Patricia Ada Purtill (nee Dunn) was born in Deniliquin on October 13, 1932 and passed away at Navorina Nursing Home on February 10, 2019. She had lived in Deniliquin her entire life.
Pat, the first of four children to Reg and Ethel Dunn, attended George Street School for 10 years, and it was there she met many of her lifelong friends.
She graduated in 1948 and went to work as a secretary for Conargo Shire Council, and it was through her work she met Keith Purtill, a young new bus operator who had recently moved to town from Balranald.
Keith and Pat Purtill were married at the Presbyterian Church in Deniliquin in August 1953 - the same church in which the family and community farewelled Keith Purtill in April 1988, and farewelled Pat Purtill last week.
The young couple built a family home in Wood St, developed the bus business and started a family when Norm, the oldest of six sons, was born in 1955. He was followed by Ian, Alan (George), Neville, Geoff and Brian. Pat also had a daughter, Frances, who was unfortunately stillborn in 1959.
The 1950s and 1960s were busy years, raising six boys and building up the business.
But 1970 was a tough year that changed Pat’s life forever. Firstly Keith’s father Les, a very good friend and support to Pat, passed away in July. Then, in October, the night before her 38th birthday, Pat suffered a massive stroke which left her speechless and paralysed down the right side, with no use of her right arm or leg.
Many months of rehabilitation followed, during which Pat regained her speech and, with limited use of her right arm, had to learn to write with her left hand. She learnt to walk with the use of a leg brace and walking stick (which all of the boys received a whack from at some point). During her rehabilitation Keith cared for the six boys, travelled regularly to Melbourne and back, and continued to run the bus business.
Pat returned to the family home in Deniliquin and despite her disabilities was determined to live a normal life which included all the home duties, including the washing and cleaning. Keith organised a cleaner to help, but Pat would get up early and have the work done before the cleaner arrived.
She learned to knit using a knitting machine and regularly helped out at the South School canteen, eventually being honoured with life membership of the canteen committee.
The family business continued to grow throughout the 1970s and 1980s and before long all six boys were working in the business.
By this stage Purtills was running coaches around Australia, so Keith and Pat took the opportunity to travel, quite often with one of their sons at the wheel. Their trips included central Australia, tropical north Queensland and even the musical Cats, in Sydney.
During these trips Pat started collecting souvenir spoons, and at last count she had six full racks from throughout Australia.
In 1977 Keith bought the farm ‘Niangby’ at Stevens Weir and hoped Pat would relocate there with him, but she was a town girl through and through. The compromise was the purchase of ‘Southdown Cottage’, on Barham Rd, in the 1980s.
Keith passed away suddenly in 1988 and Pat lost her beloved husband of 35 years. She relocated to a new unit, the first of seven built by her son George and his team at 348 Wood St, on the site of the old bus depot.
Pat’s family was expanding, with six daughters-in-law, followed by 12 grandchildren and then seven great grandchildren.
Pat had 20 wonderful years in her Wood St unit, which she used as a base for playing carpet bowls, shopping trips and hosting many visitors including her grandchildren, who she cherished. She enjoyed sitting on the front veranda, or at her dining table inside, watching the cars and people pass by. If a school bus was running late she was quick to ask one of her sons: “Why wasn’t the bus on time?”
In 2009 Pat had another change when decreasing mobility meant she was unable to live on her own and she relocated to Navorina Nursing Home, where she spent the next 10 years.
She never learned to drive a car, but quickly learnt to drive her new electric wheelchair, enjoying the freedom to wander the Navorina corridors or an outside jaunt.
Pat was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017, which was another blow after living with the effects of her stroke for more than 50 years. She continued to enjoy the time she had left, especially visits from her family. There was a special celebration for her 85th birthday in 2017.
Pat Purtill passed away peacefully at Navorina and was laid to rest last Friday, February 15, in the Deniliquin Cemetery.
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