Narooma lost another one of its finest gentlemen when Jeff “The Toad” Loudoun passed away recently.
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Jeff had been involved in many aspects of the town’s community life, from raising money with the Dalmeny Deviates and helping to build the Narooma Dalmeny shared pathway.
He was also a keen surf life saver, bowler and fisherman, making many friends along the way.
This is the eulogy read by his son Dean at his funeral at Broulee and published with the family’s permission. Rest in peace Jeff.
A son’s eulogy
Well what a turn out – Dad would be stoked! He loved a good party and this looks like we’re off to a good start.
To start off with I’d like to thank my Mum, my sisters - Donna, Lisa and Kelly, my beautiful wife, Jess and my amazing kids Sandy and Mitch and my Aunty Lyn.
The last six months has been a rough time. Dad was so proud to see us all pull together. There is a quote “for we cannot direct the wind but we can always adjust the sails” and that’s what we did to the end. To all those who helped out by offering to help or taking mum to the shops etc and the many phone calls. Thanks.
Lyn’s memories: I’ve been given these memories from Jeff’s sister, Lyn, who is here today with her daughter, Sharon.
Jeff was born on the 21st of February 1942 as the second son to Olive and Alf Loudoun at Mortdale, Sydney NSW. He had an older brother, John (deceased) and Lyn was his younger sister. He grew up in Hurstville and lived there until he was married to his lovely wife, Jill in 1962.
Jeff grew up in the late forties, fifties and sixties with no television, phone or family car. Their transport was their Dad’s work truck, walking or the bus or train. They used to make their own fun and always found something to do:
- They made phones out of two tin cans and a long string.
- The boys used to play marbles and chasey and build kites. Kites were great to make after cracker night using the sticks from the sky rockets they found the next day.
- They built go karts and rode them down the hill and rode their bikes
Lyn says they always had so much fun. Jeff was in the cubs and used to do bob a job. He went to Hurstville Primary and High School where he was a very good student and very well liked.
He was a tormentor right from the word go! Lyn says he used to practice all his tormenting on her! They didn't have much money like a lot of people back then but they always had food on the table and a happy home.
Jeff’s father, Alf, was into football Renown United and the St George Dragons so they were all at football every weekend. Alf was a coach and selector for St George Dragons where he coached some of the greats of football – Reg Gasnier, Johnny Raper, Billy Smith just to name a few up until they played Grade.
Jeff was so proud of his Dad’s achievements. Jeff played for Renown & Hurstville.
He was a member of North Cronulla Surf Club where he did his bronze medallion and rode surf boats for the Club. They were a football family in the Winter & a Cronulla Beach family in the Summer. Aunty Lyn says Jeff was a good looker!
He would go to the local dance. There was no alcohol back then so they would buy a coke at the dance but take a flask in! Then after they got kicked out they would wait outside the dance.
Lyn remembers one of Jeff's favourite lines for the girls. If the girl said “See you later Jeff”, he would say "if I don't I see you then, I will see you in my dreams".
Jeff had a lot of friends in the surf and football clubs and all the St George boys as well. He was a wonderful brother to Lyn and was always there if she needed to talk. Lyn would like to say “thank you Jeff, I love you”.
Well….Jeffrey Toad Dad Pop or Uncle Jeff!! He was a perfectionist, hard but fair, loving and honest. The best advice Dad gave me was to treat everyone equally. Dad met mum at a North Cronulla Surf Club turn-out in 1961.
A couple of weeks later they met again at the Rivoli dance in Hurstville. They danced into the night and afterwards Dad walked mum to the train station to see her get home safely.
They continued to see each other for the next six months, then Dad popped the question and they got engaged. He had to get a second job picking up glasses at the hotel to pay the ring off!
They got married on Australia Day in 1962 at Hurstville. Then the kids started to come along – Donna, Lisa and Kelly and then he hit the target…bullseye – a little tadpole, Deano!
Dad was a hard worker. They bought a house in Bass Hill while they were having us kids. Dad worked for a tiling company in Sydney and as their leading tiler they would send him down the coast to tile the hotels, motels, RSLs etc.
In Narooma, he tiled the Tree Motel, The Whale Motor Inn and the RSL Club. It was when he was tiling the RSL Club that he phoned up Mum and said “put the house on the market – we’re moving to Narooma”! THANKS DAD – GREAT MOVE…THIS IS PARADISE!
We came to Narooma in 1972 when I was just 6 months old. Mum and dad rented at St Kilda flats then bought a block of land in Kianga where they built their family home with a load of helpers!
Jeff was very busy as he was the only Floor and Wall Tiler in town. He and Mum lived a wonderful life together and as a family we went on many holidays.
In Mum’s words, “Dad was her partner, her best friend and a wonderful husband and father who will be missed by all”. Dad fitted into the community very quickly as his love for football, the Surf club and a beer at the pub…he was in paradise! He loved his sports and he was a great sportsman.
I remember going to the footy every Sunday in Winter – whether it be Narooma or Cooma, Dad would be there. He was a Manager and Coach for the Devils in the 70s and Friday nights would be parties at the Toad’s after the pub. I’m sure there are some memories ticking over out there now!
Dad was a strong member of Narooma Surf Club back when it was the old shed and volunteered for many years as back up crew for the George Bass.
Touch Footy – the Dalmeny Deviates – what a great group of social guys that had more fun than the rest of the town put together. Trips to the snow, weekends away and plenty of B Grade Grand Finals – maybe one A Grade.
Selling raffle tickets and plenty of meetings at the DBC and fundraising nights – Dad loved helping people and having fun. The Deviates were perfect for him and him for them. He was always there to put his hand up.
He was a keen fisherman and lucky enough to have fished in the food old days – the 70s. He fished with Jack London, Archie Blackman, Max Ford, Gomo and the Goose. Just hearing some of the stories makes me jealous. These guys caught heaps of fish and played hard. Sounds fun hey!
Then came the Deviate 1. Fishing with Rowles and Ding every weekend and the DBC Fishing Comps – more great times and memories. John Rowley trip to QLD for Commonwealth Games at the Bank.
Prawning down the lake, Mum and Dad would sit on the veranda. I’d catch 5 prawns and yell out “boil the pot!” Great spot to grow up.
Dad was proud that I’m now raising my own two kids here enjoying the things he moved here for and that he gave us when we were kids. Dad had a great relationship with his family and so many people in town and I’m sure his lovable smile will be missed by all. Rest in peace Dad.
Bowlers tribute
Peter Benson from the Dalmeny Bowling Club also paid tribute to his old mate.
“Friday afternoon saw a great crowd at Broulee for the funeral of one of the club’s great characters in our Jeffery Loudon AKA the Toad and as recorded by me as Jeff Soft-off.
“He was an expert floor and wall tiler coming to do a job at one of Narooma’s the motels some 40-odd years ago and left his workmanship mark in many of our homes and businesses ever since.
“He was truly a great friend, mate and fellow supporter of St. George Rugby League and our club and players in the weekly, championship and pennant bowling events always setting his own pace, never to be rushed, together with his work with the Dalmeny Deviates and with the volunteer workers on the Dalmeny-Narooma shared pathway.
“He will be sorely missed by all who knew him and our thoughts and condolences go out to his wife Jill and his family of children, grand-children and great grand-children. Vale Jeffery, me ole China, you were one of a kind.”