Errol Walter James Noble

(Eulogy of Errol Walter James Noble)

How difficult is it to cover an 83 year lifespan in a few paragraphs? VERY.

Errol first saw the light of day in a Murwillumbah hospital in August 1924. His parents , Walter and Pearl Noble had a dairy farm in the small village of Newrybar, between Bangalow and Ballina in the Northern Rivers area of NSW. This farm is the original farm settled by Errol's grandfather almost 80 years earlier. Errol's early years were spent running around the farm, making canoes out of kerosene tins, perhaps helping with the milking, attending the Newrybar State School and surely having a good time with his mates.

Some of Pearls family had moved from the Bangalow district to Brisbane, and established businesses, so Walter and Pearl and the two lads Barrie had come along 9 years after Errol, headed for the big city. There they ran a boarding house at West End, and Errol continued his education at the West End State School. Later the family took over the lease of the Kingsley Private Hotel in George Street, opposite the old Belle Vue Hotel in the late 1930s, both now demolished, and the family stayed there for a number of years. Errol, then a teenager became very involved in the scout movement and started his secondary education at Brisbane Grammar School where he excelled in academic achievements and sport including rugby (first 15), rowing and outside interests in cycling and boxing, It was during the Grammar years that a life long friendship developed with a fellow, James Truesdale, who is with us today. This enduring friendship lasted more than 70 years - through school, (James was second row in the first 15 with Errol or "Wally" in the front row), the airforce, best man at each others weddings, numerous activities between the families over the years up until two weeks ago when Jim saw Errol. Friendships of this callibre define lives well lived.

On completion of the years at Grammar, Errol made the decision to join the RAAF, and went to Narrabri initially, before being sent to Canada for training as a navigator. This was a memorable experience in so many ways, home staying with a Canadian family, the Sweets in Winnipeg, a friendship that continued long after his return to Brisbane. He even learnt how to play ice hockey!

With the war ended and being discharged Errol had a career decision to make. His calling was always going to be in serving others. An interst in things medical helped his decision when an opportunity was provided by a Brisbane pharmacist, Fred David to be apprenticed to him in one of the seven pharmacies Fred owned. The pharmacy course at the time was undertaken at the college which is now the QUT at the lower end of George St. As fate would have it, Errol happened to make the acquaintance of an attractive blond lass, Marie Bullock who was working within the Queensland University in the old Government House.

NOBLE ERROL WALTER JAMES : Service Number - 440290 : Date of birth - 29 Aug 1924 : Place of birth - MURWILLUMBAH NSW : Place of enlistment - BRISBANE : Next of Kin - NOBLE WALTER