Poppa Made Us Laugh, And Think
Sydney Morning Herald
Wednesday August 29, 2001
When I think of my grandfather, Norman Lethbridge or Poppa, it seems strange to me that there are people who did not know him. He was not just an Aussie bloke, a soldier, worker, husband, father and grandfather, but he did these things so well.
Perhaps I should start with how I knew him best, as a grandfather. Afternoons spent learning to ride a bike with two wheels, then the worried looks as we all scooted up and down the footpath outside Grandma and Poppa's house. The two strange-looking mounds in the backyard where we could help Poppa grow all sorts of things, from spinach to strawberries.
Poppa was always a help with homework, a knowledgeable source when even Mum and Dad were stumped. When I was at university, Poppa was my No 1 source for a history project on agriculture. His intelligence and wealth of knowledge are something I will miss. I was just getting to know Poppa as a great friend and one I could sit down with and discuss all sorts of philosophical questions.
As I've grown older I've gained a few insights into how he perhaps was known by others. Watching Poppa march in the Anzac Day parade, medals on his chest, even when limping with a bad knee, I was amazed to think he was one of those thousands we read about at school, fighting in World War II. ``The War" is an unfathomable concept for someone of my age, but watching Poppa and hearing his occasional stories brought it closer.
He will be missed too at the occasions when he made everyone laugh. At Christmas we laughed when he made silly faces and jokes. We laughed at his pink bike helmet and the original recipes he made up for the microwave. The best thing was that you could see he knew he made us laugh, and to see us laughing made him happy.
A life as a soldier, worker, husband, father and grandfather is not uncommon. In fact, it seems a typical Australian life to go to war, have a house and family in the suburbs, work on the land and in the city. But to do all these things with such friendliness, fairness, gentlemanliness, faithfulness, humour and concern for others is a great achievement. I couldn't possibly have known Poppa in all the areas of life, but if he did everything else as well as he did being a grandfather, that's something to be proud of.
© 2001 Sydney Morning Herald
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