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Every person who attended 'Parra's' memorial service on Monday was 'sucked in' by one of the great celebrations of a well-lived life.
Nicknamed 'Parra' because of his love for NRL club Parramatta Eels, he passed away from complications following a heart attack on October 25. He was 79.
It was difficult not to burst into tears at times, but it was just as easy to laugh uncontrollably as the stories flowed.
'Parra' was a natural storyteller and instilled his sense of humour on family.
Daughter Sharni Montgomery outlined 16 life lessons. Number nine was 'don't swing on the chair'. One of 'Parra's' grandchildren was swinging on a chair, and he asked, 'Do you want a hammer? ' The youngster, obviously intrigued, asked 'why grandad?'. He replied: 'Because if you want to wreck it quicker, just use a hammer. '
'Parra' was born in Bondi, which is the Eastern Suburbs Rugby League Club's heartland.
He soon moved to Granville, two train stops from Parramatta, where he fell in love with the Eels.
Nothing stood in the way of Parramatta.
Sid Barnes was one of Australia's finest Test batsmen immediately following World War II, averaging 63.05 in his 13 Tests.
He later worked as a sports journalist, and his writing was extremely direct and often critical of players.
He criticised one of the Thornett brothers, much-loved figures at Parramatta, and 'Parra' did not hold back, sending a letter to Barnes, expressing his disappointment. He was only 16.
At a family gathering on Mother's Day, daughter Janine Montgomery noticed Dad was getting agitated.
"He said, 'I thought you'd all (the guests) be left by now, 'Parra' is about to play," she said.
Colleen admitted 'Parra' could get grumpy, but his wife of 55 years "does not have a grumpy bone in her body".
"If he was cranky, Pat would walk over to him, place her hand on his shoulder, and this raging lunatic could melt," she said.
The pair met when Peter left the big smoke to accept a promotion with the NSW Public Service (Department of Lands).
He arrived in Hay in 1966 at 19. Janine says his first date with Mum was a trip to the footy at Hillston, around 160km away.
Humour was his superpower. His work colleagues soon realised he hated spiders. They put plastic spiders in his files. A fake spider on the phone receiver saw the phone hurtled across the room.
'Parra' and Pat married in May 1970. Janine said, "They were perfect for each other". Colleen said: 'if you are going to be married to 'Parra', it's going to be a wild ride'.
Sharni's life lesson No. 9 was "real men express emotions".
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In 1972, Sharni said 'Parra' became the first father to attend the birth of a child in the Hay hospital. Other dads followed.
He loved the community, and it loved him back. Janine always wondered why Santa had the same glasses as Dad. 'Parra' was in the Hay Marching Band. He played the cymbals. He organised the annual Sao Eating competition.
He worked at the Hibernian Hotel for 19 years. He owned the Highway Inn Hotel with former Australian rugby league player Kevin Goldspink. He built the Highway Inn Motel and ran it for years.
The family loved his Basil Fawlty moments. Like the time he walked into what he thought was an unoccupied room to clean it, and a lady had nothing on. 'Parra' was mortified, and son Mick hoped he gave her free accommodation to cover her embarrassment.
Or the time a Tony Taylor checked in. It was during an Ashes cricket series, so 'Parra' thought he would humour his new guest. ''Gee mate, you must be proud of your son Mark 'Tubby' Taylor?' Tony was stunned, 'how did you know I'm Mark's father?' Now, the town had a character called 'Breeny' who did not like 'Tubby' Taylor because of a "lack of runs and a fat ass". 'Parra' brought Tony into a group setting and asked 'Breeny' what he thought of 'Tubby' Taylor. Sure enough, 'Breeny' ripped into the Test opener. 'Parra' said, 'Breeny, I'd like you to meet someone. It's Tony Taylor, 'Tubby's' father'."
After his stint in hospitality, he bought a share of Hay's newspaper, The Riverine Grazier.
A founding member of the Hay Cutters Rugby Union Club, one of his favourite headlines was when the team belted Temora 50-0. It read: 'Cutters play like there's no Temora'.
In 2011, he organised the 'Pie in the Sky' rugby league game. The local team, Hay Magpies, played a charity game against former NRL superstars, including Mal Meninga and Laurie Daley. It attracted around 2500 people. Hay's population is 2800. He was an advocate for the underdog, the battlers.
He loved song parodies and would sing to his granddaughter, to the tune of ABBA's Fernando.
"There was something in her hair last night, it was flaky and white, it was dandruff".
He even sang about picking up the droppings of his beloved sausage dog, Betty. It was called the 'Poo Patrol' song.
But granddaughter Hannah Lewis says it was never just about laughs.
"He had a serious side; he was always there for us," she said.
Sharni's life lesson No. 11 was: "Everybody is a somebody and deserves respect".
He was a Justice of the Peace for 50 years, and people would ask for advice on filling out forms or how to prepare for a court appearance.
'Parra' was nostalgic. He loved his family, his friends. And he never stopped having fun.
Even on his last day, he asked the nurse at St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, 'what is the record for cannulas in the arm'?
Sharni was not surprised his heart failed him.
"I'm convinced it was because he gave so much of his heart to everyone," she said.
He had moved to Albury in 2017 to be closer to the larger health services.
'Parra' is survived by children Janine, Mick, Sharni and his extended family.
The Border Mail attended the memorial service with the permission of the Montgomery family
'Parra' remembered as a 'love tornado, because he sucked everybody in'
The Montgomery family pays a loving tribute to 'Parra'.www.bordermail.com.au
Parra Pete also tried to tell me that Ken Thornett was better than Jarryd Hayne. WTF would he know?
Didn’t you go to school with Ken Thornett?
He probably was, tbh.Parra Pete also tried to tell me that Ken Thornett was better than Jarryd Hayne. WTF would he know?
Mines not for sale.
