Voice - Pambula
Aug. 17, 1906

Death of Mr. J. A. LOVE took place at Pambula on Tuesday morning about 7 o'clock. Mr Love, who was a Londoner, was born in 1830 and arrived in this State when about 14 years of age. Shortly after his arrival he was engaged at the hotel at Boydtown and was very fond of relating how Boyd's sloop with 6 guests aboard used to periodically trade between California and Twofold Bay… It should be said that the deceased was a shipmate of Mr. G. Martin (Towamba) and the late R. Turbet (Wyndham). Mr. Love lived for a number of years in Eden acquiring the Palestine estate, but in 1882 he removed to Towamba and was conversant with the period when pack bullocks were used to convey produce to port. For many years he carried the mails between Towamba and Nangutta and was employed for many years by the late Alex Weatherhead.
After spending a number of years in that district, the deceased went to the Ballarat diggings where he prospered. Eventually returning to Towamba, he secured landed property, upon which he apparently prospered, particularly in respect to wattle bark transactions. Mr. Love was thrice married and leaves a widow, five sons (Jas. A., Tom, George, Edward and William) and eight daughters (Mrs W. Watson of Lett's Creek, Mrs. Walker of Bega, Mrs. Collins of Lochiel, Mrs. Joe McGrath and Alice, Jessie, Mary and Louisa) whilst three girls and one boy are deceased. The interment took place at Eden on Wednesday afternoon, being largely attended. The Rev. R. Penty officiated at the grave.


Death of Mr J A Love

Another link in the chain connecting the olden days with the new has been severed in the demise of Mr. James A. Love which took place at Pambula on Tuesday morning about 7 o'clock. For some weeks past he had been under treatment by Dr. Howle, but it was quite evident that no earthly power could sustain the life fast ebbing away. The end of intense suffering was manifestly welcomed by the aged veteran after a life of usefulness and energy. Few, if any, will gainsay that he has been a worthy colonist and has lived an honourable life. This fact is certified to by the many friends who surrounded him in his last days.
Mr. Love who was a Londoner, was born in 1830 and arrived in this state when about 14 years of age. Shortly after his arrival he was engaged at the hotel at Boydtown, and was very fond of relating how Boyd's sloop, with 6 guests aboard, used to periodically trade between California and Twofold Bay. Boyd afterwards went on an excursion to Torres Straits in this vessel, but never returned, the sloop being sold by auction in Sydney at a later period. It should be said that the deceased was a shipmate of Mr. G. Martin (Towamba) and the late R. Turbet (Wyndham).
Mr Love lived for a number of years in Eden, acquiring the Palestine Estate, but in 1882 he removed to Towamba and was conversant with the period when pack bullocks were used to convey produce to port. For many years he carried the mails between Towamba and Nangutta and was employed for many years by the late Alex Weatherhead. After spending a number of years in that district the deceased went to the Ballarat diggings where he prospered. Eventually returning to Towamba he secured landed property upon which he apparently prospered particularly in respect to wattle bark transactions.
Mr Love was thrice married and leaves a widow, five sons (Jas. A., Tom, George, Edward and William) and eight daughters (Mrs. W. Watson of Lett's Creek, Mrs. Walker of Bega, Mrs. Collins of Lochiel, Mrs. Joe McGrath and Alice, Jessie, Mary and Louisa) whilst three girls and one boy are deceased. The interment took place at Eden on Wednesday afternoon, being largely attended. The Rev. R. Penty officiated at the grave.

Obituary of Mr. Tom Love
Eden Magnet - 10 August 1918

A great shock was felt by the people of our district on Thursday morning last, when it became known that Tom Love had died suddenly at Towamba early that morning. From what we can learn, Mr. Love who was a highly respected resident of the district, rose in his usual health at 6 am on Thursday, and sometime after was discovered by his wife in a fit. From statements made, it was thought that Mr. Love took strychnine in mistake for Epsom salts, and efforts were unavailably made to save him. The doctor was communicated with, but arrived to late to render aid, as the victim succumbed in a very short time. An inquest was held by the district coroner Mr. J.H. Martin, and the medical defence showed that the deceased came to an end from strychnine poisoning.
Mr. Love, who only recently purchased Towamba Station property from Mr. Everhingham, was 53 years of age and was known throughout the district for his bright cheering temperament and as an industrious energetic worker. The funeral took place at Towamba on Friday last, and the service was conducted by Rev. W.S. Price. Funeral arrangements were in the hand of Messrs. Manning and Son, of Bega. We extend our sympathy to the proved relatives.


