lions Club of Toowoomba for 15 years, and later a Rotarian, holding executive positions in both organisations. He was also a founding member of the Jondaryan Woolshed. Arthur was diagnosed with cancer early this year and died on October 12. His funeral was held at St. Stephens Uniting Church on October 17. Arthur is survived by his wife Vi, brother Bob, married daughters Ann (Mackay), Kaye (Westbrook), Cathy (Roma) and Wendy (St George), and his 11 grandchildren, fondly known as his cricket team. The life of Arthur John Applegarth is aptly summed up in the tribute of granddaughter, Kellie Thomas, "Pa, you're a CHAMP!"
Printed in "The Chronicle, " Toowoomba Tuesday, November 7, 2000 Page 9
Ronald James Andrews
An overflowing congregation at St James's Church for the recent funeral of former Toowoomba businessman Ronald James Andrews was indicative of the high regard in which he was held. Ron was born in Toowoomba on March 12, 1916, the youngest of six children of Charlie and Annie Andrews. He attended North State School and left there to work in his father's grocery store in Hume Street. He married Ida Patti Stone on January 22, 1944, at St James's Church and they had three children. Ron had various sales representative jobs before moving into the clothing trade. He worked at Brady's Menswear for a time and when they opened the new Menstore in Ruthven Street was appointed manager, a position he held for more than 20 years. He made many country and town business friends until his forced early retirement in 1973 after his first heart attack. Ron spent many periods in hospital over the years, defying the odds at times, and he spent the last 12 weeks of his life in hospital. His wife Patti looked after him for 10 years but when she suffered a stroke in 1983 their caring roles were reversed. Ron nursed Patti at home for four years, This affected his own health but when his wife had to enter a nursing home he continued his devoted care through his visits. Ron Andrews was community-minded and took an active role in many organisations. His ease of communication was reflected in the many friends made and the high regard in which he was held. He played tennis all his life. When his children began playing he became involved with the Toowoomba Tennis Association and was president for about 12 years. He was a member of the North State School P and C Association and served as president for many years. Prior to World War II Ron was an honorary member of the Ambulance Service. He was involved with the founding of 25 Battalion AMF at the old Toowoomba Showground in 1937, and when the battalion was called to war in December 1941 he automatically became a serving member of the Army. Initially serving in the machinegun section, Ron was later transferred to medical in the New Guinea war sector, because of his experience with the Ambulance. After the war he was one of the 10 founding members of the 25th Battalion Association, which was registered in 1947. He was a faithful and active member for many years and found great enjoyment with his mates, particularly after the loss of his wife. For many years Ron was involved with masonry as a member of the Southern Cross Masonic Lodge and he attained high rank in the Masonic order. A member also of Rotary for years, he had to relinquish this when he became ill. Following his wife's death he took up indoor bowling with St James's Club. "Our Old Fella", as he was affectionately known by his family, leaves sons Don (Brisbane) and Glen (Toowoomba), daughter Vicki (Toowoomba), eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. His wife predeceased him in 1989. Printed in "The Chronicle", Toowoomba, 10th November 1993
DON ALLEN
Don carved niche in meat industry
Meat industry leader
Born: August 29, 1931
Died: November 5, 2001
Don Allen was a self-made man, achieving success for his innovation and hard work in the meat industry. Starting his career as a humble butcher, he carved a formidable niche in the Australian meat processing market, and was highly respected by fellow members of the trade and government officials.
Born in Brisbane, James Donald was the fourth and youngest child of James and Jessie Allen. Don attended primary school at the Wooloowin and Eagle Farm schools, before receiving his secondary education at Brisbane State High School. At 15, Don first became involved in retail butchering, working for William Land and Company at its store in Surfers Paradise. This early training in the trade whetted Don's appetite, but he spent several years working as a jackaroo in south-western Queensland before taking up a position as a manager in a butcher's store back on the Gold Coast. It wasn't long until Don began thinking about going into business for himself. Even though he was still young, Don's flair for business was quickly evident, and he was soon the proud owner of several retail outlets on the coast. He was the first butcher to pioneer refrigerated shop window displays in the region. So proud was he of these windows, he dragged his new bride from a hospital bed to have a look.
Don married Jean Banks in Brisbane in 1955, after wooing her away from tinned beef with the promise of thick juicy steaks from his store. The couple had four children, Jim, John, Robyn, and Heather, and shared 46 years together, during which time Jean was invaluable as a sounding board and great support for Don.
While building up his businesses on the coast and raising a young family, Don still found the time to help in establishing the Mermaid Waters Bowls Club, and becoming the first Scout Master at the Surfers Paradise Club. Don and Jean bought a small property at Ingleside called "Sun Valley", enabling Don to pursue another passion - the breeding of race horses. While he never bred a Melbourne Cup champion, one of Don's racehorses, Finnigan, has enjoyed significant success in recent months.
