Dubbo farewelled a respected civic leader yesterday.
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Hundreds of mourners attended the funeral of former mayor Kevan Dunlop, including current mayor Allan Smith, with standing room only both inside and outside the Wesley Uniting Church.
Mr Dunlop was mayor of the city from 1965 to1967 and had the honour of leading Dubbo when it was proclaimed a city in 1966.
Family friend Tom McCann read a moving and sometimes humorous eulogy reflecting Mr Dunlop’s life.
“Kevan started life as a 12-pound baby - which was certainly a great achievement for his mother,” he said.
Mr McCann added Mr Dunlop remained devoted to his wife Nancy throughout their 60-year marriage.
“He was a loving husband, bringing Nancy breakfast in bed every day of their married life,” he said.
“He will be remembered as a caring and patient man - a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather.”
Cr Smith also paid tribute to the former alderman and life member of both Rotary and Apex.
“History tells us that back in 1964 Kevan, then the deputy mayor, said of the death of mayor Les Ford ‘no one in Dubbo would have anticipated the sudden grievous loss of the town’s finest citizen and his loss would not only be felt by the council and the people of Dubbo, but throughout every community in the central west’,” Cr Smith said.
“Now in 2001 we mourn the death of another fine citizen who has left his mark on this city and who will be remembered as one of Dubbo’s modern day pioneers.
“Dubbo is the city it is today, in part, because of the contribution made by Kevan and many of the amenities and facilities enjoyed by us today were the visions of a council led and inspired by Kevan.”
Mr Dunlop was an alderman on the council during a number of significant events in the development of Dubbo.
He was mayor at the laying of the Dubbo War Memorial Civic Centre foundation stone ceremony and was present when the Dubbo and District Library was opened, when the Dubbo Museum was opened and when development began on the city’s underground water supply.
“One must remember that back some 40 years, change would not have come easily to the people of Dubbo,” Cr Smith said.
“At that time there was a shift in the economic, scholastic and cultural spheres of our community.
“One must admire the courage that Kevan and the-then council would have had to propel Dubbo from a town - a comfortable, unassuming place - to a city amid shifting dynamics and enormous change.
“The council of 2001 has been handed a legacy built by Kevan ... and we take this legacy, hold it with pride and extend our heartfelt gratitude.”
Mr Dunlop is survived by his wife Nancy, daughters Diane (Mrs Medley), Carol (Mrs Duffy), Toni (Mrs Delahunty), Christine (Mrs Davey) and son Paul.
He also leaves behind 24 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.