Life of Erwin ‘Pop’ Mobbs to be celebrated at community memorial at Bago Winery

The Mid North Coast was rocked by the news of Erwin Leslie Mobbs’ passing this month, just shy of his 100th birthday.

The Mid North Coast was rocked by the news of Erwin Leslie Mobbs’ passing this month, just shy of 100 years.

Dad to Jim and grandfather to Ian, Kellie and Steven, the local legend will be sorely missed around the family’s Bago Maze & Winery and the wider community.

An outpouring of condolences have been offered from those close to the local legend, with friends describing him as a “once in a lifetime character”, “a true legend” that “our community was blessed to have known”.

The local community is set to farewell the beloved ‘Pop’ – as he was known by many – at a memorial celebration at the Bago winery tomorrow afternoon.

From 3pm, Pop’s loved ones will gather to celebrate his life at Bago – with the winery and maze closed from 2pm.

“Just come along and celebrate his life, we don’t need you to bring anything but yourselves,” grandson Ian Mobbs said.

“Pop was a local for a long time, so he will be sorely missed in the community and our family.”

Born in October of 1923, Pop grew up and went to school in Wauchope.

He later became a log truck driver, spending time in Port Macquarie as well as Wauchope.

His grandson Ian described Pop as “one of the last people from the logging industry who was quite dominant”.

“He used to drive his truck way up the top of Pappinbarra, leaving for work at two in the morning and returning home around 6pm,” Ian said.

Throughout his life, this “unbeatable work ethic” was no secret, with everyone close to Pop knowing him as a hard worker.

In the 1960s, Pop moved out to the Bago farm area – but he didn’t slow down.

He farmed and ran cattle over the years, before his son Jim moved in next door with wife Kay.

Pop was also known for his handyman skills, building sheds around the farm and tinkering with machines to help the family business.

“He was very handy, invented a lot of equipment that we still use around the winery today,” Ian said.

“Machines and different things that help make our jobs easier and quicker.

“He was also a very good welder, making lots of things out of steel and metal.”

Pop stayed busy right up until his late nineties when he started to slow down.

“He was still very handy around the farm until about a year ago, always looking for something to help out with,” Ian said.

But things weren’t all work and no play for Pop – he was known to unwind in the with a glass of port.

“4pm in the afternoon was known as port o’clock,” Ian said.

“In the last few years, it shifted to about three o’clock – he quite enjoyed that.

“Everyone loved chatting to him over a glass of port.”