Percy Norman Manning's memory board

On 22 December 1925, Peter (Percy Norman) Manning was an early Christmas present and 11th child to Ada and William Manning. On saying it was 1925 that maybe news to many as Peter always kept his true age a mystery. Peter loved to be mysterious. Peter’s 10 siblings, Lillian, Elden, Cyril, Muriel, Elsie, Mary Jane, Rebecca, Lesley, Eric and Lyla lived at Mangalore with Their father who was a woodcutter and their mother who was a bush nurse. Peter loved being part of a big family and was close to all of his siblings. Country life of hard work and community connectivity helped mould him into the good hearted, helpful, practical hard working man that he became. One of Peters passions was playing football and as a young man played for the Tigers which was the Hobart Football club. Peter was a great footy player. His love for the Tigers carried on for the rest of his life and his support for the AFL Richmond – Tigers is legendary. It also made birthday, Father's Day and Christmas gifts easy. On 9 December 1941 Peter along with his cousin decided to enlist in the Army and join the war to follow his older brother Elden who was already enlisted. After spending his 16th birthday in the Army and before the year was out his true age was discovered. So 20 days after enlisting he was discharged. Peter was clever with his hands and he became a carpenter by trade. Due to economical down turn this craft was not required and Peter turned to bus driving followed by truck driving for many years with FH Stephens which later was taken over by Hammond’s. At one stage Peter was driving bitumen trucks. One eventful trip there was a mishap with the Shute and hot bitumen poured over Peter’s chest. Fortunately it was winter and the bitumen had cooled slightly and Peter had many layers on so burning was minimal on his chest area and most importantly his trouser belt stopped the bitumen and saved him from burns the waist down. Peter was from the old school and believed in having a wife at home, preferably in the kitchen making cakes and cooking delicious food…… Peter was very fortunate when a mutual friend of his wife to be Joan and Peter thought they would be a good match and set up a date. History shows that the matchmaking worked and Peter and Joan married on 26 March 1964. Peter and Joan celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary this year. What made this union even more special was that Peter took on the role of father to Joan’s son Robert and in time adopted him. Robert remained the only child of Peter and Joan. Life was good for the family and they settled into their home in Lewis Street, North Hobart. Early on in the marriage Joan soon worked out that the cost of any purchases made would have to be halved……and Joan only ever took Peter grocery shopping twice as Peter would say “do you need it” this included staples like bananas, bread and milk!! Peter was a very proud home owner and would maintain the lawns and shrubs into an inch of their lives. There are many stories his family can tell of Peter and his lawns. Peter and Joan would travel over to Joan's mums home at River St, Bellerive to cut the lawns. Peter with his love and care of lawns would always be telling the nephews and sister / brother in laws to “get off the grass”. According to Peter lawns were to be admired …no walking, playing, bike riding or sitting allowed. One afternoon Peter and Joan visited sister in laws Margaret's house and there was nephew Sean who was only about 4 on seeing Peter come up the drive throw himself on the front lawn and start pulling grass out, roll, kick, jump and tell Peter it was his house and he could do whatever he wanted on his lawn…. Peter chose to ignore it… Peter hated to be idle and loved to help others in fact he would do anything for anyone. The memories of holidays at Bridport caravan park were where Peter offered to do odd jobs and maintenance around the caravan park whilst Joan, Robert and whoever was with them enjoyed the beaches and swimming. So Peter was happy pottering around and everyone else enjoyed the summer fun. It is believed the owner of the caravan park would save the odd jobs for Peter…… Peter and Joan moved from Lewis Street about 7 years later to Merley Road, Austins Ferry and continued with their life of visitors, gardening and family. Peter worked hard and would often do overtime to make life more comfortable. It is remembered with humour, one night after the Tasman Bridge had been knocked out of action (literally) that Peter was caught in the long long Eastern Shore traffic who had to travel out past their home on the corner of Main Rd and Merley Rd Austins Ferry to go over the Bridgewater Bridge to get home. Peters older brother Cyril had called in to see Peter and Joan and had all but given up waiting for Peter who was caught in the traffic. It was way past tea time and Joan had Peters dinner plate keeping warm. Whilst standing on