LIFE STORY

The LIFE STORY of; Timothy Ross Langdon Down     -     Timmy D                         

 .......................a work In Progress

Tim was born at 11.30 pm on the 25th July 1983 at the Royal Newcastle Hospital, Newcastle NSW. After a delayed start, 10 days late and 12 hours of labour, he was born via an emergency Caesarian Section. He was a healthy 7lb 10oz and after a shaky start, the biggest baby in the Intensive  Care Nursery, he made his presence known with very lusty cries. In fact he cried so much that he spent hours in the bad baby corner listening to watery womb sounds in an attempt to get him to sleep during that first week of life. Even then he made his presence felt.

Those days survived, he grew to a happy healthy toddler. When his sister Natasha was born Tim became a wonderful big brother. He looked after her beautifully and it was rare to see them apart. When Kat too was born his nurturing spirit took her into his life and to the end he remained very close to both girls.

Our home was on the beach in Newcastle and Tim  soon became a water baby and his love of the beach and water sports was begun. He learned to swim early and loved the surf.  When we moved to Queensland he became a 'Nipper' at our local beach on Bribie Island and continued his love of the surf and the beach after Roger moved to Alexandra Headland.

Newcastle education consisted of Playgroup in Merewether, Preschool with Mrs. Brisley at Date Street Adamstown and then Infant school at The Junction State School.

In 1989 we moved to Caboolture where Tim attended school at the Local State school. We were fortunate to live on acreage and Tim was in his element. He had a pool to play in, a forest to explore and bikes and machines to ride. Tim and the ride on mower were a common site as he mowed or towed or just drove it. He won a Quad bike at a local raffle and this too joined his stable of equipment. He bought himself a dirt bike in his teens.

In 1993 St Pauls School became a large part of his life for the next eight years. His achievments were many and varied as he wanted to try everything. His experiences even included  a trumpet in the early days at SPS. Tim wanted to de every thing and everything he wanted to do he wanted to do well.

          ......................................................................................to be continued!

The Family of Timothy Ross Langdon Down

Our Family was created when Denise and Roger were married on New Years Eve in 1981 at the Anglican Church at  Watson's Bay overlooking magnificent  Sydney Harbour followed by a reception at the Fisherman's Lodge also at Watson’s Bay. 

Roger is the Son of Geoffrey Langdon Down (now deceased) and Ruth Down both from the Chichester Region in the South of England. He was born in 1948 and soon after was his brother Martyn. They were born in that area but spent their early years growing up in Dar Es Salam in East Africa where Geoff was the Colonial Architect for the British Government. Roger did his schooling in Dover and London and became a General Surgeon. He immigrated to Australia in the 70's where he met Denise in Adelaide, SA.

Denise, the second daughter of Ross and Dorothy Kalin, was born in Adelaide SA in 1952. She and her sister Coral grew up in Adelaide in a happy family environment in Prospect SA . Schooling finished locally, Denise went on to become a Radiographer and worked in various Adelaide practices. At one of these she ran into a certain surgeon in the operating theatre. At this stage it is uncertain that he even noticed the radiographer that took his films for an operation except to note that she was late and had kept him waiting. After a change in focus and a trip to London for 2 years Denise returned in 1980 as a Sonographer and the chemistry had changed for both of them. 

A new career path took them to Brisbane soon after and then 2 years later to Newcastle where Timothy Ross (1983) Natasha Joy (1985) and Katerina Clare (1988) were born..  

New ventures included a Private Practice, a pilot’s License for Roger, our first aircraft in a series of light aircraft, an Aviation Charter Company, an Operating Theatre Supply Company, and an Endoscopy Centre.  

In 1990 the family moved again this time back to Brisbane.