Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

OBITUARY
Late Mr. G. S Parke
One of the district's most successful fruitgrowers in the person of Mr. Gordon S. Parke, passed away at his residence on Wednesday, January 3, after an illness of some months. Respected by all as a  man and a citizen his loss will be severely felt by his relatives and many friends in the Donnybrook and Argyle districts. He was the eldest son of the late J. S. and Anne Parke. Born at Wanagul, Victoria in 1883, he came to W.A. with his parents in 1887. His early years were spent in Railway construction and as a timber worker. He was the first man to enlist from Donnybrook district in the original  A.I.F. in August, 1914 and served at Gallipoli with the 3rd Field Ambulance. He was invalided home and discharged in September 1916. The late Mr. Parke was employed for some time by the Forestry Department on re-classification of jarrah forests. He married Miss Ivy Hannaby, of Capel, in 1918. Deceased took over part of his father's orchard in 1920 and for a short time was employed in Group Settlements and under his foremanship introduced the cheapest farms under the scheme. The late Mr. Parke's later years were entirely occupied in fruit growing with considerable success. Throughout his life Gordon Parke was a hard worker and a considerate employer, a man whom it was a pleasure to work with and for. In the present war he served for a short time (1941-42) in a garrison battalion
at Bunbury until sent back to his farm by the manpower authorities, when he took over the work of his brother's orchard for three years whilst he was on active service. Deceased is survived by his widow, four daughters, and one son who was recently discharged after four years active service overseas with the Roval Australian Navy. 
The funeral held the day following his death was preceded a short service under the auspices of the R.S.L. and was very largley attended by relatives and friends of the district. 

"Gordon Parke's record as a soldier is one of which Donnybrook should be proud. He was the first man to join the original A.I.F. from this district, and faithfully and with modesty served his country as a member of the 3rd Field Ambulance. "Of a retiring nature, he did not seek the limelight but those who knew him esteemed him for his uprightness, his sterling honesty and his large-hearted generosity. In a quiet and unassuming way Gordon Parke helped many an appeal and individual. He was dependable, above all a toiler and his tremendous capacity for work, and the unselfish way he took over the burdens of others, to help the war effort, undoubtedly accelerated his end. Gordon had no particularly religious convictions. but set himself a high ethical standard. He was a good husband and father and all his family and relations will feel his less. ''I believe he was incapable of consciously acting or thinking meanly or unfairly. He has lived a good life and a useful one—deeply aware of its  responsibilities as well as its pleasures, and in striving to fulfill what he eonsideraed to be his duty showed a largeness of heart that endeared him to many. He has run his race and fought the battle of  life with credit. "None of us can pierce the veil, but I feel, and I know that he felt, that he could face the Great Hereafter calmly and with confidence."