Biography
Reginald Albert
Sturgiss fell asleep in death on the 27th September 2013, after a
brave fight with cancer, surrounded by his wife and his children.
Reg was born on the 5th
of June, 1946 at Goulbourn hospital. He was one of 7 children belonging to
Alfred William Sturgiss, and Ivy Kathleen Wallace. He had 3 brothers, Russell,
Barry and Michael, and 3 sisters, Carmel, Lavina and Alice. They lived in Mount
Ferry in NSW, where his father worked in the mines.
They later moved to
Bungendore where his father was able to obtain work on the rail roads. The family lived on the crossing right next to the railway lines, and his mother would
often help out with the work duties by raising and lowering the gates at the
crossing, when the trains passed through. He had a hard up bringing in very
tough times, and food was not always easy to get hold of. He often spoke of
trapping rabbits, and eating rabbit stew to get by, while his father sold the
skins to make extra money.
It was here as a child
where Reg first encountered his future wife Helen St Clair. Helen lived about
100 metres down the road, also next to the railway lines, and the two would throw rocks at each other across the train tracks.
In 1963 when his parents died, Reg went to
live with his brother Russell, and his sister in law Coral. They looked after
Reg until he was ready to start life on his own.
Reg found work at The
Canberra Hospital, where he stayed for about 5 years. During this time he ran
into Helen again, who also worked there, and this time being much older, the 2
became infatuated with each other, and on the 28th of September,
1974, the 2 married and settled in Queanbeyan NSW.
They moved house 4 or
5 times in the first 12 months of being married, but finally settled in Banksia
Cescent, which would become their home for the next 35 years.
Reg spent the
following years working in many different jobs, which included truck driving,
and working in timber yards, and building suppliers. He loved driving trucks,
and he took pride in his knowlage of timber. But he was not above any job that
stood in front of him providing for his family. He found himself doing it a bit
hard here and there over the years, and would do anything to ensure the bills
were paid. Reges final job was at the Queanbeyan Hospital where he worked along
side his son Collin for 6 years, before finally retiring.
When Reg wasnt working
over the years, he was a dedicated family man who loved his wife and children.
He was blessed over time with 6 grand children. 4 grand daughters, Brittney,
Ashli, Kaylee and Katelyn, and his 2 grandsons, Bryton and AJ. He loved his
family above all things, which reached not only to his imediate family, but
also his brothers and sisters, his nieces and nephews, and also his in laws. He
was close to his brothers and would often visit them over the years, spending
time with them whenever he could. He was married to Helen for 39 years and
sadly passed the day before they were to celebrate their 39th
anniversary.
He loved to have a
smoke and a beer, especially at the club with his mates, and with his brother
in law Arthur St Clair, when he came to visit. He loved his country music,
which he played every morning, and sometimes late at night. He would at times
play his guitar. He taught himself how to play by ear, because he could not
read music. He loved to cook, and would quite often cook baked dinners and
lunches for the family and for his mother in law. He was a talented artist, who
would spend many nights drawing and painting pictures. He took his kids fishing
all the time, as well as bike riding and to the park to play. He loved his
veggie gardens and he also loved the dogs that he owned over the years.
These are just a few
of many things Reg loved to do.
