Biography of Douglas Loosemore
OCCUPATION: Footwear Manufacturer, Jackaroo
Douglas was born at Gympie and grew up in the Loosemore home with his 12 other (living) brothers and sisters. His place on the family tree can be seen at the following link to my family tree. They would often sing psalms at night. Doug went jackarooing on farms in the western Queensland countryside. Then he and Had farmed together on a small place at Eudlo.
Douglas and Eva Morris met at the local Presbyterian church in Enoggera Terrace, Ithaca Presbyterian Church. Eva went overseas with Lucy and their parents, but Doug and Eva kept writing to each other while she was away. The family had previously been overseas in 1903, 1922, and again in 1926.
When it had become clear that Doug was to marry Eva, her father, Frederick Thomas Morris offered Doug a job at his footwear factory, F.T. Morris and Company. Doug did an accountancy course by correspondence at night. It was a difficult course in those days. In 1940, Doug and James became joint Managing Directors of the factory.
Doug and Eva lived at 57 McGregor Terrace, Bardon and named their home 'Tiverton' - the birthplace of Doug's father. James and Lucy lived next door in a house built where there used to be tennis courts, on the corner of McGregor Tce and Rockbourne Tce. (Fifty-seven has been replaced by shops.)
James says that Doug was a quiet man of strong principles and warm affections. They sang in choirs (Church and Curlew Male Choir) for many years. Doug was a good sportsman - he would win trophies on the ship when going overseas. He played tennis on their own courts. It was Doug's idea to form a bowls club (in 1947). James encouraged him and did the secretarial work.
Doug was President of the Bardon Bowling Club for two terms. This experience 'brought him out'. He was later described by the Club as 'Founding President and Patron'.
Ithaca church was an important part of the Loosemore family's life, as they would spend a lot of time there, with the morning and afternoon services and Sunday school. Doug sang solos in the church choir. Eva's parents were Anglican, but they were encouraged by Christina Grant (James Morris' wife), to go to Ithaca church, as it was only two doors away from the Morris family home. Clare ran the Sunday school for some time, and Dad was an elder at the Church for 15 years (from 15 to 30).
Doug died in his late 50s of a lung disease that might have been related to leather dust in the boot factory.
Sources(1) Frederick Loosemore
(2) James Stevens
(3) BC Douglas Loosemore Queensland 1900
(4) The Brisbane Courier 3 APR 1930
(5) The Courier Mail 3 MAR 1958
