1909-1979
Father
Mother
Siblings
Clarence Charles, Charles, Thelma Hannah Maria, Nancy Evelyn Ruby Ellen, Clarice Floretta, Zena M, Alvin Christopher, Ellwyn Louisa Mary, Ross Joseph
Married
Doris Carney
Children
June Patricia, Dorothy Elaine, William John, Robert Dudley, Nola Leah, Graham Henry Charles
Jack’s Life
Jack was born in Canowindra. He lived with his family in the Burdett district. He was the fifth child and third son of Henry and Elizabeth Paul, however his two older brothers died in infancy, leaving him the eldest living son of the family.
Jack went to school at Burdett.
Jack’s mother died when he was thirteen leaving an infant son, Ross. The loss of Elizabeth left Henry and the family bereft, so Jack left school and took Alvin under his wing gaining employment at farms around Canowindra.
He worked for both their ‘keeps’ for Smith’s initially then Dwyer’s. Jack had many anecdotes about the places he worked.
Over the years Jack worked long and hard to establish his trucking business as well as contract chaff cutting, tank sinking and clearing. He purchased Glenrowan, Canowindra which he subsequently sold when he purchased Rosewood at Tullamore in 1951.
Jack Paul established a carrying business in Canowindra and was the first to own a semi-trailer in the district. His first major contract was carting telephone poles between Canowindra and Cowra.
He then became heavily involved in agriculture – carting wheat, gravel and hay. He would follow the harvest from where it began further north back down to Canowindra and further south. In doing this he established good relationships around the wheat districts. Some of these being in Tullamore where he later purchased Rosewood then Oklahoma, Bercham, Robbo’s, Walsh’s and Rose Hill in the area. The family moved to Tullamore in the early 1950’s
In the wheat season Jack would bring bags of wheat to the silos. The opening hours of the silos were limited, but to maximise his capacity he would collect bags of wheat at any and all times. If the silos were not open he would transfer the bags to an old Leyland truck that was left in line at the silos and on the ground at Thompson Street so that he could go and collect more from the farms and have a shorter haul to the silos once they opened.
This demonstrates the tenacity and acumen of Jack. The double handling of the bags of wheat (approx. 180 pounds) created a huge amount of work but it allowed him to expand and grow his business.
During the war Jack secured a contract to cart gravel for the construction of an aerodrome in Narromine. He had purchased a new truck at that time. He was issued with the identity card and was away from home for many months. When he returned, he was on foot, as the army had sequestered his truck for a very nominal price. Elaine remembers being on the verandah seeing a lone figure walking down the street with a suitcase and a coat slung over his shoulder, she recognised the walk of the figure as her father and remembers being confused that he was on foot and not driving his new truck.
Jack purchased an International bulldozer in the 40’s to ensure he was able to get his lucerne crops in. The Bulldozer is still at Oklahoma in working condition.
Jack and His family moved to Tullamore in 1949, he purchased Rosewood on the Peak Hill Road, then Oklahoma on the Alagalah Road and others. He became a well-respected member of the Tullamore community.
As grandchildren we used to call him ‘Dad Paul’, he was dearly loved by us all. He always had a supply of 2 Shilling or 20 cent pieces for us after Sunday Mass. We used to go down to Vamos’s Café in Tullamore and agonise over the choice of lollies, ice cream or chocolate we could buy. It was amazing what you could buy with 20 cents.
Jack was a beautiful soul who loved his family and was well loved by them. He had a great sense of humour that entertained all who met him. Elaine, my mother, worshipped him.
Jack succumbed to brain cancer in 1979. He was dearly missed by his family.
Authored by Leah Burnheim