A life well lived

David Kentish was born in June 1927 and grew up in South Australia where he excelled at school, became Head Prefect at Murray Bridge High School and won a bursary to University in Adelaide. He graduated as Bachelor of Agricultural Science specialising in agronomy, animal husbandry and economics.

While employed by the AMP Society for five years in NSW, David was responsible for rural valuations and loans on mortgages on country lands, continuing to study and qualify in rural finance.

He worked as a Scientific Research and Liaison Officer in large scale development of land in South Australia and Victoria. This led to eight months leave overseas, researching agricultural ventures in the UK, where he met his first wife Elizabeth. When David left the AMP Society he worked on his uncle’s farm in Mt Gambier.

Then in 1956 he shipped his car over to New Zealand for nine month’s working holiday at Ruakura, Lincoln and Massey research stations, and on properties near Gisborne and Lumsden. He also stayed with his New Zealand cousins and met his future wife Gwen.

David’s father had just retired when he returned to Australia, so in 1958 they formed a partnership to develop and work 900 acres of virgin land near Mt Gambier, increasing the carrying capacity from 300 to 3000 sheep with some beef cattle. In 1961 David and Elizabeth married, but when the new Hamilton Pastoral Research Station opened in Victoria in 1963, David was appointed Livestock Research Officer, working there for five years. Most weekends they commuted to help on the farm and two sons were added to their family. When Elizabeth was diagnosed with cancer, David tried to balance caring for her at home and managing the work on the farm. A year before her death, the farm was sold and they moved into town to be near the hospital. David again bought some land and dabbled with growing and harvesting grain.

It was in 1995 that David and his sister drove to Woollongong, NSW to attend a family reunion, with unexpected repercussions. Gwen Burton flew over from Hamilton, New Zealand, to also attend the reunion. Later, after three months wonderful travel in South America, with son Hugh for part of the journey, David visited Gwen in Hamilton. Then Gwen’s visit to South Australia led to their marriage in 1997.

Various adventures were part of this new life. There was travel in Australia to see new places and keep in touch with family, a visit to the Chatham Islands, a month in Europe as part of a Religious Heritage tour, travel to the Solomon Islands with a group from their parish. He and brother Stow joined a seven day Otago Goldfields Cavalcade ride with overnighters in woolsheds.

David was an active church person all his life and found the ethos of the Cooperating church at Chartwell suited his ecumenical spirit. Coming from a musical family, he learnt the piano and sang in choirs including the lead in light operas.

He was singing in three choirs when he had his stroke in July 2001.There was no warning when the massive cerebral haemorrhage caused left-side paralysis but left his speech intact. With very hard work in the Rehab Ward in Waikato Hospital, David made sufficient progress to live at home. Visits, mail and support from family and friends were much appreciated.

David’s grateful, loving, thankful attitude and unchanged sense of humour were a bonus. He regained the ability to walk again with a side frame as support. While still at home David and Gwen’s goal was to live each day as fully as possible, with outings to church, concerts, movies and meals with friends. David dictated his family history for Gwen to turn into a book. There were two visits to Australia, to attend Hugh and Cath’s wedding in Fremantle and to Hamilton, Victoria to the 40th anniversary of the Research Station.

When Gwen suddenly needed hip revision surgery, emergency care became long term rest home care at Sunningdale, then reassessment a year later led to hospital level care at Radius St Joans, where David still lives nearly eleven years later.

There have been times of adjustment for them both, but Gwen and David are grateful for the very good care in both facilities. In the early years in St Joans, David was often in outings organised by the diversional therapist such as movies, Operatunity, a trip on the Waipa Delta on the Waikato River, and on every classic car rally for the past ten years.

Nowadays, David is still glad to have Gwen visit most days to read to him. He enjoys the company of three articulate men at meal times and on days of more energy, he still shows understanding, memory and humour.

Thank you to Gwen Kentish who wrote David’s story for us.

Click here to find out more about Radius Care, specialist health and aged care providers.