Jordans Crossing Gazette

BUNDANOON CUTTING COTTAGE Cutting • Colouring • Perming Chemical Straightening • Bridal SHOP 1, 1 CHURCH ST, BUNDANOON 4883 7798 At last – beautiful Australian cashmere garments and accessories are to be found locally – right here in Bundanoon! Visit the farm by appointment. BELISA CASHMERE Stan and Bev Cooper Phone – 02 4883 7722 Experience Australian Cashmere In Bundanoon Neil and wife Anne moved to Bundanoon in 1987 when they bought the village newsagency. Soon after, Neil was elected President of the then BCDA. During his time in the role he achieved many projects that the village enjoys today; he lobbied the council for a footpath up the hill in Ellsmore Road and for indoor toilets in the Soldiers’ Memorial Hall. He also led the project to transform the land beside the railway line into what is now Picnic Park, opposite the shops, and then had the bus shelter installed. Neil was raised on a dairy farm near Campbelltown and had a love for life on the land. Neil and Anne ran their own dairy in Bermagui for 10 years, “but it was always hard to make a living” Neil Braithwaite Legacies of labour and love says Anne, “so other jobs were necessary.” But Neil always liked a challenge and thrived on change. “He could look at something and quickly get the measure of it” says Anne. This lead to the move up the coast to take on the Kangaroo Valley Caravan Park. When Neil and Anne moved to Sydney in 1993, the couple kept their house in Bundanoon, returning when they retired in 2002. In retirement, Neil continued his life-long devotion to reading The Land “which was the Bible in our house”. He also loved long driving holidays. Anne says, “But with Neil it was always A to B and no mucking about!” Neil and great mate, David Brown, made several driving trips together, exploring far-flung locales like the Murrumbidgee River or Parkes. He also used to enjoy visiting friends on their various farms. Since his diagnosis in 2010, Neil had many periods of good health, where he indulged his passion for overseas travel, particularly cruising. The last trip took Neil and Anne from Sydney up around Australia to Denpasar. “We had a lovely life”, says Anne, “I mean we worked , but we had a lovely life. With Neil, life was never dull!” — Juanita Manahan with Anne Braithwaite remembering