Alexander Hamilton Ringland
M, #6693, b. 8 May 1913, d. 14 September 2001
|  Alexander H Ringland |
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| Milit-Beg* | Alexander Hamilton Ringland began military service on 3 July 1941 at Ashfield, New South Wales, Corporal, NX37884, Army.2 |
| Note* | RINGLAND ALEXANDER HAMILTON : Service Number - NX37884 : Date of birth -08 May 1913 : Place of birth - PORT MACQUARIE NSW : Place of enlistment -PADDINGTON NSW : Next of Kin - RINGLAND LORRAINE Item barcode 4894340 Series number B883 Series accession number 2002/04608374 Control symbol NX37884 ALEXANDER HAMILTON RINGLAND The death occurred at Wauchope on September 14, 2001 of AlexanderHamilton Ringland. Alec and his twin sister Kathleen were born of pioneering stock in thesawmilling settlement of Hamilton now known as Hibbard on the 8th of May1913. They were 2 of the 9 children of James and Mary Ringland. Brothers Jamesand Les and sisters Kathleen, Annabelle and Jenny predeceased him whilehis sisters Teena Walker and Marie Eggert and his brother Colin survivehim. Through his mother Mary Campbell, Alec had strong family ties inthe Wauchope District and spent many enjoyable school holidays amongsthis cousins at his grandfather James Campbell's farm at King Creek andthe Andrew's 'Lilybank' farm nearby. Alec grew up and went to school in Port Macquarie. He proved to be anexcellent scholar and keen sportsman. As a member of the Port MacquarieSurf Lifesaving Club, he made the club's first recorded rescue at Flynn'sBeach. He also played for the Port Macquarie Colts Cricket Club. Alec maintained a life-long interest in rugby league, getting his firsttaste of the game in the rough and tumble after school pick-up matches onjail hill. When posted to Gum Scrub school in the mid-thirties hesuccessfully skippered Port Macquarie and was recruited by St George. Apromising football career came to an untimely end when Alec sustained acrippling knee injury at Gloucester while leading the St. George ReserveGrade side on a country tour. After graduating from the old Sydney Teachers College at Balmain Alecembarked on a teaching career spanning 42 yrs. Retiring as foundingprincipal of Mt. Riverview Public School in 1973. It was whilst teaching in the Braidwood district that he met the love ofhis life Lorraine Matheson. They were married in Sydney on 2nd September1939 which was, in fact the day Great Britain declared war on Germany.Alec volunteered for the second AIF and served in the Middle East and NewGuinea with the 9th Division in the 2/4th Light Anti-aircraft Regiment. Son Jim was born in 1940 and only daughter Kerry was born in 1945. A return to civilian life gave him the opportunity to study and he gaineda Bachelor of Arts Degree from Sydney University whilst teaching atCroydon Park and then St Ives Public Schools. In 1953 younger son Donald was born and the family moved from Sydney tothe bush when Alec was appointed Principal of the Woodenbong AboriginalSchool. Then followed appointments as principal at Emmaville, Woodburn, Dapto andfinally Mt Riverview. Throughout these years Alec served his communities not only as schoolprincipal but also as a very active member of numerous serviceorganisations and the Masonic Lodge. He was active in church affairs andhad been known to take services if a minister was unavailable. He and Lorraine lived in retirement at Glenbrook until 1986 when the pullof the Hastings drew him back to Wauchope. Their life in retirement wasfilled with family events and activities. After Lorraine's death in 1996the love and dedication of his daughter-in-law Nancy, who took on therole of his carer, meant that Alec was able to spend his final years inhis own home on Warlters St Alec saw radical change and tumultuous events sweep the world's stage inhis lifetime. He made a considerable contribution to the lives of manypeople, to this state and to this country. All those who loved himespecially his three children, his daughters-in-law Nancy and Lynn, hisgrandchildren Darcy, Ben, Sally, Kathleen, Jennifer, Christopher andAlexander and his great granddaughters Alexandra and Samantha, willsorely miss him.1 |
Citations
- [S87] Nancy Ringland Data,NSW.
- [S63] WW2 Nominal Roll, online nominal_rolls.dva.gov.au. Hereinafter cited as WW2 Nominal Roll.