A large funeral was held for Mr Olsen at Christ Church on Thursday, December 6.

He was aged 85.

Mr Olsen, born in 1933, spent his early years in the family home in Brown Street, attended Dungog Public School and Maitland Boys High.

He was called up to National Service and later took up the trade of spare parts at Bennett and Wood in Newcastle.

In 1953, Jim returned to the family business, Davey and Olsen in Dungog.  He married Judy Boorer in 1960 and the couple had two children, Jane and Tim.

Mr Olsen was involved in many community and sporting groups. He held the position of Rotary President twice, became a Paul Harris fellow and was a Freemason, rising to the position of Very Worshipal Brother and Inspector of Workings.

He was president of the tennis club and the  golf club of which he was a life member. He was the president of the local National Serviceman's Association and R.S.L. Sub-Branch vice president. Mr Olsen’s most recent project was leading the charge of the Restoration of the Battle of Besheeba Gun in  front of the Dungog R.S.L.  

Earlier this year Mr Olsen became only the second person to be inducted into the Dungog and District Chamber of Commerce’s Hall of Fame, recognising his significant contribution to local business and the community over many years.

Mr Olsen’s daughter Jane Middlebrook read the eulogy at her father’s funeral.

“He was a wonderful businessman, honest to the core, a great N.R.M.A. mechanic, often saving distressed motorists at all hours of the day and night,” she said.

Mrs Middelbrook said her father was proud of the fact he was a sixth generation Australian and he loved Ford.

He was a long standing feature of Dowling Street.

“Most people remember him pumping petrol at Davey and Olsen's but with that simple job came a gentle way of inquiring after the welfare of other people, welcoming new residents or visitors to Dungog,” she said.

“His gentle nature and smile endeared him to everyone. He loved the residents of this beautiful little town, and his mission in life was to be helpful.”

Mr Olsen is survived by his wife Judy, two children and four grandchildren. 

The following is the full, unedited eulogy Mrs Middlebrook delivered at her father’s funeral.

“I would like to take the opportunity to thank Dr Duncan Dew, Dr Brendan Chaston and all the wonderful staff at the Dungog Hospital who cared for Jim throughout his illness so beautifully. 

We are truly blessed to have such wonderful people in our community.

I'd also like to thank the church community for the delicious spread they have provided for us after the service.  Thank you also to our clergy,  Jordan our organist, the Nashos and our local police. 

Our family would like you all to think of this service as a celebration of Jim's life, he had a wonderful, productive, happy 85 years.

James Oscar "Jim" Olsen was born 27th February 1933, the youngest son of Oscar and Stella Olsen.  Jim had three elder brothers, Raymond, Geoff and Robert and was born in Keeba, Dungog Private Hospital.

Dad spent his early years growing up in the family home in Brown Street, he attended Dungog Primary School and when the time came travelled daily on the school train to Maitland Boys High.  Stella, Jim's mother had an extended family who remained on the family property at Monkerai and Jim spent many weekends there with the Titcume family, he said he would get car sick every Sunday after Oscar's driving over the Monkerai mountain. I don't think the road has changed very much to this day.

One our families favourite stories was the description of the very eventful trip to Forster.  Dad was born in a simpler time, not many cars, no mobile phones or computers, no television and no refrigeration.  The Olsen family spent many happy holidays camping in Forster and it was Uncle Bob and Dad's responsibility to transport the Christmas dinner.  Three live chickens ready for slaughter carried in a trailer on the back of Dad's push bike.  On the top of Buladelah mountain the trailer became unhooked, the chicken's escaped and Bob and Dad spent several unsuccessful hours trying to catch Christmas dinner.  It would have been tough going explaining to Stella that her well planned Christmas was ruined.

Jim was called up to National Service in the first intake.  He was so proud of his association with the NASHOs and although never saw active service often told his grandsons that he'd attended the "Battle of Bankstown" and defended bravely the Officer's supply of booze and cigarettes.  He had been known to say that the six months he'd spent in the National Service was the most fun he'd ever had in his life.  He learn't how to be very neat and tidy, became a "clean freak", particularly his shoes, a habit he attempted to instil in Tim and I as well as his four grandchildren.  On one visit to Finley he casually remarked that he didn't think he could ever live in the Riverina, Why? I replied.  No one has clean shoes he said.  I know it's that dirty dirt.

After National Service, Jim returned to the Hunter Valley, and took up the trade of spare parts at Bennett and Wood in Newcastle. It was a pretty social time for Dad, there a photos of him with pretty girls in bikinis always with a big smile on his face and those gorgeous baby blue eyes twinkling, a real heart throb.  It was there he met the Stevenson family, who took him under their wing and the friendship continues to this day.

In 1953, Jim returned to the family business, Davey and Olsen in Dungog.  The fun social times continued with tennis parties, B and S balls and dinner parties.  It was at one of the balls he met Judy Boorer aged 16 years.  It was love at first sight, of course, who could resist him. They dated for 5 years and were married in this church on 5th May 1960. I was born in 1963 and Tim in 1965. 

