Charles Leslie John Buckley

Charles Leslie John Buckley (Charley)

Parents

Father	Archie Lesley Buckley (1887-05-05 : 1939-06-29)
Mother	Ida Muriel Spry (1891-01-18 : 1962-11-12)

Birth/death

Birth	1914-05-15	Swan Reach South Australia
Death	1995-07-12	18 Mawson St Nailsworth South Australia
Burial		Cremated Ashes at Enfield Garden Cemetery South Australia

Marriage/Children

Residence

		Swan Reach, South Australia
		3 Stour St, Gilberton, South Australia
		18 Mawson St, Nailsworth, South Australia

Qualifications/Education

Charles Leslie John Buckley was born at Swan Reach, South Australia on 15 May 1914.

At a young age the family moved to 3 Stour St Gilberton where he attended Walkerville Primary School. In 1927 the family moved to 18 Mawson St Prospect Gardens (later named Nailsworth). Here he attended Nailsworth Primary School and later the Secondary School which is thought to have been called Nailsworth Central School. He excelled in woodwork and sheet metal work. While still at school in 1930 he won a Bronze Medal at the Royal Adelaide Exhibition for a sheet metal clock.

Shortly after the move to Prospect Gardens Charles built a playhouse which was the envy of other children in the neighborhood.

He left school at the age of 14 years and went to work for a retail store called Peoplestores carrying out maintenance work. His father also worked at the store.

After the death of his father on 29 Jun 1939 he cared for his mother and three sisters.

Charles was extremely trustworthy and later became responsible for opening and closing the store. This was a duty carried out by his father before his death. He worked at Peoplestores until his retirement.

During the Second World War he served in the Civil Construction Corp as a carpenter and cook in the Northern Territory. He was in Darwin when it was bombed by the Japanese and helped to rebuild the hospital. For his war service he was awarded a Medal but it was only received eleven days before his death being fifty years after the war ended.

In the early 1950's he purchased two blocks of land at Moana Beach. Working on weekends and holidays and using mostly second hand building materials he built a holiday home. One of the blocks was later sold. After his death the Moana property was inherited by his younger sisters, Lorna and Rhonda. The property is currently owned by his nephew Paul Barlow.

Charles was devoted to the Church and attended services regularly. He held positions at the local Broadview Baptist Church and North Adelaide Baptist Church.

He was a very good cook and was frequently called on to cook at camps held by the Churches for men and young people.

Charles collected telephones and many were still at Mawson St at the time of his death.

He never married but had several young lady admirers. He preferred to stay at home with the family.

After the death of his eldest sister Dulcie on 6 Jun 1994 he lived alone in the Nailsworth home.

During the latter years of his life he suffered from a heart condition and had a pace maker fitted. He was hospitalised several times.

Charles was very fond of animals and on the day of his death he was found by his sister Rhonda lying on his bed with pet cat curled up on top of him and his pet dog nearby.

When Charles passed away on 12 Jul 1995 at the age of 81 he had lived at that address longer than any other resident in the street and was the oldest resident in the street.