A gentle soul

OBITUARY
FAMILY and friends this week gathered to remember a Cranbourne man known as a true gentleman for his loving and caring personality.
More than 100 mourners filled the Cranbourne Public Hall on Tuesday to celebrate the life of Edward Allen, affectionately known as Ted, who sadly passed away on 23 July.
His children and grandchildren and members from the Cranbourne RSL, of which he was a member, shared their memories and stories of Ted at the memorial service for the well-known Cranbourne identity.
Celebrant Veronica Pappas said he was a loving and caring man who lived his life within the boundaries of hard work, honesty and dignity.
Ted was born on the 2 March 1919 in South Melbourne to Patrick and Martha, and was the eight child born in the family of nine. It was in 1936 that Ted started his relationship with the Cranbourne area when he was employed as a cadet engineer with the Shire of Cranbourne and boarded with Herb and Ella Cockerill.
In 1941 Ted enlisted for World War II. He did three months’ training in 1940 with the 52nd Battalion at Trawool and later enlisted in the RAAF aircrew. He transferred from the RAAF in 1941 to the AIF and served with the 2/5th Independent Company in New Guinea, then Borneo with the 2/5th Commando Squadron.
At war’s end he served in the occupation forces and was finally discharged in February 1946.
Upon returning home he recommenced work with the Shire of Cranbourne and married Peg Rolstone (deceased), a local girl who he met before he was posted to New Guinea, at the Presbyterian Church in Cranbourne.
The couple had four children – David, Janice, Meredith and Tracey.
During his life in Cranbourne, Ted has been a driving force behind the reformation of the Cranbourne Cricket Club, a pioneer of the Cranbourne RSL, and held many positions on school councils.
The reserve at Cranbourne Racecourse is even named after him – E.G. Allen Reserve.