Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Aubrey (Pod) was born on 9 Oct 1909 at Tumby Bay Nursing Home to Abram Carr and Alice Carr (nee Wishart). He was the youngest of a family of 9 children (6 boys and 3 girls). His father was a farmer at Warratta, near Lipson.
He started school at Warratta and then moved to Lipson, where he completed his schooling at grade 7, as was the norm in that era. He worked on local farms, then in 1927 as a truck driver for Len Hawkes, before being promoted to tractor driver, driving a “Steel Mule” tracked tractor.
He was hospitalized at Tumby Bay after a serious car accident at the Lipson “turn off” in 1928. During his confinement he met May Hutchins, a cook at the hospital. This chance meeting resulted in them getting married on 1 Sep 30 at Tumby Bay.
At the time of his marriage he was working for the Tumby Bay Council, but 3 weeks after his marriage the Council “shut down” the works section due to the depression. He then became a general farm hand, as well as driving local agents around the area, bag sewing and lumping wheat at Lipson Cove. When the Council re-opened its works section in 1932, he resumed working for the Council. In 1940 he commenced work on the new Eyre Highway that was being constructed to link Adelaide and Perth. This was a military project to which all the local councils provided manpower and equipment. The road was completed when the gangs met at Eucla at Christmas 1941, so he decided to enlist.
On 21 Apr 42 he enlisted in the RAAF and was posted to Shepparton (Vic) to undertake his initial training. 3 weeks later he was posted back to Port Pirie to No.2 Bombing and Gunnery Squadron for further training. In Aug 42 he was posted to 5 Mobile Works Squadron (“Flying Shovels”) at Townsville; from here he embarked 7 days later for Port Moresby aboard the “Matuka”. This vessel, a converted live stock transport, suffered 42 air raids during the trip.
In Aug 43 he was posted to the Trobriand Islands, remaining there for 8 months before returning to New Guinea and serving at Lae, Aitape and then Noemfoor Island.
He returned to Australia in late 1945, taking his discharge on 12 Nov 45. He then returned to Tumby Bay to his wife and family of 2 daughters (Colleen and Lynnette). He resumed part-time work with the Council until 1947 when he bought a farm, “Viewdale”, North of Tumby Bay. It was here that Robin Wishart (a son!) was born.
He remained on the farm until the mid 1980s. He then retired to Schramm St, Tumby Bay. Both Pod and May were still in good health so they then travelled extensively throughout Australia.
Pod was a keen sportsman: he played football for Lipson and Tumby Bay, as well as being a successful equestrian competitor at many of the local shows. In later years both he and May played lawn bowls for Tumby. They were also keen photographers, being founding members of the local photography group.
Pod instigated the formation of the Alexander Memorial National Trust Branch and was president of the Tumby branch for 10 years before being made a life member (SA) in 1993. He was also President of the Lipson Show Society and Fire Officer for the Lipson area.
He was a member of the Tumby Bay Sub Branch of the RSL
Pod passed away in 1995. Both he and Mary are buried in the Lipson cemetery.