As we prepare to step back, after forty two years of being the principal owner operator of Patterson Bros Funerals, having purchased the business from my late mother Beryl on the 10th November 1972. I proudly introduce our son Daniel and his wife Stacey as the new owners and managing directors of this old established business, taking it into the fifth generation of the Patterson family to operate this Funeral Directing Business at 95 – 97 Main Street Young.
Daniel has worked with us at Patterson Bros. for the past ten years, having completed his Certificate Level Four in the Funeral Industry, making him a qualified Funeral Director, along with obtaining his Justice of the Peace Certificate necessary in this sensitive occupation.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank the many families, including our own families and friends who have entrusted their loved ones into our care to arrange and conduct their funerals with the dignity and respect our firm is renowned for.
I would also like to thank the many loyal employees who have conducted themselves in a dignified and respectful manner while helping with the funerals conducted by our firm over the years and making themselves available, often at short notice. Our own immediate family – Corinne, Nicole, Jason, Simone, Sean and Daniel have all, at some time made themselves available to arrange and conduct funerals in our absence, for which we are very grateful.
We are also very grateful to the Clergy of all denominations past and present, whom we have worked with closely when conducting funerals both with Church services and Graveside and Cremation Services. We sincerely thank the office and cemetery staff of the Young, Harden & Boorowa Shires, who have often gone beyond the norm to accommodate our requirements in arranging burial sites on behalf of the families, particularly in the village cemeteries, your efforts are much appreciated. We also thank Radio’s 2LF & 2YYY, the editor and staff of the Young Witness, Boorowa Times, Harden Express and Twin Town Times for their assistance in advertising the funerals we have conducted over the years.
We believe Patterson Bros. Funerals to be the oldest family owned and operated commercial business here in Young. The land on which our premises is situated , 95-97 Main Street Young was originally lot 5-6, of section 6 of the Township of Young in the County of Monteagle and was purchased by Mr John Bailey Clarke from the Lands Department on March 22nd 1864. Mr Clarke paid £12.00 for the two parcels of land which measured 151/2 perches and 16 perchases.
In 1866, Mr John Bailey Clarke sold the land to Mr Henry Minter for £75.00 (with improvements). We are not sure what type of business Henry Minter had, while owning the property, it is thought he may have had a Hotel in the same area some time later.
On January 5th 1871, Henry Minter sold the land to Swedish born Neil Peter Neilsen for £105.00, and with further improvements to the property. Mr Neilsen was an Upholsterer, Carpenter and Undertaker. Following the death of her husband Mrs Neilsen continued to operate the business with the help of her son who was also called Neil. In 1905, my Great Grandfather George Patterson bought the land and its improvements form Mrs Neilsen and her son Neil who went on to become involved in Local and State Government and becoming the member for Burrowa.
George Patterson had been a Building Contractor and Undertaker in Boorowa (Burrowa) since 1882. He built his premises in Marsden Street Boorowa, constructed of Pise and it still stands today, although some restoration work on the premises was carried out in 2001. It is now used as the Boorowa Museum. He also built the Guild Hall, which is now operating as an Antique shop and many fine homes in the Boorowa area.
The Funerals George Patterson and his sons conducted in the Boorowa, Binalong, Galong and surrounding areas back then, were conducted with Horse Drawn hearses. On January 1st 1906, George Patterson and sons John Joseph (J.J) and Joseph Patrick began operating as Patterson Brothers Builder/Contractors, Framers and Undertakers. Horse drawn hearses were still being used, until the first Motorised Hearse was bought in 1919. Originally purchased as a small Dodge truck and converted it to a hearse, by George, John & Joseph who did the coach work on the vehicle. The glass Panels from this hearse have been installed in the Patterson Bros. building The Patterson Brothers were skilled carpenters and all coffins were made on the premises, the timbers used were sourced from local timber merchants Millards, Hammond & Hanlon and Blacketts. They took pride in the skill of French Polishing which had been handed down through the generations, My uncle Desmond Patterson taught me this old traditional art at a very young age, Des later went on to become the leading French Polisher for the NSW Education Department.
Joseph Patrick Patterson was unable to continue to work in the business due to a heart condition, he later moved to Boorowa and became the licensee of the Arms Hotel in Boorowa, until his health deteriorated and he was forced to retire and return to Young A second motorised Dodge hearse was purchased, again originally as a truck in 1927, form Cyril Watson from Watson garage in ‘Burrowa’ Boorowa Street, grandfather of Kim Watson who is the current owner of Watson Toyota. John Joseph (J.J) and his son my father Eric, did the coach work on the vehicle and converted the vehicle into a fine looking Hearse. The hearse is still in operation today in Sydney and was kindly loaned to us for our Centenary on January 1st 2006.
A Dodge Sedan was purchased in 1940 again from Watson’s garage, this vehicle was believed to be the first Mourning Car used by Patterson Bros.
On June 19th 1940 Patterson Bros took delivery of a brand new Black Studibaker Hearse, which was purchased through Normans Garage here at Young, this garage was situated in Boorowa Street, approximately where M & M’s Studio and the Commonwealth Bank are today. This hearse travelled many miles until it was retired in the early 1970’s, but was used again to conduct a funeral in Harden of two brothers who were tragically killed in a road accident in 1974. The hearse was used when conducting many funerals in Young and surrounding areas, in-Monsignor Jerome Hennessy on May 3rd 1941.
This hearse is currently being restored back to its original ‘stately’ look and no doubt will be used again in the future.
Patterson Bros became members of the Australian Funeral Directors Association (AFDA) on January 1st 1937, membership number 49 and remains a member of that Association today. We were also members of Funeral Directors Association (FDA) of NSW for some time. We adhere closely to the Code of Ethics set out by this Association. Over the years we have made several improvements to our parlours in keeping with the Department of Health Regulations and up grading the appearance of the premises including our Chapel, only recently painting the exterior of the building and installing the new Logo for Patterson Bros.
So as Val & I begin a new phase of our lives, we again wish Daniel & Stacey all the very best in their future ownership of this old established Funeral Directing Firm, knowing they will continue to provide excellence and sensitivity to the people of Young, Harden, Boorowa and surrounding areas, in their time of need. Val & I will continue to be involved in their endeavours whenever needed.