the front verandah saying good bye Peters truck came roaring around the corner down Merley road turned a round and pulled up half on the road and half on the footpath. Peter leapt from the cab obviously in a temper and jumped up on the truck tray. On the tray was a long steel beam called an RSJ. In his frustrated temper he threw the RSJ off the truck which gouged the footpath and nature strip which no one man should have been able to move. Peter jumped back off the tray and shouted to Joan he wouldn't be stopping for tea… Peter then spectacularly roared out of the street. Cyril turned to Joan and smiled and announced her would eat Peters Tea then and did. In 1985 Peter and Joan decided to follow Robert and his young family to the Gold Coast, Queensland to start a new life in the warmer climate. Peter and Joan had holidayed regularly on the Coast and loved it. Peter and Joan purchased the land where the family home still is and proceeded to build. At the time they built it was a new development and only a handful of houses surrounded them. Peter being a social and inquisitive (sticky beak) person loved being one of the first occupants of the development and it would not take long for him to find out all the details of the new owners or the builders and the tradesmen…strong friendships and opportunities came from this and also an opportunity for Peter to obtain bits and pieces (other peoples rubbish) that he was sure he could fix / sell / would be handy / needed etc. Yes Peter was a hoarder. Many a time he would come home with some treasure which would drive Joan into despair…. Peter loved tools and fixing / repairing things. Peter created a tropical oasis (lots of palms) and lovingly landscaped the yard which of course included sheds and storage nooks for his treasures and his manicured lawns. When Peter retired from the Gold Coast City Council at age 74 (he didn’t want to but the depot was moving further away) one of his new hobbies was repairing / fixing broken (discarded) bikes and selling them. He of course “made” bikes for his grandchildren according to their size and would always have the next size bike ready for them. It was known that sometimes Peter would put some much love into a bike he wouldn’t want to sell it…so he would frighten the prospective buyer off by telling them the cost of all the parts he replaced…… Peter struggled with retirement and missed being busy. Joan soon wondered how on earth she had ever managed having grandchildren about without Pete supervising them….on one occasion Peter instructed a three year old Isabella from his armchair on how to play with barbies and that she shouldn’t change the barbies outfits…..and of course Peter was the most avid armchair umpire and coach whilst watching footy. He never really understood why they didn't listen to him…….. Peter loved his tools, loved his HR, loved his cakes and puddings. Peter loved doing his lawns and helping people. Peter was a big heated man who loved to chat (gossip) and loved to be “mysterious”. Strangers or neighbours would sometimes stop Joan in the street to enquire after Pete’s health…. Peter would always have something worse than anyone else and apparently the Dr “wouldn’t have a clue what was wrong with him” …always a mystery. Peter loved the mystery of ill health. After spending time gadding about the neighbourhood Peter would come in for lunch and then sit and watch “Bold and the Beautiful”. He loved the soapy and only Joan’s mother Gran can be blamed for that, introducing him to it on one of her visits. One of Peter’s little tricks or ploys would be to feign sleep in his armchair. This would lead people to drop their guard or talk of things they would not normally discuss in front of him and which of course he “ear wigged” on and then would challenge them on later….. One such occasion of the most amazing example of Peter hearing what he shouldn't was a Christmas when all the large Manning family was congregated…Peter was playing cards, TV was on…others sitting chatting, noise and mayhem everywhere when Robert after many many years of holding a secret let it out with a “remember when I put the car through the wall mum”….Peter of course although on the other side of a large room had been playing cards and with much noise and people between heard that and jumped up on that statement … The room went silent as everyone but Peter knew Robert as a little boy of 8 whilst trying to help his mum had accidentally turned the key in the ignition one morning and the car leapt forward through the wall …. it had been the best kept secret. That certainly curtailed Peter statement of “women drivers”. On the 26th December 2015 Peter slipped away peacefully four days after his 90th birthday. All who have met and known Peter would have their own memories and tales depending on the time in Peters life's journey they have met him. Peter will always be held dear, much loved and missed by Joan, family and friends.