Wednesday June 16, 2010
11
News
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Vale, Jack Pendergast FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE
– July 19, 1918 – May 30, 2010
COOMA ROTARY HIGH COUNTRY MARKETS Will be held this Sunday, 20th June At Centennial Park Come down and inspect the stalls 9am to 1pm Enjoy a fillet steak, sausage or rissole sandwich, tea, coffee and drinks at the ROTARY FEED BIN
The markets are held in Cooma on the 3rd Sunday of the month Casual and new stall holders are invited Insurance can now be arranged Contact Market Coordinator Dave Holgate PH: 0438 884 092
WE ARE TAKING OFF
ALL DOG BEDDING ATS & SELECTED DOG CO
C Cooma Pet Shop
Jack Pendergast with his Man from Snowy River Award, 1959
∙ 73 Sharp St,COOMA NSW 2630 ∙ Ph 64526399 ∙ Fax 64526160 E: info@coomapetshop.com.au ∙ Web: www.coomapetshop.com.au ADVERTISEMENT OTS9_C8
‘Jack’ Pendergast – a Man from Snowy River – was laid to rest at Moonbah Cemetery on Saturday, June 5 in the presence of 150 mourners, following a service where “How Great Thou Art” and the songs of Daniel Thomas and Reg Lindsay filled the little stone church. Father Peter officiated at the service, and the captain of Jack’s battalion in Papua New Guinea, Bede Tongs, led the RSL service at the graveside. Narelle Pendergast read the eulogy on which this obituary is based. One of Thomas and Mary Pendergast’s eight, John Thomas Vincent Pendergast was born in Jindabyne. His early years were very tough. The family survived only because of rabbits which they trapped, ate, sold and used the skins to make clothes. Jack did not attend school for very long. He worked on the land around Jindabyne, Hobbs Range, Moonbah, Mill Creek, Wollondibby and Kiora. Jack enlisted in the army during the war and saw action in Papua New Guinea alongside three of his brothers. On his return from the war, Jack worked for the Barry family, spending many years shepherding sheep in the mountains around Currango until a broken leg brought him down. When his leg healed, he worked at the National Fitness Camp. Never holding a driving licence, he would walk from wherever he was living to the main road and wait there until someone happened to stop and pick him up and give him a lift to where he wanted to go. Jack would usually have a sugar bag over his shoulder and trusty oilskin rolled up “just in case there was a blizzard!” Filling his sugar bag with supplies obtained in Jindabyne, he would then head for the pub from where he would be sure of getting lift back home. Living together with his brother Mick at Kiora, they later bought a house at Tumut to winter in, in order to escape the cold. There they lived very nicely due to the abundance of ladies who were either widowed or as Jack put it “old maids”. The brothers moved back to Jindabyne when Mick’s health began to deteriorate. And when his own health began to fail, he moved into the Snowy River Hostel at Berridale where he enjoyed the company of the residents and staff – Jack loved to yarn. Jack’s siblings Kit, Maggie, Mary, Dave, Noel and Mick predeceased him. He will be fondly remembered by his young brother Vaughan, his sister-in-law Neen, and his many nieces and nephews.
A simpler, fairer tax system. A stronger economy for everyone.
The world is changing. For our economy to remain strong for the years ahead, we need our tax system to change with it. Planning now for an ageing population by lifting the amount of super we all have will help all Australians to have a secure retirement. Cutting tax and paperwork will help small businesses grow and prosper, also contributing to our economic security. And making sure all Australians share the wealth of our natural resources will allow us to build the foundations for a stronger future. Making tax simpler and fairer now will help make our economy stronger in the long run. Tax reform affects all of us, so it’s important to know what’s on the table. To find out more, call 1800 614 133 or go to www.australia.gov.au/futuretax
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