GRANDPA
SNOW
1916
– 2016 WHAT AN AMAZING JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE
As
my Grandpa has entered what appears to be the last stages of his amazing life,
I have been lying awake reflecting on my memories of Grandpa of which there are
many. And although I write this with a heavy heart, it is also a proud heart as
I sit back and reflect on my life with Grandpa.
As the eldest of four Grandchildren my memories of Grandpa stretch back
40 years or so when as a young boy Grandpa would always be teaching me the
finer skills of kicking a football, handballing, playing tennis and putting in
golf.
One
of my fondest memories was in 1985 when Grandpa took me to the very first
Adelaide Formula One Grand Prix. What a
day we spent opposite Stag Corner beneath one of the corporate facilities. Neither of us were real petrol heads, but we
enjoyed the atmosphere and being part of Adelaide’s motorsport history.
My
Grandpa has lived a wonderful life for a touch over 100 years and Adelaide,
Australia and the world has seen some amazing achievements in his
lifetime. What an honour for him to
personally live through and witness some of the most historical events the
world has seen.
Grandpa
was born in 1916 during WWI and at this time Australia’s population was miserly
4.9 million. Today, our population is
23.7 million. The Premier of the State
was Crawford Vaughan and the Prime Minister was Billy Hughes. Grandpa has lived through 23 Premiers and 23
Prime Ministers.
In
1916 there was only the 3rd Annual Academy Awards Ceremony which saw
Civilisation awarded for Best Picture, William Gillette – Best Actor and Marie
Doro – Best Actress.
During
his life of 100 years Grandpa has witnessed these amazing achievements and
historical events:
- Trans Continental Railway completed
- The first wireless message sent between Britain and Australia
- Holden’s
- Qantas
- Vegemite
- Royal Flying Doctor
- Sydney Harbour Bridge opens
- Sydney Opera House opens
- First John Martins Christmas Pageant
- Development of night Football
- World Series Cricket
- Don Bradman era
- The Bodyline series
- The Depression
- Introduction of TV
- The development and use of the A-Bomb
- First Traffic Lights
- Adelaide Airport
- Opening of the South Eastern Freeway
- World War II
- Concord
- Boeing 747
- The Hills Hoist
- The Victor Lawnmower
- Opening of Football Park
- Demise of the tram network in Adelaide
- Space Exploration
- Vietnam War
There
is obviously much more, but just these are amazing in their own right.
I
am proud and privileged to have had Grandpa be a part of my life for the past
46 years. His love of all of us kids our
wives and ultimately his Grandchildren has been unquestionable. Yes he wasn’t perfect, but then again who
is. He was always full of advice from
everything on how to play sport, drive a car, and look after a car and numerous
health tips plus everything else in-between.
Whilst it may have annoyed us a little at the time, we knew that he
cared for our wellbeing.
In
closing I thank you Grandpa for filling my heart with such fond memories and as
you embark on your next chapter to wherever that is, I would like you to know
that my life has been blessed to have such wonderful, loving and caring
Grandparents as yourself and Grandma.
Go
and rest in peace mate and let’s hope Norwood smash the Magpies this Thursday
night.
This
is what Adelaide looked like when Grandpa was a young boy during the 1920’s.
Oh cutie that is amazing cutie just wow
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