Peter Lawler has died at age 72. The prominent pharmacist and community worker passed away peacefully at Manly on Tuesday. He will be interred at Western Districts Memorial Park tomorrow following a 1pm funeral service at St Brigid's Catholic Church. Born and educated in Sydney, Mr Lawler was only 17 when he graduated from university as a pharmacist. Initially too young to work unsupervised, he was employed at various pharmacies across the countryside before establishing his own business in Tamworth Street, South Dubbo, in 1958. "To my understanding it was the first time in rural NSW that a pharmacy opened anywhere other than a main street,'' son Tony said yesterday. "Dad saw opportunities in South Dubbo and together with Joe Snare did a lot of work over the years building up Tamworth Street as a shopping centre. He was later involved in other property developments including the Myall Street shops and blocks of flats. "From the outset the pharmacy opened on Sundays which was something unusual for Dubbo. Dad had a genuine compassion for people and a willingness to put himself out to meet the needs of others. He was a great listener and always had a kind word.'' A dedicated family man with 14 children, Mr Lawler often worked six or seven days a week but still found time for a range of community activities. He was heavily involved in Apex, Rotary, the Catholic Church and Society of St Vincent de Paul, served as an alderman on Dubbo City Council and supported local schools. "Dad had a strong social conscience but couldn't have managed all he did without the strengths of Mum who supported his activities while maintaining a challenging household,'' Tony Lawler said. "Dad ran the Tamworth Street pharmacy for more than 30 years before establishing a new business in the Dubbo Square shopping centre (now known as Centro). "In 1991 Mum and Dad and the younger children relocated to Sydney. Dad purchased pharmacies at Belrose and Dee Why and continued working until 12 months ago.'' Mr Lawler said his father was a mentor to many people and ahead of his time when it came to positive attitude and embracing opportunity. "People now talk about personal growth and development but Dad actually lived all that. He didn't write a book or consciously teach people but was innately a bit of a philosopher. "The fact that he chose to be buried in Dubbo shows the great affinity he felt with this place. He was good to Dubbo and recognised that Dubbo was good for him.'' Mr Lawler was the beloved husband of Carmel, loving father of Louise, Tony, Jenny, Mary, Sam, Simon, Luke, Monique, Dominique, Joe, Justin, Ben, Bernadette and Carmel and adored grandpa to their children.