Vale Neville Coleman: Determined community member fondly remembered

One of Townsville’s most committed and longest-serving NASHOs members has been remembered by loved ones.

Maurie DeGiovanni and Neville Coleman

One of Townsville’s most committed Nashos has been remembered by his loved ones and family.

Neville Coleman’s younger brother John in his eulogy told of his many memories of Neville - “one of the most enduring looking at him on horseback far ahead, his back ramrod straight, leading scores of cattle and ringers home through the heavily wooded bush.

“I was one of those ‘ringers,’ on holidays from Brisbane,” John said.” Sore and tired, I had to continually steady myself from falling off my old horse. Neville never faulted, inspiring me to stay in the saddle. He was the leader of that muster - more than that, the leader of men, respected and admired by all.”

Neville John Clark Coleman died at 92. He was born in Charters Towers on January 13, 1933, one of three children of Neville Coleman and Lorna Bell whose ancestors were pioneers in North Queensland’s pastoral industry. Neville grew up with his siblings on Talavera cattle station in basalt country, 80km northwest of Charters Towers.

He was 10 when his father drove him at the height of the Second World War in 1942 to All Souls ‘School which had been evacuated to the Burdekin River on neighbouring Gainsford Station. The permanent college, like others in Charters Towers, became a military hospital. On the Burdekin, students lived in marquees, stripped to bathe in the river and ate in a tin shed which also served as the chapel.

National Serviemen's Day service at National Servicemen's Park, Rowes Bay. Members of the National Servicemen's Association Neville Coleman and Vince Crowley. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Neville’s father died the following year and his mother sold Talavera and moved the family into town. All Souls’ also transferred back - to the town’s racecourse. The bar area under the grandstand served as the dormitory for small boys, including Neville and John with senior students sleeping in marquees around the racetrack. Senior students also had lessons in the grandstand, other students in horse stables.

Students watched across the rubber vines as bombers and fighters, elements of the US Fifth air force evacuated from The Philippines, took off from the former town airport to bomb the Japanese in New Guinea. They were tough years with wartime rationing, condensed and powdered milk substituting for sweets, which students gorged at the tuckshop. All Souls’ (now co-ed with St Gabriel’s) not only survived but thrived under the leadership of a remarkable headmaster, ‘Bidgee’ Mills.

With war’s end, Neville and John rode bikes as dayboys to reopened Mt Carmel Christian Brothers’ College. Neville played all sports and in cricket excelled as a fast. bowler. He joined the Army cadets and took part enthusiastically in drills and camps organised by the Regular Army.

Socials from the 20-year Nasho anniversary dinner from Townsville RSL. Tony Caruana and Neville Coleman. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Neville was 16 in 1949 when with the acute shortage of stockmen he was employed at his mother’s Bell family cattle properties headquartered by Mt McConnell, 160km south of Charters Towers. Neville rose to become head stockman.

Proud of his pioneering heritage, he revelled in the bush and bush life, with his own horses from Talavera and kitting himself out in the then not-so-well-known RM Williams boots and other gear. He was particularly close to and proud of two uncles, Jack and Dick who served with the 9th Division and were wounded at the Battle of El Alamein. .

The Bell properties were sold to Pioneer Sugar in 1067 Neville joined his mother and sister Margaret in Townsville from where he went droving. Back in Townsville he met and married the love of his life Daphne who with their son Paul became the centre of his world.

National Serviemen's Day service at National Servicemen's Park, Rowes Bay. Flag barer Neville Coleman from the National Servicemen's Association. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Neville later joined Queensland Railways where he rose to senior conductor and became well known on the Townsville- Rockhampton run. He was noted for his courtesy and kindness to passengers and popular among colleagues to whom he was affectionately known as ‘Çowboy.’

Neville was active for many years in the National Servicemen’s Association Townsville branch, promoting its activities as public relations officer, proudly wearing his Digger’s hat and addressing schools on Anzac Day. He worked closely with Emily Macdonald, then Defence correspondent of The Townsville Bulletin., recalling also for radio his life in the pastoral industry

Neville and Daphne moved in their late years to a Cranbrook retirement village. His brother John recalled in his eulogy Neville’s care and devotion to their mother and sister in their final illnesses; his love and lifelong fidelity to Daphne; love - and intense pride - in his son Paul and wife Karyn, two stepsons and eight grandchildren.

Originally published as Vale Neville Coleman: Determined community member fondly remembered