Wesley Edward BROWNE OAM
On the eve of ANZAC Day, J-Wire publishes his obituary of late father Wesley Browne written by his Garry. Wesley Brown was a highly-respected member of Sydney’s Jewish community involved in preserving the memories of those Jewish Australians who served in their country’s military.
Wesley Browne
Our father was one of a kind. He was a very proud Australian and a born leader. He was generous, kind and compassionate, a philanthropist and a gentleman.
He was a successful self-taught businessman, a keen sportsman, gregarious, full of fun and always enjoyed a joke.
Wesley Edward Browne, known to his friends as WB or Wes, was a compassionate gentleman who was born to Roy and Belle Browne on the 15 October 1924, the second son and brother to Adrien. He adored his parents and older brother and they instilled in him the meaning of family values that guided him throughout his life. Protecting and nurturing his family, and other families, together with unswerving loyalty to friends and business colleagues, were the hallmarks of his long life.
Wesley left school at 14 years of age and worked with a handbag manufacturer called Russell G Brown. His grandfather owned AA Marks – a well-known chain of Sydney tobacconists – and offered him a job. He worked there for a year before he was offered a role as a messenger boy at Stuart Alexander by the Manager, George York.
George York made a point of only employing Boy Scouts, of which Wesley was a King Scout, something of which he was immensely proud. Joining Stuart Alexander in 1941 was the beginning of a journey which saw him serve in the business for over 60 years and a rags-to-riches story from messenger boy to Managing Director and Chairman.
Wesley signed up for service to the Royal Australian Air Force on his eighteenth birthday, as he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps and was subsequently sent off to Melbourne for training in preparation for travel to New Guinea. After joining the RAAF he was found to be colour-blind, which ruled him out of becoming a pilot, and so he was assigned to become a trainee wireless operator.
Wesley always believed he was born lucky. Not becoming a pilot meant he returned home after the war when many of his colleagues and friends did not.
In later life, he would say that he couldn’t believe that a Lance Corporal like him could have so many good friends who were commissioned Officers, many being Major-Generals and senior military personnel whom he knew for the rest of his life. In fact, in 2021, he was one of 3400 who were recipients of the 75th Anniversary Medal that recognised the end of World War II and his participation.
In 1955 Wesley was introduced to a nurse who had been working at the Masonic Hospital in Ashfield and had nursed his old school friend Alan Kwong, who arranged for them to meet. When Wesley went to collect this attractive young Nurse for their first date, the front door opened, and he said, “my name is Wesley,” and she said, “my name is Sari”; but he misheard her and thought she said “sorry” and so he apologised as well! The rest is history. Sari and Wesley were married in the Great Synagogue in 1956, a wonderful story of love, devotion, commitment, and partnership which endured for over 66 years. They have been involved in all aspects of the Synagogue and contributed to all facets of Synagogue life from board level to congregation. He was especially proud of Sari’s election to the Board of the Great Synagogue as the first woman in its history to join the board.
Wesley’s war service led him to become involved with Legacy. Norm Goldberg, his father-in-law, encouraged him to join Legacy, an organisation he served for over 60 years. His compassion and caring nature made him an ideal Legatee, and he cared for many families and widows over the years, and he treated them like they were part of his own. Every year on ANZAC day, you would see Wesley marching proudly in his unit, after which he would then return to the legacy widows’ group and vigorously cheer them on from the sidelines. He would then march again with Russian ex-servicemen and women.
His commitment and involvement extended to not only looking after families, but he was President of Sydney Legacy, a Board member for many years and was a champion of lifting the awareness and profile of Legacy and Veteran affairs. In 1994 Wesley was awarded an Order of Orange Nassau from the Dutch government, one of their highest awards for not only building trade between Australia and Netherlands but for the support he gave to Dutch returned service people. In fact, he later received an OAM in 1996 for his services to various community organisations, including NAJEX and his involvement with families of veterans.
Wesley and his brother, Adrien, had joined the NSW Association of Jewish Service & Ex-Service Men & Women (NAJEX) many decades ago, and Wesley became President of NAJEX and also the federal branch FAJAX. He was instrumental in bringing the Russians who had immigrated to Australia into the fold, and they were able to stand by those of NAJEX even though they had not fought for Australia.
His golf took a prominent place in the weekly calendar no less than three times in a good week, but Wednesday afternoons were sacrosanct. He spent many hours enjoying the game with other players and was a Board member of the Australian Golf Club and a committee member of various events. He achieved a hole-in-one and won many other trophies of which he was so proud. In fact, he donated the Australian War Memorial trophy in 1996 to the club and to this day it is an annual event. He was also able to enjoy his golf with Sari, and they would arrange holiday travel that took in some of the best courses here and overseas on the few occasions that they were able to go.
Wesley had a keen eye for the ball, and apart from playing golf, where he won his fair share of trophies, he enjoyed playing tennis, snooker and lawn bowls with his father-in-law. He played snooker with his father at the RACA as members and won competitions over many years. At the Australian Club, he also played snooker, but this time with his son Garry and achieved success there as well.
He was most proud of all his family, they were an integral and important part of his life, and he was always conscious to ensure they were provided for and looked after. His five grandchildren adored him, and they spent many an hour listening to his stories.
When younger, they loved going to the golf course and being driven around in the golf carts, a memory and picture never to be forgotten.
On his 80th birthday, it was arranged for him to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge with Garry, Josh and Sam. It was something he probably didn’t want to do, but he was not one to disappoint, especially as it was three generations making the climb.
Even though Roland, Kate and their family lived in Hobart, he had a strong connection with them and was always most interested in and encouraging of their pursuits.
Just two weeks before he passed away, he became a great-grandfather, and we know he would have delighted in that status.
“In recognition of Wesley’s lifetime of outstanding and selfless dedication to the Jewish community and to his fellow Australians, in accordance with the noble spirit of Anzac, particularly through ex-service welfare.
‘Wesley Browne, Tzadik and Mensch, we salute you’.”
In a fitting tribute, at the Centenary of Jewish Anzacs, in which Wesley was awarded the “Spirit of Anzac Award”, the citation said it all:
Wesley’s life was well lived and dominated by the debt he felt he owed to his comrades who never returned from the War. While many in his family died so young, he lived to the age of 97. Through his actions and behaviours in this long life, he taught us, it is not the recognition you receive; it is the impact you make and the legacy you leave that is important.
Wesley leaves behind his wife Sari, sons Garry and Roland, daughter Belle, grandchildren Josh, Sam, Tim, Asher and Miranda and a great granddaughter Remi.
He and his wonderful sense of humour will be sorely missed. May his memory be a blessing.
Obituary written by Garry Browne
A lovely, lovely man! How I would have liked to meet him. You’ve done him proud, Garry Browne.