Mells OAM (Pat) Patrick
| Type of person | Individual |
|---|---|
| Also known as: | Pat |
| Date of birth | 1934 |
| Place of birth | Kent, England |
Patrick (Pat) was born at Sutton-at-Hone in Kent England on the 25th July 1934, during the great depression, the only son of George Edward Mells BEM and Eva Joy Chitty. I started Primary School at Wilmington near Dartford in Kent in 1939. In 1941, due to the bombing in World War 2, I, with my sisters, was evacuated to a village called Offwell in Devon until 1944. On returning home I returned to my previous primary school for one year, before commencing secondary education at Dartford Secondary School for Boys. I left school a 14 and started as a day pupil at Hextable Horticultural College, while working at Ladd’s Nursery at Swanley Kent; later to take up an apprenticeship as a carpenter and joiner.
At eighteen I was called to do Nation Service, I joined the Royal Air Force and was posted to 390 MU. Seleta in Singapore. On returning to England in 1955, my family had moved to southern England to a place called Fareham in Hampshire. I then resumed working as a carpenter and joiner and eventually became a licensed builder. There I met Carole and we were married in 1961. We have two children Debra and Andrew.
We emigrated to South Australia in 1969 and lived in Fairview Park for five years before moving to Gawler; where I carried on business as a home builder.
In 1978 I was invited to join Gawler Lions Club. I have been President twice and became District Governor in 1995-6 and have been involved in many projects of Lions and the Community, recipient of James D Richardson Honor Award, Melvin Jones Fellow, Life Member of Lions International, Citizen of the Year Gawler Town 2003 and Order of Australia Medal 2007. I have been a member of Gawler A H & F Society Management Committee for ten years [President 2007-8] and currently Vice President of Northern Agricultural Shows Association.
Carole and I have five grandchildren, Alyssa, Shannon, Leighton, Garry and Renee and are now retired.
References
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