Jim McIntosh OAM(1913-2003)
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tall, and straight backed my Grandpa was, Always fiddling in his shed. A shrine of sorts to the building of things, with those enormous, gentle hands. His sneezes were like the very thunder of God. Kabooom like a rifle shot. and you'd know that a very large heart indeed (at least V8) must be revved up full throttle behind such a powerful force. About his hair, I used to wonder why occasionally, it wasn't there, but mostly I just saw his hat which sat proudly on his head. Like an old friend accompanying him always whether driving his ford taking me to school fixing the vic mower with some precision tool or sitting at the stern of the old orange dinghy me bouncing in the middle, hoping to catch as many fish as he. My Grandpa didn't say many words but he spoke purely and true. It was a language even animals knew. A purring tomcat the family dog. Or that Kookaburra, that used to come back every year for a bit of meat on the fence post at the Blue House. And Grandpa would say, "here he comes, watch him kids, he'll grab it right out of your hand." Grandpa was always there it seems right from the beginning of this town. His memories came before television screens when stories were remembered. And he was always there at our table end on occasions of celebrations to lend, (upon the third glass of wine) amazing tales of the doings of women and men and we'd all try and re tell the story later but forget the who, the why and the when He was a man of few words, but upon a visit that was in no hurray a door would open and I could glimpse back for a few moments to the days before the lake to a boy who used to pedal wherever he went who'd fetch the milk when he was sent He one time was amazed to see, the biggest bloody bonfire you ever saw burning at the top of Mt Ainslie.. Later on, he began to talk about the war and I would struggle to understand, to hear the sounds of grenades and gunfire to comprehend the terror he saw that gave his eyes a faraway look. But he came home and built this town to lay foundations and forgive. He was able to live with that great pain and love only greater. All for simple things, dinner in front of the 6 o'clock news arguing in gusts, upon his worldly views giggling at the modern world, finding it absurd and when asked if he'd like some cake he would reply "My word!" My Grandpa was a man of many strengths of which he'd tell you none but anyone who'd spent time with him would have loved him for every one. |