Obituary Joseph “Roy” Loughnan

Roy was born the fifth and middle child of nine siblings to Lena Roy and Joseph Loughnan in Mulwala and went on to live to a grand old age of 99.

Roy’s daughters Anne Loughnan and Mary Lou Ford jointly delivered a detailed eulogy covering the many aspects of Roy’s long and rich life.

“As a little child dad would go across the road and chase the sheep around the paddock for fun, which earned him the name “Butcher” or “Butch” which stuck as a nickname for life.

“Lockie” also came as a nickname later,” Mary Lou said when delivering the eulogy.

“Hard times were very formative for dad and his life’s richness was in simple things. Dad’s early life was during the Great Depression. He remembered sleeping in a shed out the back of their house, all five brothers in two double beds with all of their coats piled up high on top of them for warmth. There was no lining in the ceiling and in a frost, condensation dripped on to the bed. The bed springs sagged, and the boys ended up on top of each other in the middle.

“Dad also remembered having no shoes and breaking the ice on puddles with his bare feet on the way to school but they were never hungry thanks to his mum and even though they were materially poor dad considered them to be rich in all the closeness and good times. Dad explained that from his point of view it is a boring existence to have everything, and he didn’t know any different as everyone was poor.”

Anne said her father valued community and connection and in particular the Mulwala community.

“Dad spoke about how as an 11-year-old he would ‘free range’ around the neighbourhood helping people. He’d go across to Mrs Smart’s and clean up her yard as she had lots of greyhounds and pups, then yoke up the horse and spring the cart for her, then he might clean out the blacksmith’s, take a load of stuff to the tip for someone and he’d always take the axe and, on the way back, cut brambles to bring home for a fire.

“He’d head off to the communal shearing sheds after school to rouse for the last run of the day and he said that this was “all part of being a kid back then and he was not unique in these endeavors.

“Dad explained that mostly it was part of growing up in Mulwala and you just did things for people. Mulwala was a great place to grow up.”

Mary Lou and Anne described how Roy went onto to serve in the Royal Australian Army during the Second World War.

“Dad chose the army because you were put with a group of blokes that got to stay together rather than being moved around all the time. He was in the 34th Heavy Anti-Aircraft and later the 2nd 2nd Field Regiment. His friendship lasted throughout his life though he was the last known surviving member of his regiment.

“In World War 11 he was stationed at Horn Island in the Torres Strait for two years. Living conditions were tough and they were always ready for action.

“After that he went to Coonungra, a tough jungle training camp. Seeing someone struggling on one of the gruelling uphill climbs Dad took on carrying that fellow’s pack and rifle as well as his own. The overseeing sergeant wasn’t happy and instructed Dad to complete the circuit again, but dad didn’t mind. He was tough, “fit as a Mallee bull”.

“He turned 21 in that phase and recalled excitement over receiving a chocolate bar and a handkerchief. Dad then served in Papua New Guinea and finished his active service there.”

Both Anne and Mary Lou outlined Roy’s lifelong community spirit.

“Dad was a Lieutenant in the Yarrawonga Fire brigade, was one of five people on the steering committee for the formation of the RSL.

“He was on the steering committee for the formation of the Yarrawonga Credit Union and once it was established, for 15 or so years he stayed on the audit committee to check all the books.

“Then there were the bingo fundraisers for the Yarrawonga Bowls Club, Knights of the Southern Cross and the Father’s Club of Sacred Heart School. As a carpenter he was in high demand at working bees.

Anne and Mary Lou highlighted how Roy was a hard worker, a value which was passed onto them.

“He would receive one shilling a pair for rabbits he trapped. He would collect the beer bottles after the balls and get four pence for a dozen bottles. Some nights he would get one hundred bottles and when there was a bit of competition for gathering them at daylight, he was canny, and he started to go round at 11pm instead. Dad would also go off helping the drovers, sometimes for a week at a time in the school holidays.”

Anne and Mary Lou said that when Roy was 12 years of age he had saved up to buy a Malvern Star bicycle that he paid for in cash - 4 pounds 19 and 6.

When the Mulwala Public School closed for a diphtheria pandemic, when Roy was 14, he started work at Moran and Cato’s, the grocers, and helped Jack Savage who was a carpenter, and he then never went back to school.

“Dad also loved his work as a carpenter and did everything from drafting the plans to digging the trenches with a pick and shovel to building the house and finishing the joinery and it was all done with hand tools. He was built for hard work, as he put it, and was capable of great craftsmanship.”

When Roy was 15 his dear older sister Betty died. He remained close to siblings Digger, Jean, Dempse, Val, Lorna and Noel.

Extended family and his aunts and Uncles on both the Roy and Loughnan side were close too and loved time with his aunts and their families in Yarrawonga and then in Brunswick with his cousins the Greens and the Downes.

“Dad was kind, giving and loving and often said “nothing beats family”. And with a big smile he again announced when celebrating his 99th birthday recently with immediate family that was “the best day of his life.”

Roy was also well known around the local sporting traps and like many in the family loved the local musical scene.

Roy’s mum, Lena Loughnan, played for all the local dances and had ‘Mrs Lockie’s Orchestra’ for 30 years and with music and hospitality at its heart, their house was an “open house”. If people needed a place to stay Lena would take them in, even though she had nine children in a four-bedroom house already.

Mary Lou and Anne said that their father was more of an appreciator of music, not a performer but had very musically talented siblings who continued on the legacy.

“He enjoyed the dances including the monthly Old Time Wilby Balls which were a regular feature on the calendar through the 1970s.

“Dad enjoyed the euchre and cribbage parties which often went into the small hours of the morning,” Mary Lou and Anne added.

In 1950 Roy played in the premiership winning Mulwala football team. Roy also loved tennis, table tennis, cricket and the firefighting competitions too.

“Dad was an attentive listener, a great conversationalist, and was genuinely interested in people. He was just such good company” people say. He had time for everyone and caught up with his New Zealand and early work friends regularly well into his last decade whether in person or by phone.

“He had close friendships locally and wonderful neighbours and friends in Yarrawonga and Mulwala. They made a huge difference in dad’s life particularly when he couldn’t be a helper and needed help himself.

“Dad’s parents had strong faith which inspired dad and made a lasting impression on him.”

Roy’s interment followed the service at the Mulwala Cemetery where he received a moving RSL Service.

Roy had a long life which fostered a great relationship with his son in law, John, and granddaughters, Elizabeth, Miriam and Annabelle. Roy will be sadly missed by them, his daughters Anne and Mary Lou, his wife Julie and siblings Jean, Lorna and Noel along with all the extended Loughnan clan. Thanks for the memories, Roy.