ROBERT FREDERICK SEAMONS.

1915 - 1988

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Born on 18 July, 1915 at Kyabram, Victoria, Australia.

Married Beryl Anna Toal at Moonee Ponds, Victoria, Australia, on 22 February, 1941.

Died 14 October, 1988 at East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Bob and Beryl had four children:

	Brian Robert,  born 24 April 1942, married Mary Maguire on 22 August 1964, divorced in 1974. Brian died in Kuala Lumpar on 18 March, 1999;
	Carol Joy,       born 20 January 1945, married Raymond Rothwell on 24 December 1966;
	Fay,                  born 1 November 1947, married Noel Rutley 17 October 1970; and
	John Leslie,     born 2 August 1949, married Heather Dickson on 10th August 1974.

Bob Seamons was born in Kyabram, but lived most of his life in Moonee Ponds, until moving to Pascoe Vale in 1968.  He spent his early childhood in the family house in Grandison Street Moonee Ponds with his sisters Gladys and Winnie.  As a boy, Bob worked in a dispensary in Leake Street, Essendon.

Bob attended West Melbourne Technical School, and worked as a mechanic for "Stokoe Motors", before establishing his own business at the rear of the home he purchased from his parents, at 713 Mt. Alexander Rd., Moonee Ponds. Bob and Beryl moved into this home in late 1949, and many happy times were enjoyed at this location; with Beryl's 2 brothers and 2 sisters and their families, a typical gathering for a family occasion often resulted in up to 29 attendees. There were also many parties in the home, held by the daughters Carol and Fay, and Brian's wedding dinner was also held in the home.

The Seamons' family home at 713 Mt Alexander Rd, Moonee Ponds. This house was originally built for Bob's father, William in 1926. William and Bob's family lived in this house for a continuous period of 42 years, before the house was demolished in 1968.

Bob's business, "R F Seamons & Co.", was originally focussed on engineering and die making, but this later expanded to include plastic moulding and also printing. The printing aspect was initially introduced by Bob's eldest son, Brian, who was himself a printer by trade. During the 1950's and 60's, Bob had two full time employees working in the business, one mainly on die making for plastic moulding, and the other doing plastic moulding, on one of the four moulding machines that he had in the workshop.

In 1968, Bob sold the family house in Mt Alexander Rd., however he continued his business from the workshop until well into the 1980's. In 1968, the family, which at that stage consisted only of Bob, Beryl, and the two youngest children, Fay and John, moved to 2 Oak St., Pascoe Vale. Brian and Carol had both married at this stage and had moved into their own homes.

        Bob and Beryl with their children, (l to r) Brian, Fay, John and Carol.        This photo was taken on the occasion of Bob & Beryl's 45th Wedding Anniversary, on 22 February, 1986.

The Methodist influence during Bob's upbringing stayed with him during his lifetime; he was an active member of the Moonee Ponds Methodist Church for a period of fifty years, and in his later years, of the St. John's Uniting Church in Essendon. He was Secretary of the Moonee Ponds Methodist Trust for many years, and in this capacity was heavily involved in the Gladstone Lodge elderly housing project in Gladstone Street, Moonee Ponds. Bob was extremely proud of his contribution in this project, and always treasured the photos taken of himself with Major General Sir Rohan Delacombe (Governor of Victoria), at the official opening of Gladstone Lodge in 1973. Bob is remembered within his family for the untiring work that he was always contributing to the Methodist Church.

Following Church Union in 1977, and the introduction of a new form of worship at Moonee Ponds, Bob and his wife Beryl (nee Toal) transferred to the St. John's Uniting Church in Essendon. At this Church, he continued to be active in Church matters, both in the Property Committee and the Parish Council. Until shortly before his death in 1988, he was the Secretary of the St John's Property Committee. In his final years, Bob devoted much of his time to working on the Corandirk Hostel project. As part of his involvement on the maintenance sub-committee he worked on a voluntary basis in maintaining the centre.

Bob was also a member of the Aberfeldie Branch of the Masonic Lodge since 1971;  he was  a Steward from 1975 to 1983, and then Assistant Secretary for five years.

After a period of cancer related illness, Bob passed away in October 1988.  A thanksgiving Service for the life of Bob Seamons was held in St. John's Church on Tuesday 18th October 1988.  The large building was almost filled by his family and friends from all walks of life

Following Bob's death, and after residing alone at the Pascoe Vale home for some 9 years, Beryl moved into the Corandirk Hostel in early 1998, and then to the Lionsville Aged Care facility in 2004. After a short illness, Beryl passed away on 15th June 2006.