Time : Tuesday 9th September 2014
I was asleep in my caravan at Fraser Lodge Caravan park , Hervey bay Queensland when I received the message from Keith that my sister had passed away at 3 am . My first thought I would pack and head home – but 5 minutes later it was obvious I had to fly home. Chris arranged my flight and drove me home from Melbourne to Wangaratta arriving about 9pm.
ROOKS (nee Keenan), Patricia May
ROOKS (nee Keenan). Patricia May Passed away unexpectedly at her Oxley Flats (Wangaratta) home on Sept. 9, 2014 Aged 75 years Much loved wife of Keith for 52 years. Loving mother and mother-in- law of Kym and James Shields (Coomera, Qld).Adoring grandmother of Erin, Euan, and Hamish. The one we loved and will never forget
ROOKS Patricia (nee Keenan) 27.09.1938 – 09.09.2014
Suddenly taken from us at her home in Oxley Flats (Wangaratta) with Keith by her side. Sister of Mac & Keiran, Sister-in-law to Jill (dec.) & Louise Aunt to Michael & Amanda, Allison & Chris, Chris & Nicole, Maree & John, Jennie & Ben Great Aunt to Riley & Lucas. The favourite Sister, Aunty and Great Aunty of us all. You are now with Mum, Dad & Jill watching over us.
ROOKS (nee Keenan), Patricia May
ROOKS. A Funeral Service for Mrs Patricia May Rooks will be held in Holy Trinity Anglican Cathedral, cnr Ovens and Docker Sts, Wangaratta on WEDNESDAY (Sept. 17, 2014) commencing at 1.30 p. m. Private Cremation will take place at a later time.In lieu of flowers, a donation made to Camp Quality would be appreciated. Donation envelopes will be available at the Service.
Pat’s Camp Quality Family 2011
Chris , Lucas & Pat at Eildon 2014
Pat Rooks 50 Years Teaching
Pat – Fifty Years of teaching
I said I would like to read the Eulogy – I have written it several times and others have read it and between us I am ready. I am not certain whether I can keep my emotions intact.
This was the last thing on my mind as I was sitting on the beach at Hervey Bay. I knew that each night Pat & I would exchange text messages about the day’s events, she was always keen to know what Riley and Lucas were doing. She even bought them each a backpack full of dinosaurs to keep them amused on their trip north.
Pat was born on the family Farm “ The Pines” Majorca to the greatest parents Bill & Gwen in 1938. Our parents had struggled through the depression and the decision was made to sell the farm and take a different direction. With the financial help of Gwen’s parents they purchased the general store in Carisbrook.
Those early days are only what Pat remembered and she often told me about the time she took a baby pig into her grandmother’s bed. Knowing our grand mother in later life I am sure that did not go down to well
Pat was 5 when I was born and I think she thought I was another doll and she could play mother. That’s probably why at the age of 3, I destroyed all her dolls.
With the advent of social media – Pat embraced it and when Lost Carisbrook came she was alive with memories
How she turned the electric fence on when dad went to climb over
How she wouldn’t eat but liked fresh milk straight from the cows teat
The rides in the horse and dray out to the rabbit drives with an old uncle who lived with us
How Dad & Unc took the old horse out into the bush to put him down – they came back several times as they could not do it .
Going to the local rodeo and dad riding a steer through the fence and breaking his arm
She even remembered an air raid shelter being built in the school grounds it’s location and playing in it
Pat went to the Carisbrook Primary school, then to Maryborough High school when our parents sold the shop and moved to Maryborough, Disaster struck and our family home was burnt down and we lived in a sleep out at our Grandma McDonnell’s.
Dad applied for a job managing a store in Dunkeld Pat went to Hamilton High. Pat always-made friends and she kept them for life.
Some memories from Dunkeld include a raw sausage fight in the kitchen, which we were forced to clean up
Pat and her friend Joy entering an entertaining skit in “Star town” a promotional competition organized by our father Bill.
