JO CROSSING - EULOGY by ANGUS CAMERON

Jo Crossing, as she has been affectionately known to us all, following her marriage to Phillip in St. Peters Cathedral Armidale on 5th August 1972, was born in Armidale on 26th October 1947, Joanne Marion, only child of Duncan and Jean McLennan of the property “Kilcoy” Wollomombi.   This district was known in the early days of settlement as “Scott’s Corner” following the introduction of the “Robertson Land Act”, which enabled settlers to acquire title to Land.   Many of the Scottish immigrants took up blocks in proximity to each other for community and support.   Her mother Jean and my mother, Betty, were jointly responsible for the compilation of the book ‘Scots Corner’ which documents much of the early history of this district and these pioneering people.

Jo was from the beginning, a very strong willed child who did not take easily to discipline.   She took little notice of her parents.    Her parents and mine were close friends, her mother being my mother’s little sister and her father’s family having a long and close friendship with the Cameron family.   Strange as it may seem, she showed considerable respect for my parents and was always on best behaviour in their presence.   She considered them as her second family,

Jo, having no siblings of her own, adopted me as her de-facto brother and as I had no sisters, this relationship worked both ways.   We kept a watch out for each other over the years particularly up until we were both married and to a lesser degree since.

From a very early age she learned to ride horses and showed aptitude and skill with them.   Attending ‘Pony Camp’ on a regular basis and later becoming an Instructor at these events.

Jo received her primary education at home through ‘Blackfriars Correspondence School’, being capably tutored by her mother who had been amongst the first to graduate from the newly established UNE College with a Bachelor of Arts.   Her secondary education took place at P.L.C. Armidale.

Jo was a capable scholar, having an extremely retentive memory.   Phillip commented recently on this when I was quizzing him about a number of matters, stating that she often failed to write down details such as phone numbers and addresses etc. as she could easily recall them from memory.   Her time at P.L.C. was, I believe, somewhat turbulent with her strong willed character showing through.

Joanne obviously wished to make a statement to the school when, in her ‘Trial Leaving exams’ she failed in every subject, but subsequently went on to pass the final exams with distinction in those same subjects.   Probably not a coincidence!   She chose not to be at home when the results were due out, choosing to be with my parents instead, (maybe, just in case)!.

Upon leaving school she spent a year at home prior to finding a job and furthering her education.  She joined the Armidale War Memorial Library as trainee Librarian and attended TAFE.   After qualifying, she remained at the Library for some time before moving to the TAFE Library.

During her time at the Armidale Library she was greatly shocked and saddened by the sudden death of her mother at the age of 48.   It took a long time for her to get over this untimely event.

 

In 1972 she married Phillip Crossing from the property “Derryakie” at Walcha.   Leaving her job in Armidale, and having gained the Bronze Cross in swimming whilst at P.L.C., she successfully applied for the Manager’s position at the Walcha Swimming Pool.   Sue and I visited her at the Baths one wet Saturday, having travelled to attend the Walcha Cup Races, the latter abandoned after the first race, a very heavy rain event making the  track unsafe.   There were a number of rowdy boys at the pool, and they were alternating between getting cold in the pool and racing to the hot showers to warm up again.   We were most impressed as Jo suddenly excused herself from us, racing into the men’s change room loudly barking orders causing a mass exodus of boys, obviously heading for a safer place.

During this time at Walcha, her thirst for further knowledge and skill saw her enrol at Mitchell College Bathurst in a Degree course in Accountancy.  This she did externally, passing very well.   She then joined Roberts and Morrow fulfilling her Professional Year and was admitted as a Chartered Accountant.   She later added a Master of Business Administration Degree through Deakin University to her list of qualifications.

Upon leaving Robert and Morrow, she joined Peat Marwick in Tamworth for a period before moving to join Forsyths when they opened a branch there.    This arrangement did not last long so she set up her own practice, at times in partnership with others, sometime on her own, continuing until the quite sudden onset of illness forced her to sell up and retire.

Although Jo never left you in any doubt as to what she was thinking, unless she thought you didn’t need to know, she was never-the-less, not one to seek recognition for the charity work she did.   This included being on the Board and Treasurer of Life Line, and the Committee and Treasurer of the Women’s Refuge.   She also worked with CanAssist.   There may have been other organisations, of which I am unaware.

Jo was an enthusiastic member of “First Fleeter’s Chapter” in Tamworth, being descended from Lt. Philip Gidley King, 2nd in Command of the ‘First Fleet’.   She was also a most enthusiastic worker in support of Tony Windsor and Peter Draper during their political careers.   She was Treasurer of the Olive Growers Association and an avid member of Paul Cole’s Wine Tasting Group.

Jo began her legal driving career in a Mini Minor, which she regularly brought to Fassifern at weekends for me to weld a sump guard back on.   In subsequent years she graduated to larger and more powerful modes of transport.   Her first large vehicle was a 5.8ltr V8 Special Model Ford Falcon Utility.   She took this vehicle to an Accountant’s Conference at Terrigal in company with a friend present here today.   On arrival in the carpark, (Jo was dressed in her usual T-Shirt and jeans) they noticed the other Accountants dressed in their dark business suits, alighting from their BMWs and other upmarket vehicles, Jo was heard to remark “Well, at least this one is paid for!”.   This comment beat her to the Bar!

Many of us have experienced the talents, affection and help from this hard working, hard playing woman, who has been taken from our midst was too soon, but our lives have been the richer for our involvement with her.

   Farewell, most valued friend, Rest in Peace.

 

 

Jo served the North West Branch of the Fellowship of First Fleeters as secretary from June 2006 until her illness forced her to retire from the positon in February 2014. She was known as “a top secretary”.