Pambula Voice - 16 August 1918

At the inquest held by Coroner J.H. Martin as the result of the sudden death of Mr. Tom Love, of Towamba, last week, a verdict of death from strychnine poisoning was returned. It is supposed the deceased took it in mistake for Epson Salts. Mr. Love only recently purchased the Towamba Station property from Mr. Everingham. The funeral took place at Towamba on Friday last, the Rev. W.S. Price conducting the last sad rites. Deceased was a brother of Mrs. W. Watson, Bald Hills and Mr. Jas Love, Nethercote.


Towfold Bay Magnet - 17 August 1918
Upper Kiah
Quite a gloom was cast over Kiah when we heard of the sudden death of Mr. T. Love of Pericoe. We extend our deepest sympathy to the bereaved.

Obituary of Olive Claire Love

Olive Claire Love was born on 23 May, 1927 at Dungog in NSW and died on 28 February, 1997 at the Bega District Hospital - she was 69.
Known as Claire to everyone, she was the second child of Walter Jones and Evelyn Rubina Payne.
She never knew her father as he was killed in an accident at Dungog when she was two years old and only three years ago she actually saw a picture of her father for the first time.
After his death, the family moved to the Nowra area where her uncles, the Payne brothers, were sleeper cutters.
Claire's mother met and married Oscar Love at Nowra and later moved to the Towamba area.
Claire met and married Albert James Love on 26 September, 1945 at Towamba.
Their early years of marriage were spent at Pericoe until the roof of their home was blown off in a violent storm. They then moved to Towamba where they resided until 1977.
During their years at Towamba, they cut sleepers, collected cream from the farms at Towamba and delivered it to Pambula Cream Factory, farmed, had school and mail bus runs.
For many years Claire milked cows for George and Enie Love at Pericoe.
They had four children, Noel, Dennis, Susan and Deborah.
The family expanded with daughters-in-law Robyn and Kerry, son-in-law David and much cherished grandchildren Belinda, Jodie, Tahlecia and William.
Claire was very active in the local community at Towamba being the secretary/treasurer for the P & C and the tennis club for more than 25 years.
Claire was a sports fanatic playing tennis on Thursdays and Saturdays and golf on Wednesdays. She played right up until her death.
One of her greatest moments in sport was when on her second outing to the Bega Golf Course she hit a hole in one.
Over the years she won many trophies and at the house in Upper Street, Bega these trophies are proudly displayed.
She was also proud of being born in Dungog as this is the home of the great Australian cricketer Doug Walters.
Claire and Alby's life revolved around sport and they spend many late nights and early mornings watching the tennis from Wimbledon and cricket from overseas.
Claire also loved music and her favourite artist was the Irish singer Daniel O'Donnell.
Her great grandfather, Richard Jones, was a composer in England and had many of his works published.
Claire loved to sing and spent many hours singing nursery rhymes and ditties to her children and grandchildren.
She was also a wonderful cook and this was apparently handed down through the family as her father, grandfather and great grandfather were all bakers and had bakeries at Dungog and Newcastle for many years.
The family will never forget her Sunday roast lunches, apple crumble, bread and butter puddings and salad dressing.
Claire also spent many hours in her flower garden at the front of her home and always had a wave and a hello for those who passed by.
She will also be missed by her brothers and sisters, Aileen Tasker, Tura Beach, Wally Jones, Tom Love and Norman Love, Eden, Shirley Atkins, Wollongong and Fay Lawler of Bega.

Written by Susan Love
Bega District News - March 1997

Obituary of Albert James Love

Albert James Love was born on 10 December, 1919 at Pambula only child of Louisa Lavender Love and James Timothy Pryke Walters. Louisa and James never married so Albert kept his mothers surname.
Known to all as Alby, his young life was difficult as his mother passed away in 1925 and his father was unable to care for him so he was taken in by the families of the Towamba/Pericoe/Burragate valleys. The only memory he had of his mother was her giving him a little overcoat.
Alby was cared for mainly by his aunts and uncles - his mother was the youngest of 17 children, her parents being James Albert Love and Ellen Hart. Alby spent the majority of his life living with Bill and Lizzie Love and was raised with his cousins Enie and Les Love whom remained a very important part of his life.
Alby left school at 14 so he could earn a living trapping rabbits. He wished he could have continued at school as he really enjoyed it. He went to school at Pericoe, Burragate and Towamba - if they needed an extra child to makeup the numbers at the school Alby would move to that town.
He received First Prize in the Eden Show for his neat handwriting and we still have the book that won him that prize.
Alby met and married Olive Claire Jones on 26 September, 1945 at St. Pauls Anglican Church, Towamba, NSW. They started their married life living at Pericoe at Peters Swamp. They moved to Towamba in 1952 after the big fires and remained there until 1977 when they moved to Carp Street, Bega and then in 1983 moved to Upper Street, Bega. Except for a year Alby spent living in Canberra with his daughter Susan the Far South Coast was his home for 83 years and very dear to his heart.
Alby and Claire had 4 children Noel James, Dennis Walter, Susan Gaye and Deborah Louise Evelyn. The family extended to include daughters-in-law Robyn and Kerry and son-in-law David. Five grandchildren came along Belinda, Jodie, Tahlecia, William and Claire.