Pat and her friends were all members of a young farmers club
The next was a surprise to Pat and I as suddenly we had a brother. Keiran arrived and Pat at 15 became the devoted sister and mother allover again.
Pat completed her secondary schooling and then the new and never ending part of her life began TEACHING.
She did her training in Geelong Teachers College. Again making lifelong friends.
The family moved to Wangaratta where our father managed D & W Chandlers, which was later to become Keenan’s Hardware Corner.
Pat’s first teaching position was at Walwa on the Murray River. The first time dad drove her there the Ovens was in flood and out to North Wang was almost impassable. We were towed behind a tractor and the car certainly floated most of the way.
Pat went on to teach 3 generations of children during almost 60 years, at many of the local schools including Moyhu, Chisholm St and of course for many years at Yarrunga her second home, then finally Glenrowan.
Pat and Keith met and amongst many things they shared an interest in farming.
They married here in 1960 and 9 years later Kym arrived.
Any holiday trips always included a friend for Kym (usually Wendy or Zoe). They went to Point Lonsdale & Hervey Bay for a number of years to join our family and mum and dad for a fabulous time.
When Kym was 9 she joined Pony Club. Pat and Keith became deeply involved with the organization .Pat became a life member, serving as district commissioner for at least 5 years, , Kym learnt to back the horse float very early because Pat couldn’t do it.
Pat’s sausage rolls & pavlovas are now a part of pony club folklore
The only time she rode a horse was on a trip up north.
Pat & Keith built their first home at 10 Turner Street shortly after their marriage. Their interest in farming led to purchasing, a block of land at Oxley Flats. Located on the bank of the Ovens River, which they called Picaninnie The block was not only challenged by floods, but snakes, blackberries and a large area of lagoons. Rescuing stranded stock from floods, feeding calves every day hell or high water, bonfires to burn the flood debris were highlights there.
They upgraded to the present farm a few years later, which included an old derelict house and outbuildings. Keiran and Louise renovated and lived in the house for 18 months, and when they left Keith’s parents moved in and stayed many years.
The old house was demolished, the present house built, Turner Street sold and Kunawarra was born.
Pat and Keith embraced the Oxley Flats community participating in everything and the CFA became a big part of their lives
Kym and James wedding was another triumph to Pat’s organizing skills with them married in this very church, transported to the family farm at Oxley Flats in a horse drawn buggy. Even the weather obeyed – with a sunny day and the full lagoon beside the marquee looked a picture.
Pat was devoted to her beautiful grand children– Erin, Euan & Hamish. and was always deeply involved in their lives.
When asked their favourite thing about their Grandma,
Erin’s was ‘I liked that she understood what it was like having 2 brothers’.
Euan’s was making cupcakes with grandma.
Hamish loved the collectible stickers she sent to him and always waited impatiently for the post to arrive.
Pat and Keith celebrated their 50th in 2010 and many of you here today will remember that day
Over the years, our lives have taken different courses but we remained a close family celebrating birthdays, Christmases and family events. Pat always was the instigator of keeping these traditions going. We even celebrated the 100th birthday of our parents several years after they had passed
During the past 10 years Pat & I have become closer if that was possible. When Jill was diagnosed with MSA Pat stood beside us through thick and thin and we began having Saturday lunch together. Pat would tell Jill all the things that were happening at Yarrunga where they had both shared so much time. When Jill passed away Pat insisted we continue having lunch each Saturday
Keith, Kym & James will keep Pat’s Facebook page open as a Memorial to a wonderful wife, mother, mother in-law, grandmother, sister, aunty, grand aunty and a wonderful friend and teacher.
Pat may have been small in stature but hugely determined (in other words bloody stubborn), fiercely protective of the children she taught and devoted to her family and friends. Pat believed that her grandchildren were her future and will live on for her
Losing Pat has shocked and saddened us all
We will always remember our loving, hardworking, generous and thoughtful PAT