Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

SELWYN GEORGE JORGENSEN
28th Feb 1920 - 18th Aug 2011 91 yrs

Affectionately called different names to various people.
Sweetheart to Muriel, his loving wife of 67 years.
Dad to his three boys, Terry, Murray and Gary
Uncle Shorty to 8 nephews.
Shorty to daughters-in-law Jenny and Susan as well as most other friends and Jig to others.
Grandad to Michelle, Craig and Claire
Great Grandad to Joel, Annabel, Caleb and Elsie. Holland, Oakley and Otis.
First born to Margaret and George Jorgensen in Albany.
Older brother to Thelma and Enid (both deceased).

The Jorgensen family moved from Albany to Subiaco in Perth where Shorty spent most of his childhood and attended Subiaco Primary School. He joined the army militia in his late teens.
Shorty met a shy country girl named Muriel at a dance in Subiaco when Muriel was 16 and Shorty 19 years of age. The rest is history.
When WW2 commenced Shorty volunteered for regular army service and enlisted on 21st July 1941 with the Perth based 2/16th Battalion AIF. He engaged in training of new troops before finally joining the fighting troops overseas.
Few of us can imagine the anguish of saying goodbye to a loved one as they march off to a war, never knowing what the future holds and not knowing if they will ever meet again.
Shorty left Perth in 1941 for the training and army service in the middle east before being shipped to New Guinea in 1942 where he joined the now famous Kokoda Campaign to hold back the Japanese advance toward Australia. After relieving the exhausted 39th Battalion at Isurava, the 2/16th fought many bloody and costly battles. After the 2/16th was depleted Shorty was transferred to the 2/14th Battalion where he remained until being discharged. It was on the Kokoda track that Shorty forged his toughness of spirit and in many ways contributed to his quiet nature and reluctance to relive his war experiences. It wasn't until his later years that he opened up about some of his extensive wartime experiences, of which he can be justly proud. Such was Shorty's reserved nature that it was only in the last 10 years that the family learned that his own father, George Christian joined the 11th Battalion in 1914 and was among the first troops to land at Gallipoli on April 25th 1915 only to be wounded there and then sent to the bloody trenches of France and Belgium.
In 1944 Shorty returned on leave suffering with malaria. Despite being acutely ill he married the girl of his dreams on March 29th 1944 at Wesley Church in Perth. Then it was back to the War to serve in Borneo until his discharge in December 1945.
With the war behind them Shorty and Muriel began their married lives at 26A Coronation Street North Perth where sons Terry and Murray were born. Then they moved up the road to 9 Chamberlain Street where Gary was born and they lived there until 1979. Over the years Shorty and Muriel raised their 3 boys and overcame the many difficulties of those post-war years - yet it was a simpler and less hectic life than future generations experienced.

Shorty worked in the motor industry, tried his hand as a butcher and then eventually took the plunge and went into business as a petrol station owner in Bentley. It was a seven day business with long hours and despite all that Shorty and Muriel still devoted as much time as possible to giving their boys a good upbringing filled with many life experiences and family time. Bush picnics, barbecues, weekend excursions, adventure camping holidays. All sorts of outings were enjoyed as a family group and also with friends, relatives and neighbours. Shorty often displayed his resourcefulness on picnics when he would produce a dusty hessian bag containing a heavy, black barbecue plate - and then proceeded to get a fire going no matter what the weather conditions. However, starting the primus gas stove often tested Shorty's patience and Muriel and the boys found it best to make themselves scarce until the kettle was boiling! Erecting tents and camper trailers also tested Shorty's patience and wasn't helped by the family rolling about with laughter at the site of Shorty struggling with a tangle of canvas and ropes. At home, there was no shortage of food on the table and plenty of laughs and good times were had seated around the kitchen table sharing their stories, always with a touch of humour regardless of how solemn the subject.

Shorty had a passion for wood work and the back shed in Chamberlain Street was often the source of much high-pitched buzzing and ripping as well as clouds of saw dust belching out of the doors and windows. Our belated apologies to the Coltrona family, our long-suffering next-door neighbours! It wasn't a good idea to be around the shed if everything didn't fit perfectly into place the first time. Muriel was always in fear of that electric saw and is grateful that no fingers or limbs were lost when Shorty decided to make new furniture. Cupboards were his specialty and although self-taught he managed to produce many useful pieces, many of which are still in use today.

Shorty's gardening skills taught his boys the art of hand lawn edging, push lawn mowing and hedge clipping and more often than not they were strangely absent on gardening days. Many new fangled gardening implements found their way over the back fence if they did not live up to Shorty's expectations. His new Scott Bonner lawnmower was his pride and joy.

The back lane incinerator was a constant source of fascination to Shorty and all manner of rubbish and waste was stuffed into it as it burned or smouldered away for days giving the neighbourhood a taste of what it's like to live in a bushfire. Once again, apologies to our next door neighbours, the Coltrona family.

Shorty became an expert at brewing ginger beer, beer and stout after much experimentation and endless bottles exploding in the shed in the middle of the night. Had he produced much more he would have needed a commercial licence! But the family was never short of a drink at any time.
After moving to Kingsley, Shorty and Muriel explored the state and Australia as well as enjoying numerous overseas trips. They have built up a sizeable collection of photo albums to relive these memories.
The dreaded buzzer saw never went to Kingsley but Shorty still spent many hours messing about in his beloved new shed - making kids toys and fixing things.
Shorty must hold the world record for stirring a sugared cup of tea for the longest time. He was never in a hurry.
Shorty was never one to complain about much and had a contentment with life that most people look for but never find. He enjoyed his life with his his sweetheart, Muriel and enjoyed excellent health for many years. However, in his later years, despite his good physical condition, Shorty's mental health deteriorated slowly but never his kind smile and humorous wit. Sadly there came a time when Muriel could no longer support and care for Shorty and they parted after 64 years together. For 3 years Dad was cared for at Grandview Nursing Home in Joondalup. He received good care and attention from the staff who always commented on Shorty's cheerful nature, gentlemanly manners and fighting spirit.
On August 18th, surrounded and comforted by his family, Shorty passed away peacefully to end a life of love, bravery, duty, commitment and devotion to his wife and family.
Always remembered.
RIP Dad (Shorty).

Prepared by son Murray