Austin had a passion for the history of the inner south, and a commitment to serving his local community. He would often find fantastic old photos of familiar places in Canberra and upload them to the website of the Old Narrabundah Community Council. Many of those photos are still there. Every year he was involved in organizing the Narrabundah Festival near the Narrabundah shops. That festival is an annual fixture in the calendar of the Narrabundah community and the broader community.
It’s also hard to believe that I can no longer just pick up the phone and give him a call to sound him out for his perspective on issues with which we have been engaged over the years.
Austin’s funeral will be this Friday, 12 July, in the Chapel of Norwood Park Crematorium, Sandford Street, Mitchell, commencing at 12 noon. A wake at the Harmonie German Club, Narrabundah, will follow.
The President of the Old Narrabundah Community Council, John Keeley, and I will be interstate on Friday, as will others who would have wished to attend his funeral. We will discuss on our return the organisation of a memorial event or activity at which we can celebrate Austin’s life and what he did for the community. I thank those members of the ISCCC Committee and residents groups who will represent us at the funeral on Friday.
Marea Fatseas
Chair
Inner South Canberra Community Council