1992 JOHN JOSEPH DIXON DIED ON THIS DAY

Dad in the 1970s

Born on the 8th June, 1907, John Joseph Dixon died on this day 11th May, in 1992 a few weeks short of his 85th Birthday. He had a life of hard work which started at age 11yrs when he was placed in a job at Newland's Iron Foundry near Central Station in Sydney.The Foundry produced , among other things, iron baby cots. We had one of these cots at home it was used by my brother Pat as a baby and later by me - it was grey painted (!) and the drop side was quite heavy. At the Foundry, Dad's left eye was hurt by spraying hot metal and he had impaired sight in that eye until he lost the eye to Glaucoma in 1957 and had a glass eye fitted.

Dad and I all scrubbed up to go out.

Like all working class families of the day, we had a strong sense of dressing up to go out. We would not be seen "out " in our everyday clothes - how different things are to-day when so many go out of their way to dress down.

With Mum and Dad in the backyard Summer of 1946/7 - the Depression  and War years  had left their mark on my parents.

As the years went by, money became more plentiful and Mum and Dad could afford to be house proud, and in fact home owners.The yard was cleared of weeds and blackberries, Dad put in concrete paths back and front, re-built the front fence, re-painted the house inside and out, replaced the linoleum floor coverings, firstly with FELTEX then with Wall to wall carpeting.He turned the Laundry into a separate Kitchen with fitted cupboards and opened it to the Dining Room by taking out a wall.And he built a new Laundry at the rear of the new Kitchen. He also opened the wall between the Lounge Room and the Dining Room so that we had a modern Lounge/Dining Room. Later he enclosed the rear Verandah to create a Third Bedroom. He was" Jack"  of all trades.

Late in her life, Mum was taken up to Pott's Hill Pumping Station by my Brother Pat in one of his series of cars. Mum was horrified to see the conditions in which Dad worked as an Engine Room Attendant at this Coal-fired, Steam -Powered Water Pumping Station with its very old reciprocating steam engines driving the the water pumps and constant high levels of noise and heat.

Pre-Depression Ca. 1927 a confident Young Man yet still that almost quizzical look.

Dad had a tough upbringing. He had a good and loving Mother but a hard drinking and irascible Father who , when displeased, had on at least one occasion hung him up by his collar onto a horse harness hook and beaten him with a leather strap.His Father later left the Family home and in my childhood he was rarely seen - and then unpleasant. 

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About 1911 in a Sailor Suit and giving the world a sceptical look.

As a little boy at school Dad must have been a bit of a handful, because he used to recount stories of being obliged to kneel with his hands out to be caned.Efforts to teach him the Piano were brought to a halt when the Nun feared damage to the keyboard from his pounding. He thought in his early School years that his full name was "Jack John Joseph Dixon"not realising that "Jack "is a nickname for "John"! Strangely enough, his childlike ignorance of near 100 years ago has become commonplace among parents of boys now who actually name their boys "Jack "as all awareness of Patron Saints is slowly extinguished among the largely post-Christian society.

So dear Dad, we pray Requiescat in Pace, as we remember you on the Anniversary of your Death 19 years ago. You may be surprised to know that you were probably the first Dixon in history to be prayed for by three Bishops in the celebration of their Masses! Thank you for being a stalwart provider and careful guardian of your family.