JUNEE is mourning the sudden loss of local treasure, historian and train enthusiast John Charles Strudwick.
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Mr Strudwick, 67, passed away at the weekend while in care at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney.
He was well-known throughout town for his extensive local knowledge and passion for history.
Mr Strudwick’s daughter, Louise Tennant, said he would always be remembered as a man of history who loved to share his research with others.
“He always had a love for history, he should have actually been a historian,” she said.
“I think if he could have had his time over he would have been one.”
Railway town Junee was the perfect location for Mr Strudwick to unite his two passions.
“I think that was what started it. He grew up here and I think that contributed to his love of trains and history, especially local history,” Mrs Tennant said.
In 2008, Mr Strudwick was named Junee Citizen of the Year for his extensive research and contribution to the town’s local heritage.
He spent many hours working with the historical society researching local and family histories and made an impressive contribution to the local history section of the Junee library as well as the Broadway Museum.
Mr Strudwick was born in Hamilton, near Newcastle, but moved to Junee at the age of three when his father set up a butcher’s shop in Broadway.
He grew up in Junee undergoing his schooling as a boarder at Albury Grammar until the age of 14.
Following in his father’s footsteps, he began working in the butchery up until the early 1980s, leaving to take on the role as caretaker of Junee Public School.
His contributions to Junee extended beyond his historical research into public service as a long-standing council employee.
In September 2010, he retired after 10 years working with council’s parks and gardens team.
His lasting legacy and work is still seen throughout Junee in the 1000 roses planted throughout town.
When he first began there were around 50 roses, but with a vision to improve the town’s look, he built up the gardens.
Council staff often said Mr Strudwick was the town’s first tourist information officer, as he was constantly stopped by passers-by for directions and asked for local information.
He was yesterday farewelled in a graveside funeral at the Junee Lawn Cemetery.
He is survived by his wife Marion, children Louise, Jason and Andrew and grandson Ben.