Eric William BLACKWELL [1551] ²⁷²⁹

  General Notes:

Eric served in The Australian Army in WW2. His service number was VX132062. He served 1300 days, 600 of which were overseas in New Guinea. He served in the 33rd Australian Heavy AA Battery. He left Brisbane on the Anshun on 28 August 1942 and arrived at Milne Bay, New Guinea on 6 September 1942. He returned to Australia via Townsville on 18 April 1944.

Retired PMG. lived Nar Nar Goon, Victoria, Australia.

The Pakenham Gazette Page 10 13th June 1990
Eric Blackwell - a tribute by a friend
In a fine tribute to Eric Blackwell who died on 20 May, well known Pakenham resident, Bunny Drake, described him as "one of nature's gentlemen".

"We will all miss the kindness, friendship and advice that Eric gave, not by big words but by example." Bunny said. "I cannot recall one mean action by him in all the years I proudly called him my friend."

Born in Berwick in 1915, one of ten children, Eric lived in Mulcare Street, Nar Nar Goon all his life, was a loyal supporter of Nar Nar Goon Football Club, reared eight children and was a skilled Telecom employee at Pakenham where his friendship with Bunny developed.

During World War 2 he served in the 33rd Australian Heavy Anti Aircraft Battery at Milne Bay.

Now, in the sadness of Eric's passing, Bunny looks over those years since the war.

"I was only a casual acquaintance of Eric prior to the war" he says. "I can remember him as a stalwart Nar Nar Goon supporter, hooting Pakenham players whenever they got the ball."

"After the war when he joined us in the P.M.G., now Telecom at Pakenham, my friendship with him grew an so did my admiration of his lovable character."

"He quickly became skilled in the he techniques required by postal people and graduated as one of the best cable joiners. It was my pleasure to experience this in the bad old days of blow lamps which always seemed to fail at critical times."

"Such was the skill of Eric that I cannot recall any disasters happening to him. There would be few cable well pits and ducts in South and West Gippsland that escaped the expertise of Eric Blackwell."

"He was a loyal colleague ever ready to help a newcomer and there are many in Telecom today enjoying good positions who owe much of their success to this delightful fellow."

Eric had simple tastes. With eight children he did not have much choice other than to care and provide for his family. He was never in a position to shower money on them but he taught them to make a decent and honest living for themselves.

Always loyal, Eric would arrive by train for work and wait for one to take him home again. Bunny often said "Why don't you shift to Pakenham Ecca? It would be a lot easier for you." But he always replied, "My heart's in the 'Goon Bun. I will put up with the inconvenience to see my days out in the place I love."

And see them out he did. After his retirement, due to failing health, he spent may stints in the Pakenham Hospital ad Bunny recalls it was always a pleasure to visit him, to remember the days gone by and never to hear a complaint from him.

He loved his music and a casual drink with his friends, but behind that quiet facade was a strong determination to leave things better for his fellow man than he experienced himself.

"I know I am speaking for everyone when I extend deepest sympathy to his wife, children and other member of his family in their sad and great loss," Bunny said.

Vale Eric William Blackwell you served us well and faithfully.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Military: World War 2 service number VX132062.

Eric married Lilian May GORRIE [1552] [MRIN: 474], daughter of James GORRIE [9680] and Florence Edith RUSSELL [9681], on 13 Apr 1938 in Balaclava, Vic, Australia ²⁷²⁷.^,2728 (Lilian May GORRIE [1552] was born on 15 Jul 1913 in Berrigan, NSW, Australia,²⁷³¹ died on 31 Jul 1993 in , Victoria, Australia and was buried on 3 Aug 1993 in Pakenham, Vic, Australia.)