Horace Ronald Dengate

Horace Ronald Dengate

KEY DATES:

Birth: 8 April 1915, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia

Marriage: 9 April 1938, St John's Church, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia

Death: 22 July 2002, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia

BIOGRAPHY:

Written for Horace's eulogy by his daughter, Carol Beard (née Dengate)

Horace Ronald Dengate - Horrie, as he was affectionately known - or if he wasn't referred to as Horrie you would firmly be instructed by him to do so - was born on the 8th April 1915 at Wagga Wagga to Lily (née Bateman) and Albert Dengate. He was the second youngest child of five and was predeceased by his two half brothers, Bert and George Dengate.

Horrie as a baby

Dad attended school for eight years and reached grade 6. He humorously told the story that at the age of fourteen his formal schooling came to an abrupt end. He was going to receive the 'cuts', so he decided to take leave during the lunch break and go home. He told his parents he wanted to leave school and their reply to him was along the lines of 'You can't leave school until you've got a job.' So that same day he gained employment at the Grand Garage at Fitzmaurice Street. He would proudly boast 'There's no way they were going to give me the cuts!' He also worked at a mechanical workshop, Minty's on the corner of Trail and Gurwood Streets and it was in Gurwood Street where his father had a painting and decorating business.

Dad married Elsie May Dimmock in St John's Anglican church, Wagga Wagga, on 9th April 1938. Mum resided at Uranquinty prior to their marriage and they told the story of how Dad would ride his pushbike to Uranquinty and back to north Wagga to visit mum - a fair feat by anyone's standards. They had four children together.

Horace Ronald Dengate and Elsie May Dimmock's wedding day, 9 April 1938

Anzac Day was one of the more memorable days of the year for Dad. He served full time war service 17th February 1942 until the 20th November 1945. During this period he served overseas in Port Moresby and we heard countless stories of this period in his life. On completion of his war service he returned to his former employer, G. Edmonson & Co. in Gurwood Street as a storeman. Dad then worked at a Dairy Company until his retirement, for a period of roughly twenty-four years. These were the years of his working life that I have vivid memories. During school holidays we would often go with him on his milk run to towns such as Junee and Lockhart. As we were driving along, Dad would press my naval, as if he was turning a radio on, and that was my cue to sing! I will never forget how proud I was one day attending Turvey Park Primary School, we visited the Dairy company on a school excursion and here was my dad making the huge blocks of ice.

Horace Ronald Dengate in his WW2 uniform with Elsie

On his retirement he was presented with a set of lawn bowls - who was to know that lawn bowls would play such an important role in his retirement, along with the numerous lawnmowers he tinkered with in his shed. These things helped him to keep busy in his later years.

Horrie Dengate was a good man! He had a marvellous sense of humour - sometimes tinged with a touch of sarcasm. He was a very proud but stubborn person. I can still hear myself saying to him, 'Horrie, you pig-headed old bastard.' He has had a remarkable 87 years, but he was weary!

Goodbye, Horrie, and thanks!

Grateful thanks to Carol Dengate and Jan Westcott for this biography and also for the photographs used.