Alby had many jobs during his life including: rabbit trapping, stripping wattle bark, cutting sleepers, fencing, wool classing, bus driving and servicing cars at Balmain Bros in Bega. Alby had a truck which he used to cart sleepers and wattle bark from Towamba to Eden wharf where it was loaded on a boat and sent to India.
Alby drove the mail bus from Towamba to Bega for Arthur Love and Ted Butcher and then bought the business. For 30 years he drove the bus from Towamba to Bega 6 days a week delivering bread, mail, groceries, passengers and anything else people wanted from the shops in Bega.
The business expanded to include school bus runs from Towamba to Pericoe and Towamba to Eden via the Snake Track. Whilst having this business he also had the farm at Towamba. The house was located near the Towamba Sports Ground and they purchased it from Allie Harris. On the farm Alby grew corn and had sheep and cattle. The property included river flats near the school and land near the cemetery. At the farm at Towamba he grew corn on the flats of the Towamba River and took out prizes for his corn in the Sydney Royal Easter Show in 1977.

Sport played a major part in his life - he played tennis up until he was 79 - he won many trophies over his lifetime with his partners, wife Claire, George Love and June Sawers. In Rugby League he followed the Canterbury Bulldogs and was devastated when they had all their points taken off them in 2002 when they were leading the competition. He enjoyed push bike riding in his early days and would ride from Towamba to Bombala and Cann River to compete in races. He also competed in woodchopping and won prizes at many local shows.
Community work was also important - Alby used his bulldozer to make the Towamba Sports Ground which included 2 tennis courts. He was also the local bush fire brigade captain for 35 years.
Vegetable gardening was one of his great loves and had great gardens in Bega with Harry O'Donovan and Garry Owens - they grew enough potatoes and pumpkins to feed all of Bega.
Claire predeceased Alby on 28 February, 1997 after 51 years of marriage.
Alby loved country and western music especially Slim Dusty and John Denver. His other interests included watching cricket, Irish Dancing and sitting up late and watching the tennis from Wimbledon.
Other things he enjoyed were going to the badge draw at the Bega RSL on Friday nights and going to the Bank Hotel for lunch and a brown beer with his family.

In 2003 Alby was diagnosed with Leukemia and due to his health problems moved into Casuarina Hostel in Bega. Alby passed away on 5 February 2004 in the Canberra Hospital and was buried at the Bega Cemetery next to his loving wife Claire.
Alby will be missed by his immediate family and also his sisters and brothers-in-law, Aileen Tasker, Sheila Jones, Tom & Jean Love, Shirley & Fred Atkins, Fay & Mick Lawler and Norman & Janice Love.

Written by Susan Love

Obituary of Mrs. Mary Jane Watson
The Pambula Voice, Friday January 17, 1936

As briefly mentioned in our last issue, the death occurred at her residence, Pambula on 8th instant of Mrs. Mary Jane Watson aged 72 years wife of Mr. William Watson. The deceased lady had suffered a long illness, from which death was a happy release, but her passing was nevertheless a big blow to the family.
Mrs. Watson, who was formerly a Miss love, of Pericoe, was born at Eden, and had lived all her life in the district. In the very early days of farming in this State, Mr. and Mrs. Watson made their start at Lett's Creek, near Pericoe. They made good, and about 25 years ago moved with their family to Bald Hills, near Pambula, where one member of the family still resides.
Some 13 years ago, Mr. and Mrs. Watson retired from the heavy work of the farm to reside in Pambula, but unfortunately Mrs. Watson was not long to enjoy the respite for after a couple of years she was stricken with paralysis and became more or less an invalid. During the years that followed, she was tenderly nursed and cared for by her daughter Belle.
Possessing many fine qualities which gained her a wide circle of friends, and known to all as a loving wife and mother, a kind friend and neighbour, Mrs. Watson held a place in many hearts and many there are who will mourn her passing.
A husband and ten children - Lindsay (Narooma), William (Bega), John (Cobargo), Roy (Pambula), Mrs. Sawyers (Bodalla), Mrs. Tuffley (Wolumla), Mrs. Ramsey (Towamba), Mrs. Furnell (Pambula), Mrs. Grant (Wyndham) and Miss Belle (Pambula) are left to mourn their loss.
The remains were interred in the Methodist portion of Bega cemetery on Thursday. The Rev. H. E. Burrows read the service at the graveside. Messrs. T. Manning & Son had charge of the funeral arrangements.