Goulburn farewells World War Two veteran Rodger Penman | Obituary

Though well into his 90s, he was adamant about his exercise and maintaining a routine.

For those who knew him well, the practice reflected Mr Penman's determination and approach to life.

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The World War Two veteran, one of a few remaining in Goulburn, died at Bourke Street Health Service on Saturday. He was ninety-seven.

The ex Royal Australian Air Force corporal was a familiar face in the city's Anzac Day marches. Goulburn RSL Sub Branch president Gordon Wade said if he ever failed to call a taxi to transport Mr Penman on the march, he certainly heard about it.

"Rodger liked the RSL and what it did for veterans and he always thought highly of the movement. He enjoyed the camaraderie," Mr Wade said.

"Over 20 years he was a great support to me and a wealth of knowledge on what was required of the president and executive."

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Mr Penman was a life subscriber to the Goulburn RSL Sub Branch. On his shopping trips he would invariably call into the office and chat with Mr Wade and members. The conversation was rarely about his actual war service but "the good times and funny bits" he experienced at the time.

"He always loved a chat. He was good to talk to and be around...I will miss him," Mr Wade said.

Born in Rylstone, he was one of four children to Irene and Ross Penman, a Gallipoli veteran. The family moved to Goulburn when Ross secured the clerk's position at the former Mulwaree Shire Council.

Rodger attended Goulburn High School from 1936 to 1940, in the same class as the late Jack Plews, who later became the institution's longtime principal.

Good friend, Bruce Harvey, said Mr Penman, followed in his father's footsteps and became a junior clerk at Mulwaree Shire. In his spare time he played cricket for Goulburn Apex Club and retained a lifelong love of the game, as evidenced by his Don Bradman collection.

Harnessing his childhood love of sport, Mr Penman also played tennis and golf.

He was also active in the broader Apex organisation, serving as secretary for three successive years, president and later, district governor. He was made a life member in August, 1963. Mr Harvey first met Mr Penman in the late 1950s but formed a friendship when the former joined Apex in 1962.

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"After meetings, he always liked to go to Palasa's (Salvi) restaurant for supper," he said.

When World War Two intervened, he enlisted in the Air Force in 1943, and aspired to be a pilot. Despite months of training in Melbourne, depth of perception problems thwarted his goal. But as he told The Post last year, his typing speed of 34 words a minute impressed and he was made an orderly room clerk.

Posted to No 452 Spitfire Squadron in Darwin, Corporal Penman encountered Clive 'Killer' Caldwell.

"He was the most famous airman in World War Two as he had 27 kills and shared three kills," Mr Penman said.

Next stop was Moratai, Indonesia for six months until June, 1945, and then Tarakan on Borneo's east coast for the remainder of the war.

Upon discharge in 1946, Mr Penman returned to Goulburn and resumed his council job. He rose to become deputy clerk before his retirement in the early 1980s.

Family was always close to his heart. Mr Penman's niece, Robyn Collins, said her uncle became 'the man of the family' after his father's death in 1952. He looked after his mother in their Bradley Street home until her death in 1984. He also cared for his sister, Betty, who had multiple sclerosis.

"He was a nice uncle, who was more conservative...We thought he was like royalty," Mrs Collins said.

"As he aged, he lightened up and loved a joke and being around the children."

Mr Harvey also visited him regularly and hosted him for meals.

"Rodger was straight down the line and we had many banters over the years," he said.

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Mr Penman had been unwell for a short time and was admitted to Bourke Street Health Service last week. He passed away there on Saturday.

Mrs Collins said her uncle would have loved nothing more than to reach 100 and receive a letter from the Queen, whom he admired.

"That would have been special but it was not to be," she said.

Mr Penman is also survived by Mrs Collins' husband, John, nephew Rosco and wife Katerina and four great nieces and nephews. His siblings and a great niece predeceased him.

The Goulburn RSL Sub Branch will honour him at a funeral service at Craig's Hill Crematorium and Chapel, Middle Arm Road, at 2pm Thursday, August 12.

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