A life of service
Douglas Gordon Bruce Cumming, OAM
1926 – 2009
Bondi Junction has lost one of its best known community workers. For decades Doug Cumming played a part in much of what happened around the Junction and Waverley Municipality.
Best known for his association with the Waverley Historical Society as president for over 20 years and for his appearances at citizenship ceremonies and Remembrance observances, Doug amazed people with his encyclopaedic knowledge of the commercial and public buildings around his beloved Junction.
Many local organisations benefited from his energies, skills and public spirit. Active in Bondi Junction/Waverley Rotary Club, he helped raise funds for such worthwhile groups as WAYS, renowned for its work with young people.
Recently, Waverley Library’s Local Studies Unit unearthed historic photos of life in the forties. A Presbyterian Sunday school picnic revealed a young Douglas with other still-active luminaries.
Doug is remembered as an elder of the MacNeil Church in Denison Street which later merged as part of the Uniting Church. He continued in that role for more than 60 years, devoting energy to administration of the MacNeil Childcare Centre and the Edina Retirement Home.
With his love of aircraft, no one was surprised when Doug joined the RAAF the moment he turned 18. But the war soon ended and while many quickly returned to civilian life he remained for another two years, and 19 years later joined the Army Reserve retiring after15 years as a Major.
Doug had not been a resident of his native community since 1958 when he and his wife Joan moved to West Pymble to settle in a war service home. A devoted husband and father of two daughters, Doug had always enjoyed giving time to the community – and to this son of Mill Hill Road, that meant Bondi Junction! Once his daughters had grown up, Doug found time and money for petrol, tyres and a fortune in bridge tolls to become more involved on his home turf.
Decades on, passing 80 years of age, he maintained all his commitments despite the distance – no longer with driver’s licence or West Pymble public transport.
Doug was so glad to be at the celebratory 150-year meeting of Waverley Council at Charing Cross Hotel. He seemed to know nearly everyone there, including Mayor Sally Betts, a friend of many years (pictured).
Many present that day found themselves farewelling Doug barely a fortnight later at faraway Gordon. It was indeed a life to celebrate: 83 years packed with service to community and family.
He is survived by two daughters, Margaret and Barbara; their husbands, Philip and John; grandchildren, Ryan, Mitchell, Caitlan, Elise and Colby; and great-grandson Sebastian.
– BY PETER McCALLUM
