David Brown

For 41-years David and Jenifer Brown served the Howrah community with kindness and care, their son Marcel told mourners at his father's funeral last month.

Held at St Luke's Anglican Church in Richmond and hosted by Millingtons, the funeral farewelled the father-of-three who had been a pharmacist in Hobart for more than 50 years before he retired at the age of 75.

"David Brown's Howrah Pharmacy & Coffee Stop was much more than a place to go to have your prescription processed," Marcel Brown said. "It was a place to shop for gifts, to sit and enjoy a quiet coffee, and most importantly, a place where everyone was welcome.

"People came for advice, for companionship, to discuss the current cricket or football scores, or just to have a yarn."

With the family's permission we publish his moving eulogy.

David Alan Brown 23 June, 1937 - 8 July, 2022

Dad was born David Alan Brown on the 23rd June 1937, at St Stephens Hospital in Battery Point. He was the youngest son of Edith and William Brown. Together with his older siblings, Rex and Marie, they lived at Montagu Bay. It was a close-knit community comprising of approximately 50 houses.

Dad attended a small school in Montagu Bay with one teacher and 36 students. He always loved playing cricket. Matches were played on the local oval, the boundary being marked by a single plough towed behind a truck.

One of his good primary school friends lived with Down syndrome. School was difficult for his friend and unfortunately, he had a bit of a rough time. Together with Dad, they would spend most weekends bird watching in the bush. This is where he would find inner peace and comfort. This early friendship epitomised Dad's care and concern for others. Everyone was equal and no one was to be left behind.

His father and brother owned a fishing boat and caught scallops and couta. Dad would often talk of wading the Dunalley shallows spearing flounder.

Don Hammond was a Kings Cup rower and lived 100m down the road. Don introduced Dad to rowing and would take him to Lindisfarne Rowing club twice a week.

The family moved to live in a Marine Board house in Salamanca Place in 1949 when his father became Chief Engineer at the Marine Board. At this stage, he was the most ticketed engineer in Tasmania. He was responsible for the Governor's launch, the Eugeria, and the tugboat, Tawe. The Tawe was used for piloting and berthing large vessels and for trips to White Rock, Opossum Bay to change the gas bottles in the lighthouse. Despite spending a lot of time around water and in boats, Dad never learnt to swim. He had a narrow escape on one trip when he was washed overboard and had to be rescued. On a subsequent rough trip to White Rock, his father tied him to the bunk bed.

Dad always spoke fondly of his time living at Salamanca Place. He had a good group of friends, who were known as the Arthurs Circus mob. Every Sunday they would either walk to Sandy Bay beach or climb and roam on the tracks of Mt Wellington. They often shared lunches at The Springs before summiting the mountain.

Dad attended Hobart Technical High School (which later became New Town High School). He did well in all subjects, particularly maths and science. He was successful in athletics, and was prefect and vice-captain of Jarvis House. Dad was a member of the senior cricket and football teams and vividly recalled travelling to Queenstown to play football on the gravel ground in the cold mist and rain.

Dad joined the United Cricket Club when he left school. And despite claiming their team was 'very average', they went on to be premiers in their first year, defeating Blundstone in the grand final by three wickets. In the final innings, Dad scored 55 runs in the opening partnership of 96 alongside Neil Eizele.

Like many young men at this time, he undertook compulsory training for National Service. He was stationed at Brighton camp as part of the medical division. They learned to drive big trucks and whilst doing manoeuvres one rainy night they went off the road. All 22 spent the night in the truck, being rescued the following morning and having breakfast at the Lachlan Hotel.

In February 1954, Dad commenced his pharmacy apprenticeship with Lawrence Gluskie. The pharmacy was in Liverpool St opposite the Royal Hobart Hospital. He completed his apprenticeship in 1959 and worked around Hobart for six months before moving to Burnie to work in Boland's Pharmacy. He had been there for three months when Mr Boland approached him one morning encouraging him to take on the role of Pharmacist in Charge at St Mary's; it would be a good opportunity.