He was a wonderful businessman, honest to the core, a great N.R.M.A. mechanic, often saving distressed motorists at all hours of the day and night.  Judy recalls the night she accompanied Jim to Tillegerry to rescue a stranded motorist up a dead-end track.  It was a very wet night, the roads were slippery and Mum and Dad were in the tow truck. 

They located the stranded, frightened motorist and attempted to pull his car to the main road.  The tow truck was not up to the wet conditions and soon they rescuers needed assistance themselves.  There was nothing for it, they had to walk out of the forest.  Judy states that she was pretty tired that day, she'd played 27 holes of golf in the Dungog Club Championships.  They had a torch but not much else. They walked nearly 20 miles out of the Barrington bush over into Main Creek, got a little lady out of bed at 3.00 in the morning and went back next day for the truck, vehicle and stranded motorist.  Now thats going above and beond the call of duty.

Jim and Geoff were in partnership together for many years.  Oscar, Jim's father handed down the reins of the business to the brothers.  They ran a successful Ford dealership and NRMA franchise which Tim continues to operate. 

Dad had a great rapport with his staff members,  he treated them like his family.  Without the loyalty of his staff Davey and Olsen would not be where it is today. Some of the highlights of Dad's career include flying to Bathurst to watch the XC Falcon's come First and Second in 1977, Alan Moffat and Colin Bond behind the wheel. Operatating the N.R.M.A. franchise since 1935 and the Ford franchise since 1925.  He was an avid supporter of the Ford Brand and extremely proud of the long standing association with the Ford motor company.

Jim was involved in many community groups and sporting committees.  He had held the position of Rotary President twice, and became a Paul Harris fellow, was a Freemason rising to the esteemed position of Very Worshipal Brother and Inspector of Workings, President of the Tennis Club, Golf Club President and Life Member of the Dungog Golf Club,  and in his later years the President of the local National Serviceman's Association, R.S.L. Sub-Branch Vice President and just at the beginning of the year received the Dungog Chamber of Commerce Business award.  Jim's most recent project was leading the charge of the Restoration of the Battle of Besheeba Gun in pride of place at the front of the Dungog R.S.L.  Quite a few years of research went into this and it was a great achievement for him.

Judy and Jim enjoyed many happy years association with the Dungog Golf Club.  Saturday afternoons was always Golf day and his friendship with the Big Four, of Ross Haggarty, Eddie Smith, John Gately and Jim Olsen was very dear to him. 

Dad was very proud of the fact he was a sixth generation Australian.  A patriot and a lover of Australian culture to the core.  He could recite the generations of his family out of his head and knew who was connected to who, when they were married, buried and how many children they had.  He spent much time researching the Titcume creek at Nevilles road and was delighted when Great Lakes Council erected the sign.

Dad was a lover of the "saying".  The Girls at D and O's particularly enjoyed this little trait and unbeknowns to him kept a little book documenting them.  Some gems include:

"You can't get Doves out of Eagles eggs"

"Many mostaches can live under the one roof, but four breasts cannot".

"When Jesus played fullback for Jerusalem".

"Traceability, Jill".

"Just Google it".

“Have you Wet the Bed”

Family holidays were important to Jim.  Forster was always the destination of choice.  Jim loved Forster and it held a special place in his heart.  Judy could hardly ever get him to go anywhere else.  As children we lived for those two weeks at the beach, and our family friendships with the Kingston, Neilson and Freeman families leave very many happy memories.

The mosquitoes were quite large one year at the flat in Tuncurry when Tim and I were only little.  Big as horses.  Dad being the protective father determined to stop us being eaten alive,  ran to the car to fetch a can of mortein.  He gave us all, including Judy a real good spraying of pesticide.  Trouble was it was WD40, lubricant for engines.  He never lived that down, Judy spent many hours getting the grease out of the sheets as well as our hair, her hair, our pyjamas and bedlinen. True story.

He was a long standing feature of Dowling Street.  Most people remember Jim pumping petrol at D and O's ,but with that simple job came a gentle way of enquiring after the welfare of other people, welcoming new residents or visitors to Dungog.  His gentle nature and smile endeared him to everyone.  I'd like to make mention of Jim's love for Dungog.  He loved the residents of this beautiful little town, and his mission in life was to be helpful.  He was progressive and hated waste.  He was authoritive, without agression, always positive, always kind, had a great sense of humour and loved a good joke , always looking for the best in his fellow man.

Most of all Jim's love extended to his family. The love he had for Judy, Tim, Jeannie, Peter and I was deep and Judy has said that in over 50 years of marriage they only ever had one argument.

Jim loved his four  grandchildren.  He has been immensely proud of all their achievements and in our quiet times over the last few weeks has repeatedly stated to me just how important they were to him.

I'd like to thank each of you for coming today.

It is a wonderful tribute to my amazing, awesome father.  Our family and the wider community of Dungog have been very blessed to have had him guiding us. 

We will all miss him very much.

We love you Dad.”