Vale Arthur Pitman
By David McLintock
(as published in the Callide Dawson Leader)
Arthur Neville Pitman was born on the 6th of October 1927 at Ganters Gully, Mt Morgan and left this life on Monday, the 17th August 2020 in the Mt Morgan Hospital.
Known to his family as “Poppy” and to some as “Grizz” but Arthur was best known as a man who had nothing but love for his family.
Arthurs parents were Walter Pitman and Elsie Gilbar. He was the 4th child born of 11 children. His siblings are Eunice, Arnold, Des, Mavis, Elaine and Coral (who are deceased) and is survived by Ada, Pearl, Gwen and Glen.
School life commenced at the Mt Morgan State School in 1933 at the age of 5 years old. In September of that year his family returned to Lake Pleasant where he attended school until the end of 1934. In January 1935 the family moved back to Mt Morgan where they lived on River Street and he attended school there until December 1939.
It was January 1940 when the family returned to the farm again and he returned back to Lake Pleasant School. He finished his schooling in October of 1941 as his father took him out of school so he could help work on the farm.
Life on the farm was never without drama with so many siblings to share the workload with on the farm but throughout this Arthur and Mavis were inseparable and indeed throughout their lives.
A memorable time was the 1942 Floods and was always a topic discussed as to how they were isolated by flood waters. Arthur had a friend staying at the farm during this time, Ray Hoffman. The Callide Creek had broken its bank and they could see the flood waters coming.
Alan Shaw was in charge as Nanna McCubben was in Mt Morgan with the girls at this time. So Alan organised the boys to take the chickens, food and stove upstairs out of the flood waters. They collected some wood and lifted the piano up onto a wooden table under the house although it didn’t end up surviving the flood.
It was during this flood that the boys found 3 little pigs, little porkers, up on an island in the water so a rescue plan was instigated. The boys went and rescued them and took them upstairs too as the boys thought they could have a good meal out of one of them. So they were mustering the pigs while Arthur was on the bed waiting to catch one. One was hiding under the bed and Arthur thought he was about to catch it but instead he caught Ray’s head. They did catch one eventually and Alan dressed it for dinner.
Arthur's father Walter Pitman conducted Sunday School for all the children in the district at the farm house and Arthur regularly made his escape, his snowy hair bopping through the long grass as he made his way to the Edwards farm.
Arthur first met Barbara Joan Liddell when she visited her Aunt, Mrs Petchet who was the Station Mistress in Goovigen. This was the beginning of their romance.
Arthur and Barbara were married on the 13th April 1945 in Rockhampton. They raised 3 children, Janice, Neville and Ann. After Janice was born Arthur and Barb went cane cutting with his brother Des, but that didn’t work out as Des broke his foot.
Arthur, Barb and Janice then went dairying on a share farm with Jimmy Minion on the banks of the Callide Creek. He taught Janice to ride a horse when she was 3 years old. It was during this time that Neville was born.
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| Arthur's farming days |
In 1960 his family lived on the Gudman's farm while he went off cane cutting again. When he returned they all moved back to their farm.
In 1964 Arthur sold the farm and they moved back to Rockhampton and lived with Pop and Jean Liddell.
It was during this year that Arthur managed the Duaringa Hotel before starting his mining career at the Mt Morgan Gold Mine in 1965.
He worked at the Moura Mine for a few months before returning home to the Mt Morgan Mine. Half the population of Mt Morgan moved to work in the coal mines around Moranbah which saw Arthur and Barb also move in 1975 where he started his career at the Goonyella mine.
Arthur was a member of the building and ground work force and included truck driving and plain simple manual hard work.
After work Arthur spent most of his time at the Moranbah Race Club. Being a horse owner, he did his bit to ensure that the Race Club was always presented in first class condition.
Arthur took on the position of Bar Manager along with track surface preparation with Ken Bryant. Many long hours were spent with the maintenance of the track sprinkler system.
With all this in control then came the time to build the new members bar, jockey’s room, and admin building. Then it was the trainer’s residence and stable complex. At the close of each work session, Arthur would do a head count, disappear, and return with the number of stubbies for everyone to share a cold beer and help ensure that all would be back the next time to continue on with the project.
When the horse stabling complex was built, they named the building Pitman Lodge, as a dedication and in honour of his working effort.
Arthur would often also offer his services to help on projects around the district.
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| Arthur in 1943 - 16 yrs old |
He retired from the mine at 60 years old in 1987. He didn’t want to retire from life and he secured himself a job at the Black Nugget Hotel as their Gardener. There was a famous big tree at the front of the hotel, which dropped too many leaves, and messed up the lawn, which led to far too much raking, so it had to go. His farming skills in poisoning and cutting down trees came in handy.
Arthur, Barbara and Neville sold the house in Moranbah and moved to Rockhampton in the year 2000. In 2004 Arthur had bypass surgery on his heart so he could take care of Barbara who was ill at that time.
Arthur's Granddaughter Suzan Kingsley recalls, “I was with him in Brisbane during this time. Before he went into surgery he was on the phone with Granny and she was settling his nerves. During that phone conversation, Poppy told Granny how much he loved her over and over, and she expressed how much she loved him. It brought a tear to my eye.”
October 14th 2004 Arthur lost his beloved wife Barb. It was a very sad time for him, losing the love of his life. The family all rallied around him during this time and Arthur fulfilled his promise to care for Barb's dog Taylor after she passed.
In 2005 Arthur purchased a house in Goovigen so he could be close to his siblings, Des, Mavis, Elaine, Gwen and Glen. He did a lot of house renovations on his house.
His love for working and staying active and his love for the family farm, drew him out to help Dennis and Edna Pitman. He loved fencing and all other farming duties and loved taking on that job and treasured this time to be able to work on a farm again.
He spent time driving out to Wowan-Dululu Multi Purpose aged care group where he enjoyed the company of farming friends from the old days and where they played cards and sang. He also took care of the garden at Willy’s Walk Park at the front of his house and hoisting the Australian flag.
In 2018, Poppy moved into the nursing home Summit Villages in Mt Morgan, due to his failing health.
Arthurs final days were shared with lots of loving from all his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandson who all loved him dearly.
Arthur Neville Pitman will never be forgotten as his memories are forever kept alive by his family.
“We gave him permission to leave this life and to go live in eternity with our beloved Granny. Peace be with you Poppy, may you rest in peace, we love you.”
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