THE death of Reginald Bernard Kelly on July 10, 2016, closed another chapter in the early farming history of the Blue Vale area, on the Namoi River near Gunnedah.
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Reg, as he was affectionately known, was held in high regard by everyone who knew him. A hard-working practical man, he learned many life skills growing up on the family property, Brooklyn, where he was born to Lillian and Clem Kelly, on February 17, 1927.
The couple came to Brooklyn from Goran Lake, and it was on the family property that Reg spent his childhood, growing up with his brother John in the difficult years of the Great Depression.
Reg was not keen on school but he managed to learn all the basics and was not afraid of hard work. He went droving with his father, learning skills that would equip him for life, and horse-riding became a passion.
In his late teens Reg met the love of his life, a tall elegant young lady, Catherine Crona Murphy, who swept him off his feet. They married and had four children, Sharyn (Mclaughlin), Paul, Wayne and Brett. Their lives were shattered with the death of their son Wayne in a car accident, a tragedy they struggled to deal with.
Reg loved his family. He was a rock to his children and was always there for them.
He had local builder Frank Tydd construct a beautiful new home on Brooklyn and to make ends meet Reg took on many jobs away from the farm. Trucks became an important provider for the family, taking him all over the state subcontracting for road works and grain carting. He also carried out share farming, along with running stock on his own property.
Reg Kelly was a self-made man. His success was achieved by sheer hard work, a love of the land and experiences gained from his parents’ struggles.
He was a very good cricketer and an exceptional clay pigeon shooter with the Boggabri-Gunnedah Gun Club, with trophies adorning his living room. He also loved horse racing.
Reg loved his church and he would attend Mass at St Joseph’s as often as possible. Religion was his guide and comfort and his faith gave him peace, especially when he had to leave his home for care.
The final farewell for the late Reg Kelly was conducted by Fr John McHugh at the Edlen Chapel, on July 15, before interment beside his son Wayne at the Hunter Street Cemetery.
