Vale: Patrick Reynolds

Born at Liverpool NSW 9 July 1938, Patrick Reynolds spent all of his early life in that area.

Pat played first grade for Liverpool.

Pat had a panel beating business, a skill, for which many were grateful, he still practiced even in retirement.

These were not his only trade skills.

As he developed his real estate holdings, he undertook much of the maintenance, all kinds of minor repairs, carpentry, painting, fencing, mowing.

He was doing or planning to do something almost every day of his life, if not for himself, for a friend or friend of a friend.

He had a great respect for his tenants and his real estate agent. They in turn were grateful for having such a caring landlord.

There was always a hamper at Christmas for the tenants.

Pat's other interest was "racing".

He had a great memory for well performed horses, their breeding, owners, trainers, jockeys.

His lifelong friend Alf Peters trained his best winner, "Go to the Post".

Although he would rarely bet on the races, he would sit up at our local TAB and watch both the football and races until closing time, great company and comfort for the staff at the TAB.

Pat and his friends, "Uncle Alf, The King", "The Dodger" (trainer of Sharply) first visited Ettalong in 1967. He continued to be "Mr Fixit", firstly for my mother throughout 1968-69 while we were in New Guinea and then for me and other families while the men were in Vietnam.

Six years ago, Pat moved to Ettalong permanently.

Kids loved him, not just for the lollies from IGA, or the ice blocks from the family store in Booker Bay, but for his nature, a gentle giant.

His other "secret love", not known by many was "Junkastic Park".

He loved to fossick around and enjoyed the banter, dickering for a bargain.

He was a great improviser, hoarder.

That's where he died, on Sunday 10 June 2001 comforted by a stranger, no ID, no priest, no last rights.

He attended his last Mass on that Sunday morning.

We are comforted by the words of that same stranger who attended Pat that he felt no pain and by the words of another stranger that Pat was in God's care and needed no last rights.

Rest in Peace, my friend.

Marj Cleere, July 4