Having been born to Robert James and Beatrice Elsie Richmond on the 24th of July 1938 in West Wallsend, NSW, my father Alwyn (Al) was the middle child with an older brother Robert and a younger sister Joan Marie.

Growing up in Young Wallsend (now Edgeworth) until aged 7, he moved with his family to Marks Point where he stayed until just before getting married at age 21.

He met his future wife Judith Anne at age 17 at marching girls practice. Their first date was on the beach in Belmont South. They were married on the 19th of December 1959.

Born on the 13th of December 1938 to James Dudley and  Caroline Wall my mother was the youngest of three with an elder brother Barry Authur and an elder sister Barbara.

After getting married on the 19th of December 1959, at St Andrews, Mayfield, they set up home in Windale where they raised two sons, Wayne and Darren.

Dad first starting working in the coal mines at age ------ in ----, he got his Deputies ticket in ----, he then got his Undermanagers ticket in ----.

We moved from Rhonda Colliery just outside of Teralba, NSW to Blackwater, Central Queensland in October 1972, a distance of approx 1400km, so Dad could take up his new job as UnderManager in Charge at Leichardt Colliery, after living in a cool climate it was a bit of an adjustment, but after a few years it wasn't that bad.

They had been married for 42 years when mum was sadly taken from us on 13 October 2002.