ROBERT THOMAS DUNN 1944 - 2020
Born in 1944, Robert and his sister Phillipa were the children of farmer and RAAF flying instructor Thomas William Dunn and University of Sydney botanist Marjorie Harriet Taylor. The family lived and worked on their farm ‘Hareenyha’ on the outskirts of Wagga Wagga but spent their holidays every year at Narooma. Hence Robert also took his children to Narooma every summer with his wife Carolyn for his entire lifetime, and retired to the area which held a special place in his heart. His favourite beach and morning swim was at Mystery Bay.
His education began at the local bush school Eunonyhareenyha, before boarding at Scots College. Robert graduated from Arts at University of Sydney in 1964. Robert returned to Wagga to complete his legal studies as an articled clerk with Walsh and Blair. He was admitted in 1969, before working in Canberra, Sydney and London.
After returning to Australia Robert lived and worked in Pittwater from1973. He had a legal practice in Mona Vale and was married with four children. He led the establishment of Pittwater Council, the first to break away from a larger council in more than 100 years and was its first elected Mayor. He loved his family, walking his dog to the beach, music, singing, sport and nature - which made his heart sing.
Robert retired to Tilba Tilba on the New South South Coast in late 2000's before moving to Narooma last year. For over a decade Robert has continued to work for the community, including through his local church. He volunteered for the Tilba Tilba Rural Fire Service and helped to establish "Monty's", a community outreach program providing meals, housing & legal assistance to those in need.
Robert is survived and sorely missed by his wife of 47 years Carolyn, his children Robert Simon, Angus, Edwina and Hannah and his five grandchildren Katelyn, Georges, Andrew, Lincoln and Lelaina.
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Elected Positions Held:
Warringah Councillor 1987-92; founding member of Pittwater Council and Councillor 1992-99; Mayor 1992-94, 1995-97.
Previous Community Positions:
President of Pittwater Apex Club; President Mona Vale Chamber of Commerce; Secretary Manly Warringah Scouting Association; Inaugural President of Peninsula Cricket Club; ABA Fundraising Chairman, Manly Warringah Basketball Association.
Memberships:
Life Member of Association of Apex Clubs; Legatee/Member of Manly Warringah Pittwater Legacy; Warringah Rugby Club; Mona Vale Golf Club; Manly Warringah Basketball ‘100 Club’; Newport Beach Winter Swimmers (‘Polar Bares’) Association; Friends of Katandra Bushland Sanctuary; Australian Conservation Foundation.
Above: Robert and his labrador Monty at the beach, Dad and my daughter Edwina at Narooma, with wife Carolyn and children and grandchildren at the Tilba Folk Festival and at Monty's with food box -----------------------------------------------------------------
“Robert never had a 5 minute phone call. He discussed issues on many subjects, sang hymns or songs for his folk group, with the addition of verses that he had written. He encouraged, offered advice, constantly praised & shared prayer.” Narelle Farmer, Uniting Church Narooma
“Robert gave much to the Uniting Church at Narooma and to the governance and good management of Monty's centre.” John Williams, Canberra Region Presbytery
“As Pam has said just moments ago we will never be able to replace him. He has always been ready and willing to help others in need, and that’s a quality so vital in any church… Your dads passing is a heavy blow, if I did not realise just how much we loved him, once the tears flowed I knew for certain.”
Barry and Pam Flanagan
Venue: Club Narooma, 88 Princes Highway | Narooma, NSW 2546
Time: Please arrive at 3.30pm sharp to enable adequate time to register your attendance (for COVID compliance) and in order for you to take your seat while also observing social distancing.
Safety:
- Please do not attend the venue in person if you have any flu-like symptoms and please let us know via email or phone ASAP! - Please remember to maintain social distancing of 1.5m on the day with those outside your household - The wearing of face masks is not compulsory but encouraged for your own safety, especially while you enter and exit the venue - Please follow the directions from staff at the venue to maintain your safety - which unfortunately includes refraining from singing. Unregistered guests: Please contact chrisob2@bigpond.net.au urgently if someone has been missed! Chris O'Brien has agreed to host a local gathering to watch the funeral live (which will be projected onto a screen live from Mona Vale in Sydney) via web stream at a room at 3.30pm at Club Narooma on Friday 2 October,
For those who cannot attend in person: Robert’s funeral will be streaming on Friday 2nd October 2020 from 3.45 AEST:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynsOp_0s8Uo
Any tributes or anecdotes from the community to:
