A HUGE crowd packed Gerringong Town Hall on Thursday to honour a man who was widely described as a true gentleman, former Kiama mayor, Arthur Campbell.
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During the almost 30 years I knew this wonderful man, I admired Arthur for his warm and open manner, but I must admit that until attending his funeral, I did not have a real appreciation of his impact.
As a young man be served in the Volunteer Defence Corp and joined the Navy in 1946, serving on the HMAS Australia, Manura and Shopshire, which included a deployment to Japan in the wake of the neuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Kiama Mayor Brian Petschler delivered the main eulogy, outlining Arthur's service to local government on Kiama Council from 1977 to 1991.
He servid as mayor from 1983 to 1987, heading many committees which have had great significance to what Kiama is now, including the formation of Blue Haven Retirement Village and Kiama Leisure Centre.
However not happy just to serve the local community, he was also held in high esteem for his work in regional council bodies.
Gerringong Sunrise Rotary Club president Robyn Dalley spoke of his dedication to local Rotary with the Berry-Gerringong, Kiama and Gerringong Sunrise Clubs, always lived up to the Rotary motto of ‘Service Above Self’.
Five of his grand-children Brian, Kylie, Leaha, Steven and Bradley spoke of the wonderful times they shared with Arthur and his wife Loma on their family farm, Elambra, in Gerringong, recalling many heart-warming stories of their childhood.
Gerringong RSL president John Kahler spoke of his untiring work for the RSL movement, while he was also an active member of Gerringong Uniting Church.
At the opening of the Kiama Show on Thursday night, Show president David Young also took time out to speak of the amazing work he had also done with the Show Society.
Brian Petschler said that when it came time to sell Elambra, the Campbells rejected offers from developers to sell the land to Kiama Council in a way of ensuring the land remained in ‘local’ hands.
He and Loma were married in 1951 and in recent years moved to Blue Haven and I loved nothing more that spotting the pair in their favourite coffee ‘haunt’ in Terralong Street, and I never missed the opportunity say hello and always seemed welcome.
Arthur Campbell indeed was a truly unique person who dedicated his life to his family community in so many ways and will be sadly missed but always remembered by the Kiama and Gerringong communities.
As one mourner so succinctly said after the funeral, 'how did this wonderful man ever find time to raise a family, do so much in the community and find time to run a farm - he was an amazing man'.
