They were very much a team and bounced off one another in a way that kept the locals entertained.
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Cheryl and Robert 'Gopher' Bowerman were familiar faces behind the bar at The Gordon for many years, and later at The Billabong Tavern. Their good-natured jibes at one another provided plenty of humorous moments at the watering holes.
While Robert passed way in 2013, Cheryl sadly lost her life to a respiratory illness on April 16 this year, aged seventy-three. Her funeral service at Craig's Hill Crematorium Chapel on April 24 was packed with people, many of them standing outside, as they shared a swag full of fond memories.
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Her cousin, Jan Fitzsimmons said Cheryl would have been pleased and honoured to see so many sharing in the service, as friends and family were "the most important focus of her life."
She detailed a childhood unlike many others.
Born Cheryl Cox in Goulburn in 1948, a leap year baby and only child, she grew up in Coromandel Street with her mother, Lorna, 'Nanna Wheatley' and bachelor uncle, Ned. After Lorna died in July, 1961, Cheryl and her grandmother moved in with her mother's sister, Maisie and husband, Hector.
"Cherrie (as she was known to the family) remained with them until her marriage, but she also loved her time staying at Flossie's (or Florence), another of her mother's sisters, where she could get up to mischief with her cousins, John and Robert, who I would regard as the closest to siblings that Cheryl had," Mrs Fitzsimmons said.
Following her education at Goulburn High School, she worked at Supertex and then the Base Hospital.
"Bursting with life, fun and vitality," she always turned heads but eventually fell in love with Robert Bowerman, who was working for the Post Master General's department, installing the coaxial cable between Sydney and Melbourne. They married in 1969 and made their home in Victoria Street.
"They were great entertainers, part of a wide social set, had many friends, partied hard (and) life was good. They were happy years," Mrs Fitzsimmons said.
Their daughter, Jacinta, was born in 1975. At the same time the couple moved to home in Reign Street.
After his father passed away, Robert took over the licence at the family business, the Gordon Hotel, "under the watchful eye of his mother, Jean." It necessitated a move to Union Street.
"Robert and Cheryl worked hard together at the pub," Mrs Fitzsimmons said.
"They were well known, great hosts, and had lots of friends of all ages. Cheryl has often reminded her daughters that her motto was 'we're here for a good time, not a long time'."
Their second daughter, Timra, was born during this period. The couple adored both girls and welcomed their many friends into the home.
They ran the hotel for just over 20 years until Jean Bowerman passed away in 1992.
Robert and Cheryl decided to stay in the hospitality game and managed the Billabong Tavern for several years. Then Robert changed course to become a car salesman. Cheryl also utilised her extensive hospitality experience and began work at the Goulburn Soldiers Club, where she remained until she retired.
"Although their working lives were busy, there had been time for some great family holidays and fun times with the girls," Mrs Fitzsimmons said.
"Entertaining at home, celebrating Christmas, Easter, birthdays and the like were special events. I know that the girls treasure all their happy memories and are grateful for every moment they shared."
But sadly, plans for retirement didn't eventuate. Robert developed lung cancer and though feeling ill-equipped to nurse him, Cheryl "lovingly attended to his care and comfort."
"When he died, I guess that part of her went with him," Mrs Fitzsimmons said.
"She has carried that section of her broken heart for what has been almost eight long years."
But she remained in her Dewhirst Street home, surrounded by photos and memories and was always up for a phone call, visit, a cuppa, chat or a good laugh. Some days were full of challenge due to her poor health yet she tried to stay upbeat, still enjoyed an outing and her cooking. Cheryl also retained her sense of mischief and humour.
She took great joy in her daughters' successes, happy marriages - both to Taralga men, the town from which Robert hailed, and their five grandsons. On the Sunday before she collapsed, she attended her newest grandson, Lachy's christening in Sydney.
Jacinta's son, Toby Elliott told the congregation he cherished memories of he and his two brothers sitting at The Gordon with Cheryl and Robert's sister, Nerida. They drank raspberry and cokes and ate packets of chips "like they were going out of fashion," then went home "full of sugar to create a circus."
But their grandmother took delight in all their successes and loved having them for 'sleep-overs.'
"We will all remember something special, fun, and crazy about our Nanna Cheryl, she will be remembered always," Toby said.
Cheryl died in Goulburn Base Hospital on April 16, leaving what Mrs Fitzsimmons described as a huge emptiness in the hearts of those who loved her.
"As hard as it is to accept the fact that she is no longer here, we are blessed by the memories made with this special lady," she said.
"Although they may be different memories, the one thing they have in common is the way she loved and lived for her family."
Cheryl is survived by daughter Jacinta Elliott, her husband, Shane and children Toby, Rhys and Alec; daughter Timra, husband Joshua Moloney and sons Xavier and Lachlan; sisters-in-law Narelle Holt and Nerida Harris and their respective families; and cousins John and Katrina Garland and their families.
Interment took place at Saint Patrick's Cemetery.
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