Don was always a firm believer in chasing one's dreams, and to this end he set about to own his own slaughtering plant, which would allow him to buy livestock, process it, and supply it to his own stores and other retailers. Step one of this goal entailed selling his shops on the Gold Coast, and going into partnership in a business in Nambour. Finally however, Don was able to purchase a slaughtering facility and butcher's shop in Stanthorpe, and it was here that the name of Allen would cement a place into the meat processing industry. From a small plant in 1979 catering for local businesses, Don Allen and Company today is an open abattoir, supplying markets in Queensland, the Northern Territory, and New South Wales. Both of Don's sons have been instrumental in the growth of this business, and his daughter Heather is a retail butcher with meat supplied by the family company.
In 1983, a small group of country meat processors formed the Queensland Country Meat Processors, with Don as the inaugural treasurer, and later president. Don was keen to have a say in the politics of the industry, and was responsible for several significant changes. He championed the cause of Q-Safe, self-regulation for small slaughtering plants, and helped to develop and implement this concept with the DPI. In 1992, he became the first accredited QSafe meat processor in South Queensland.
Don underwent major heart surgery in the early 1990s, an event which, instead of slowing him down, seemed to give him a new lease of life. In 1993, he became a member of the working party in Queensland examining the proposed new standards for accreditation for meat processing, and from 1994 to 1997, promoted the cause of small operators in the bush as he accepted a ministerial appointment to the Queensland Board of the Livestock and Meat Authority. He also served on the National Meat Associations Retail Council, the Divisional Management Council, the Processing Council, and was an adjudicator on the Meat Industry Tribunal Committee.
In 2000, Don pioneered the installation of Grander water technology into his meat processing operation in Stanthorpe.
Apart from being a highly respected mover and shaker in the industry, Don never lost sight of the importance of quality meat. The quality of sausages was publicly recognised in 1998 when Don took home first prize in the national Sausage King Competition. Don also appreciated anything Irish - especially a drop of Guinness or Kilkenny - following a visit to the Emerald Isle for a horse racing carnival two years ago. Don Allen died in Stanthorpe, aged 70. He is survived by his wife Jean, three of his four children and nine grandchildren.
Published in "The Chronicle", Toowoomba, February 23, 2002.
City farewells Rat of Tobruk, family man
Born: July 3, 1921
Died: March 21, 2002
Gordon Allen was a decorated war hero -- a Rat of Tobruk who fought in one of the bloodiest battles of World War II.
Gordon maintained a strong involvement with the RSL throughout his life, proud of his fellow veterans after having had his own life saved by a mate during his service on the Kokoda Trail. Born in Toowoomba and raised on a farm at Toogoolawah, Gordon was the fifth child of Oscar and Elizabeth Allen. He left home at the age of ll to work in Ipswich, then at 16 he enlisted in the regular army as a gunner, going on to active duty overseas.
Gordon was involved in many of the more infamous skirmishes of World War II, serving firstly in Syria, then Egypt, where he celebrated his 18th birthday at the pyramids, and finally Libya. The Allied Forces, known as the Rats of Tobruk, were engaged in protracted fighting for the strategically important site of Tobruk, and Australian casualties numbered in the thousands. War in the Pacific in the early 1940s was threatening Australian shores, and many of the troops serving overseas were recalled to fight closer to home. Gordon served in Borneo before being sent to New Guinea to help thwart the Japanese invasion on the Kokoda Trail. During this time he suffered from many war wounds, including deafness after a hand grenade exploded next to him. This same incident left Gordon with shrapnel in both his leg and skull. On another occasion Gordon received a bayonet in the back from an enemy soldier, and a mate saved him from certain death. He also, like many other soldiers fighting in the Pacific, contracted malaria.
Towards the end of World War II Gordon was sent back to Australia to convalesce, and while confined in a hospital in Toowoomba (now the Glennie School), met nurse Phyllis O'Brien. Phyllis and Gordon married after Gordon's release from the army in 1946, service which saw him awarded the Africa Star, the Pacific Star, the 1939-1945 Star, and the Australian Service Medal 1945-1975.
War left lasting emotional and physical scars on Gordon, and his involvement with the RSL was very important to him throughout his life. Gordon and Phyllis moved to Melbourne, where Gordon worked as a mechanic, and they raised their three children- Greg, Bruce, and Pam. In 1965 the family relocated to Toowoomba, but Gordon subsequently found work in the Northern Territory, Papua New Guinea, Mackay, and Gympie, where he lived for 15 years, employed by a coach company. It wasn't until 1992 that Gordon and Phyllis moved back to Toowoomba, with Gordon caring full-time for his wife, who was suffering failing health. During these years of retirement Gordon enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, gardening, fishing, and sitting around a campfire whenever possible. Gordon Allen died in hospital last month aged 80. He is survived by his wife Phyllis, two of his three children, six grandchildren, and three great grand children.
Published in "The Chronicle", Toowoomba, 6th April 2002.
Obituaries Index
Toowoomba Dead Persons Society