His first day working at St Mary's was in July 1962. There was a heavy frost, thick fog, and the pipes and toilet frozen. Dad quickly became a respected member of the community. The pharmacy would close for lunch between 12-1 and Dad would pop out to the golf course for a quick round.

Jenifer Hill lived in St Marys and was introduced to Dad by Mrs Forsyth. On first meeting, Dad thought that 'she was something special'. They became friends and played badminton together, later becoming engaged on Mum's 20th birthday. They travelled together to Launceston to choose the engagement ring at Prouds Jewellers.

Mum and Dad were married at St David's Cathedral in April 1967 with a reception afterwards at Laetare Gardens. June Hay was bridesmaid. Dad had become good friends with Mum's brother, John Hill, who was best man.

They settled into married life in Hobart, building the first family home at Alford St in Howrah.

Dad was a wonderful father to Jason, Melanie and I. He followed our interests and encouraged us to explore.

Dad was adored by his grandchildren: Kim, Grace, Georgia, James, Sophia and Lars. To them, he was affectionately known as Parby.

Dad purchased The Howrah Pharmacy from Alan Neville. Melva and Walter Jenkins, old friends from St Marys, loaned Dad some money to assist with the purchase.

Together with Mum, they served the Howrah community for 41 years. They were a great team, redeveloping and extending the old shop to include the Coffee Stop. Mum took charge of Homypeds, gifts and the cafe. Dad, with his wealth of pharmacy knowledge, managed the dispensary.

David Brown's Howrah Pharmacy & Coffee Stop was much more than a place to go to have your prescription processed. It was a place to shop for gifts, to sit and enjoy a quiet coffee, and most importantly, a place where everyone was welcome. People came for advice, for companionship, to discuss the current cricket or football scores, or just to have a yarn.

Dad went above and beyond to serve his customers. A prescription pick-up and delivery service was introduced for customers unable to leave their homes. After-hours deliveries were a regular feature, and I recall we often dropped prescriptions to a customer who had relocated to Moonah.

Dad would often respond to out-of-hours calls, visiting the pharmacy during the weekends and evenings to process a prescription. On one occasion, Christmas Day lunch was even put on hold to assist a customer with access to their medication.

Dad's philosophy was lived out in his contribution to the Howrah community and is best summed up by his sentiments published in an edition of the Eastern Shore Sun:

'The most rewarding thing to me is that I am playing an important role in caring for the community. It's good to know that you're looking after people, particularly the elderly.'

Mum and Dad had regular trips to Melbourne and Sydney for pharmacy fairs. These trips were always coupled with visits to live stage performances: Cats, Memories, Billy Elliot, and others. One of Dad's favourites was a live performance of Pavarotti at Rod Laver arena. During these trips, good family friend, Pat Plunkett, always looked after us children.

Mum cleverly won an all-expenses paid trip for two on the Orient Express and they travelled for a month together in Europe. I was still at school and stayed with Leta and Peter Watt.

Alongside a successful career in pharmacy spanning more than 50 years, Dad had a range of interests. He enjoyed cricket and was an avid follower of the Essendon Football Club. He was a good vegetable gardener, even growing straight carrots in clay soil. He loved opera and classical music. Dad was very well connected with nature. He enjoyed time in the bush and had an excellent ability to identify birds by their call alone.

Dad loved to read. He was fascinated by a book called Voices in the Stone; the story of ancient scrips and writings. He marvelled at how Jean-Francois Champollion deciphered Egyptian hieroglyphics and interpreted the Rosetta Stone.

Dad always enjoyed reading about advances in science. He was intrigued by black holes and loved maths problems. More recently he became interested in climate science and the use of alternative energy sources.

Dad valued a strong sense of community, sharing with others and being kind.

There is always sadness when someone special leaves. Dad remained positive, even with the knowledge his time was near. Dad turned 85 only a few weeks ago, and in a private conversation with Mum, he reflected on his time and said:

'I've had a good life.'

This is true, and we are all grateful for sharing the journey with him.

Thank you Dad.

Originally published as Local pharmacist, loved family man passes away