Alban Roy Bush, better known as Roy, was born to Don & Audrey Bush on 24th May 1935, at Sefton Hospital in Tumut. He was the second son & seventh child. Roy had an elder brother Howard, & eight sisters; Merle, Eileen, Betty, Verlie, Rosie, Gwen, Ethel and Margaret. Theirs was a close family, growing up around Tumorrama where Pop owned land. He later moved to Goulburn.
Roy married Kay, & together they had three children – Debbie, Maree & Billy. Unfortunately the marriage broke up when the children were barely teenagers. He married Joan many years later, but this didn't last either. Also sadly, son Billy was murdered about 13 years ago, a very traumatic event for Roy & the family.
Uncle Roy has worked on many properties, Inverollochy (which later became a Christian Agricultural College) near Goulburn; also at Breadalbane, Araluen & in later life many places near Canberra; where he has lived for over 35 years now. His working life here included many years in a timber business, mostly delivering all over the ACT.
My memories of Uncle Roy are all wonderful. He was/is the uncle always encouraging kids to get into mischief; nothing dark & sinister, just cheeky fun. He loves playing ball games, board games, cards, throwing water bombs at unsuspecting adults, using shangai's, plays chasies/hide 'n' seek with the kids, does jig-saws, crosswords, sudoku, never a dull moment. Despite all his mischief, everyone adores him. His grandchildren all say he is the best Grandad ever to exist.
Roy preserves all his own fruit, makes prize winning jams for many country shows, grows his own vegetable garden, freezing or giving away the excess produce. He & Maree drive many miles to pick blackberries for his special jam.
My mother and Roy shared a house together in Kaleen for the last few years of her life. It was here she reconnected with so many of her family. She & Roy had many excursions together, sometimes other sisters travelled with them. Mum finally got to Bundaberg, a long time wish of hers. I have many special memories of visiting the two of them in Canberra. I am eternally grateful for all the care he gave Mum during her cancer journey, taking her to doctors, hospitals & treatment centres. He was always so patient with her many mood changes. He gives each of his remaining sisters the same love & attention. He will frequently drive to Goulburn where most of them live, to take them places. Once every year he travels to Bundaberg for 2 to 3 weeks to stay with Verlie, usually taking at least one other sister along for the drive. Every time I visit, Uncle Roy takes me somewhere different within the city, or anywhere else I want to go.
Roy constantly helps his daughters on their properties doing cattle work, fencing, gardening, etc. He goes to a lot of events with the grandchildren & now great-grandchildren. He supports every one of them as much as he can. Roy often travels with younger family members to music concerts – Sydney, Yass, or around the city. He loves country music, but will listen to modern forms also.
Roy & daughter Debbie go to all the home games of Canberra Raiders, guess who is in the stands cheering the loudest?
Uncle Roy is very affectionate & gives the best hugs. I can sit with him quietly & talk about anything. He is like a father to me, a great listener, a best friend, an uncle & all round great bloke. I love him very much, he is the best.
Maxine Gardiner
February 2020
Roy married Kay, & together they had three children – Debbie, Maree & Billy. Unfortunately the marriage broke up when the children were barely teenagers. He married Joan many years later, but this didn't last either. Also sadly, son Billy was murdered about 13 years ago, a very traumatic event for Roy & the family.
Uncle Roy has worked on many properties, Inverollochy (which later became a Christian Agricultural College) near Goulburn; also at Breadalbane, Araluen & in later life many places near Canberra; where he has lived for over 35 years now. His working life here included many years in a timber business, mostly delivering all over the ACT.
My memories of Uncle Roy are all wonderful. He was/is the uncle always encouraging kids to get into mischief; nothing dark & sinister, just cheeky fun. He loves playing ball games, board games, cards, throwing water bombs at unsuspecting adults, using shangai's, plays chasies/hide 'n' seek with the kids, does jig-saws, crosswords, sudoku, never a dull moment. Despite all his mischief, everyone adores him. His grandchildren all say he is the best Grandad ever to exist.
Roy preserves all his own fruit, makes prize winning jams for many country shows, grows his own vegetable garden, freezing or giving away the excess produce. He & Maree drive many miles to pick blackberries for his special jam.
My mother and Roy shared a house together in Kaleen for the last few years of her life. It was here she reconnected with so many of her family. She & Roy had many excursions together, sometimes other sisters travelled with them. Mum finally got to Bundaberg, a long time wish of hers. I have many special memories of visiting the two of them in Canberra. I am eternally grateful for all the care he gave Mum during her cancer journey, taking her to doctors, hospitals & treatment centres. He was always so patient with her many mood changes. He gives each of his remaining sisters the same love & attention. He will frequently drive to Goulburn where most of them live, to take them places. Once every year he travels to Bundaberg for 2 to 3 weeks to stay with Verlie, usually taking at least one other sister along for the drive. Every time I visit, Uncle Roy takes me somewhere different within the city, or anywhere else I want to go.
Roy constantly helps his daughters on their properties doing cattle work, fencing, gardening, etc. He goes to a lot of events with the grandchildren & now great-grandchildren. He supports every one of them as much as he can. Roy often travels with younger family members to music concerts – Sydney, Yass, or around the city. He loves country music, but will listen to modern forms also.
Roy & daughter Debbie go to all the home games of Canberra Raiders, guess who is in the stands cheering the loudest?
Uncle Roy is very affectionate & gives the best hugs. I can sit with him quietly & talk about anything. He is like a father to me, a great listener, a best friend, an uncle & all round great bloke. I love him very much, he is the best.
Maxine Gardiner
February 2020
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