Colin Newport, Allora Advertiser
Although Norman Brian Clarke was not born in Allora, his connections to the town ran deep. Following his recent death and funeral service in Brisbane, his body was brought to Allora to be buried alongside the graves of his grandparents Joseph and Sarah Eleanor Clarke. The plot had been long-time reserved and Norman had asked that Father Rod McGinley conduct the burial service.
Joseph Clarke was a butcher, auctioneer, and farmer in the Allora district and died in 1894 at the age of 49. Sarah Clarke took over the Princess of Wales Hotel on the death of her father Samuel Gordon in 1902 and ran it until her death in 1935 when her daughter Miss Minnie Clarke took on the license.
Norman Brian, the son of Andrew (‘Pat’) and Jean Clarke, was born in Emerald on the 29th June 1935 three days before the death of his grandmother in Allora. The family later moved to a dairy farm at Petrie near Brisbane and Norman completed his education at St. Joseph’s College Gregory Terrace. In his later years Norman was an active supporter of the music program at St. Joseph’s.
Norman completed his National Service training in 1953 and years later on a visit to Allora one Anzac Day was impressed by the performance of St. Patrick’s School choir. The music program at St. Patrick’s was being run by Lesley Telford also a Clarke family descendant.
Norman became a supporter of the music program at St. Patrick’s and provided the money to buy a ukulele for each of the children as well as providing other financial support.
This article appeared in the Allora Advertiser, 24 May 2023.