l Home l Update l HMAS Sydney found l Sister Monica l Daughter Trisha l Son Richard l Nephew Tony l Laurie Garnaut Books > 1. “Autobiography” 2. “Platypus & her deadly chicks” + “Media Release” 3.“Autobiography of Gulf St Vincent & Port River Adelaide” l Condolences l Monsignor John Lennon l add your memories l sitemap l
Our Family Gravestones –> Laurie & Agnes Garnaut l Panis Angelicus l Thomas Daniel Garnaut l
William John Eaton l Nana Helen Eaton l Monsignor John Lennon l to be continued

Welcome to a
Laurie & Agnes Garnaut
Memorial Website

Update: HMAS Sydney Found (includes ABC video link)

Website Features:
Eulogy – Agnes Kathleen Garnaut
Family Tributes - Monica, Trisha, Peter & Tony
The Laurie & Agnes Garnaut Memorial Catholic Prayer Webcast Collection
Three Books written by Laurie Garnaut
1. “Autobiography of Richard Lawrence Garnaut”
2. “Platypus and her deadly chicks” - Dad's famous wartime biography featuring the HMAS Platypus which he was on board during the bombing of Darwin - Media Release by Minister for Veterans Affairs re Dad's book.
3. “Autobiography of Gulf St Vincent and the Port River South Australia” - features Dad's early childhood years as son of the Captain of a “ketch” sailing ship.

Last photo of Laurie & son Richard – my Dad's favorite photo of my Mum Agnes on wall in background - Richard Garnaut Photo

Richard Garnaut's short tribute to Dad

Last photo I ever took of Dad.

After 10am Mass in Cathedral singing in the choir – a choir friend Dad nicknamed “Bluey” would often take me to see Dad at R.S.L. Farnorah in Cairns. (Where Dad died.)

To be truthful – for 25 tough years I found it very had to go anywhere near Dad.

But after Mum died and Dad returned from living for a while in Adelaide, both of us did make a real effort to get along.

I'm pleased to say my memories of Dad are fond memories and I became his confident in his final years. And I do love Dad very dearly. And Bluey & I will miss visiting Dad on Sundays after singing in the choir. (the same choir Mum was in).

Enough said.

“Please look after my Mum & Dad real good for eternity Lord Jesus – 'until we meet again some sunny day'. Amen”

Your loving son Richard

Please use this link to add your comments l

Eulogy - Agnes Kathleen Garnaut

Agnes Kathleen Garnaut was born in Herberton on the 7^th December 1918. She was the 4^th child of William and Helen Eaton who were involved in mining and other interests in the Herberton community including a hotel and the movie theatre. Agnes is survived by her two sisters Joan (has since died on 14^th September 2001) and Joyce. Her brothers Tom and Colin are both deceased.

Mum's early life centered in Herberton where she was a student of Mount Saint Bernard's College. Mum loved horses and would often talk about having to catch her Father's horse, so it is probably no surprise that some of her children are involved with horses.

Mum's first job was in Herberton where she worked as a ledger operator for the Herberton Shire Council. The family moved to Cairns in the 1940's where Mum worked at the Mulgrave Shire Council and eventually met Dad. Dad proposed to Mum at the Archibald Fountain in Sydney. They married in Melbourne while Dad was in the Navy and was posted at Hastings Naval Depot – Cribb Point.

Mum and Dad shared their life and love together.

Their first of six children, Helen, was born while they were in Cribb Point. Joan, Patricia, Tom, Richard and Bill were born in Cairns at regular two year intervals, except me. Better late than never.

Mum was devoted to her family and her interests away from the family were Legion of Mary, The Children of Mary, and Saint Vincent de Paul Society. Mum also had a great love for music. She was a beautiful pianist. She sang with Saint Monica's Cathedral Choir and also saved child endowment money to buy the family piano and pay for music lessons.

Our Mum was a very spiritual woman and lived her life in the service of God. Mum's life was like a Gospel. Mum would always go to Benediction and say the Rosary. She was a living example of God's Word. As an example she even had a soft spot for a Cairns identity affectionately known as “Pom”.

Mum and Dad took over a boarding house started by Mum's own mother and that evolved into the family business called Pengana Motel.

Mum was a very good seamstress and taught all my sisters to sew. She always made clothes for the family, in fact up until Tom was born Mum made all the clothes. She could recycle too. Nothing got wasted. What started out as a set of sheets may have been transformed to a curtin backingking and if you were really lucky it ended up as underwear. Mum also taught the whole family to sew including the boys. I can remember a few fights over who was going to fill the bobbins.

The motel was sold in the 1970's and Mum and Dad retired. Mum continued her devotion to family and other interests and she started to play golf – however the more lessons Ray Howarth gave her the worse her handicap got.

Mum and Dad after a short time moved back to Earlville in the Retirement. (Rimmini Court opposite Our Lady Help of Christian's Catholic Church). One of Mum's most endering qualities was unconditional love and devotion to her family and Dad. Mum always had that shoulder and ear for your problems. She never judged. Between 6 kids there was always something happening.

In recent years Mum and Dad moved to Brisbane to the “Saint Paul's Retirement Villas” where Mum lived most of her final years, and her sister Joan still lives there. Mum passed to eternal life on the 30^th September 1999 at Rosalie Nursing Home.

After Communion we will sing a verse
Gentile woman, quiet light,
Morning star, so strong and bright,
Gebtle mother, peaceful dove,
Teach us wisdom, teach us love.

It's almost like this was written about Mum. Mum is now in God's care. May she rest in peace. We all love you Mum.

Photo: Laurie Garnaut, with Trisha Garnaut and grandsons Simon, Cameron and Timothy, at the Dawn Parade on Enoggera Terrace, Paddington on Anzac Day 1995.
Trisha's tribute to Laurie Garnaut.