Pte. Sydney Albert McCartney - 10.7.1915 – 15.8.2014

Sydney Albert McCartney was born in Nhill to Alice and Ebenezer McCartney. Sydney was the second youngest of 10 children and the couple’s youngest son. Growing up in Nhill, Sydney attended the local school, walking miles to and from school each day, along the way he would set rabbit traps which he checked on his way home, and I’m thinking rabbit was regularly on Alice’s menu. Like many of his generation Syd left school at a young age and went to work for the Grain Elevator Board where he worked shoveling wheat into the silo......these were the days when hard work was ‘the order of the day’. It was during these years Sydney also played football for the local team.

With the onset of the Second World War, Sydney signed up for active service in Caulfield, joined the Army on the 10th of July, 1940, serving with the 2/29th Battalion. On the way to Sydney where the men were to be shipped off to War, Sydney’s company stopped over at Shepparton where they camped for a few days. It was here Sydney was to meet the lady who was to become his wife, Jean.

In 1945 Sydney returned to Australia where he spent 6 months in the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital recovering from the horrors and brutality of a prison camp and working on the Burma Railway.

In early 1946 he successfully applied for a position with the SEC. Starting work as a labourer, Sydney went on to become a driver, a heavy float driver and then a driving instructor, giving 33 1/2 years of loyal service to the company, 1946 was also the year Sydney and Jean formalized their relationship when they married on the 6th of October. Settling into life in their rented home in Yallourn for some years they then moved into their Housing Commission home in Vale Street, which still remains the family home, just over 66 years later. It was into this home Sydney and Jean welcomed the safe arrival of their son Geoff.

Syd was no stranger to hard work and provided well for his family; in many ways they were quite self sufficient with both Sydney and Jean keen gardeners. While Sydney looked after the vegie garden and kept the family supplied with vegetables each day, Jean looked after the front garden where the flowers bloomed. Sydney also brought home a sheep regularly, thus there was also meat on the table. Geoff remembers well how once his dad put his mind to do something, it was done, even if it meant working in the garage until 3 am or in the garden until midnight. Yep, there was no changing his mind; such was Syd’s stubborn streak which held him in good stead for life.

Aside to gardening Syd and Jean greatly enjoyed showing dogs and went to many shows with their Irish Setters, German Shorthaired Pointers and Hungarian Visla’s. They enjoyed great success with Paddy or its kennel name, Maxine Marksman who became the Victorian KCC Champion. Syd also enjoyed river and open water fishing with young Geoff, and many good weekends were also enjoyed with mates throwing their lines in and having a yarn or two but not while the fish were biting. Syd’s favorite pastime and hobby was shooting; he greatly enjoyed clay target shooting and he especially loved duck shooting. Each year, come duck and quail season, the family headed up to Nhill and while Sydney was out duck shooting, Geoff and Jean enjoyed time with the relatives.

Syd was held in high esteem at the Moe Field and Game Club where he was a Founding and Life Member of the Club. Over the years Syd was a regular at the Club of a Thursday night where he enjoyed clay target shooting; something he continued to do until his eye sight began failing at the age of 90 years. Whilst no longer able to shoot Syd still enjoyed his Thursday evenings catching up with fellow members and keeping up to date with what was happening.

Like many of his generation Syd was a man of routine, Thursdays evenings as mentioned were a regular and every Saturday he enjoyed putting a bet on at the TAB and catching up with his mates at the RSL and watching the racing. Syd also took a keen interest in his grandson Brook’s horses, mind you, when announced Brook had another horse, his Pa’s response was, ‘another bloody horse’. Syd also maintained his interest in the Moe Football Club, which goes back to the days when he helped to level off the ground and set up the original clubrooms which were brought across from Yallourn. Syd was very much a part of Moe’s history and while he wasn’t born in here, he lived here for over 66 years and during those years he enriched the lives of his family, his friends and his community.

A man of old fashion values, Syd’s word was his bond, but most of all he was a proud family man; a loved and respected father and father in law to Geoff and Robyn, Syd was a much loved Pa to Peter and Sharon and Brook and a great pa to Macey and Benny. Everyone here can say without hesitation, what an honour and a privilege it was to know Sydney McCartney.

Syd, rest peacefully, your memory will live on.

Syd left us with this poem:

…….The End of the Road

Now that I have come to th end of the road

And the sun has set for me,

I want no rites in a gloom filled room,

Why cry for a soul set free.

Miss me, but let me go.