Farewell to one of our last WWII veterans

The Central Coast lost one of its few remaining WW II veterans when George Craven passed away recently at the age of 99.

Born at Concord in Sydney on August 24, 1924, George began his working life as a junior delivery boy at Horam’s Hardware in Lidcombe at the age of just 14, before working for four years as a junior draftsman with Babcock & Wilcox.

He served in the Australian Army from 1943-48, being deployed to Borneo, awarded a variety of medals and awards and leaving the service with the rank of Corporal (temporary Sergeant).

During his period of service, he married the love of his life, Joy Olive Walker, on July 21, 1944, after meeting her when he was just 14.

They married at 19 and were together for more than 70 years, raising three children and going on to have 11 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.

After the war George worked for Connell’s Building Co, Shell Oil and Babcock & Wilcox a second time before joining Cottees Ltd in 1950, where he worked for 30 years and thrived.

Son Garry Craven said George ‘s hobbies had been many and varied over the years.

“He could turn his hand to anything, even lapidary at one time – he always wanted to be busy,” Garry said.

“He was a keen gardener and maintained very high standards of home maintenance.

“He was also a Justice of the Peace and dedicated volunteer in the service of the community.

“He and Mum gave countless hours each week for more than 30 years to Meals on Wheels, Daycare, the Smith Family, Terrigal Neighbour Watch (as foundation members) and any other worthwhile organisation for the betterment of others.”

George was also a tireless traveller within Australia with he and Joy enjoying many car trips to all parts of the country.

“He loved the ‘outback’ and there is not much of this wide brown land he did not lay eyes on,” Garry said.

“He also travelled extensively overseas way before it was the norm, visiting China in the ‘70s, because it would be ‘interesting’.

“He and Mum attracted crowds wherever they went as most of the locals had never seen a non-Asian person.

“They also visited New Zealand, the USA, Canada and much of Europe, but their most loved destination was the UK, particularly England, which they visited several times.”

Following his war service, George enjoyed a long relationship with the RSL.

“He joined the Haberfield Burwood RSL just after the war as it was near Cottees Ltd at Leichardt,” Garry said.

“Then when it fell on hard times, he became a member of Parramatta as it was also one of the few for returned soldiers exclusively, I believe, and not just a social club.

“When he retired to Terrigal, he became a member of the Terrigal Wamberal RSL and was a very active and well-liked member attending every meeting up until his very last days.

“The members afforded George a very warm and wonderful tribute at his recent funeral.

“He travelled to Sydney by train each Anzac Day to march and attend the reunion of his unit – 2/11 Engineers.

“In his later days it became clear George was no longer able to live alone, even with carers coming twice a day and much help from neighbours and family, so he moved into Regis Aged Care Port Stephens to be close to two of his children.

“He passed away on Friday, February 9, after just six sleeps in his new home.”

Although he did not move to the Central Coast until his retirement, George was a very early part-time resident of Terrigal, having built a holiday home for his parents in Parry Ave in the early ‘50s and shortly after building his own in Barnhill Rd.

“They nearly lost it in the bushfires in 1956 when he and Mum and many volunteers fought the fire which came right up to the back of the house,” Garry said.

“Terrigal was a very different place in those early times, with few houses.

“George was universally loved and respected by all – family, neighbours, the Terrigal Uniting Church community and RSL members.

“All would agree his was a life very well lived.”