Detailed Biography

Early Years

Reginald Colin Zwar was born on 6^th October 1926 at Booleroo Centre, the second child of Alfred and Johanna (Jane) Zwar. Reg was baptised and later confirmed at the Pine Creek Lutheran Church.

Reg grew up on the family farm near Wirrabara together with his two sisters, Joyce and Gwenda. He attended the Wirrabara school.

Marriage

In 1949 Reg married Elsie Keller, who became his lifelong companion. They made their home at Wirrabara and from modest beginnings, built a substantial farming enterprise. Reg and Elsie were blessed with four sons. Geoff, Don and Tim carried on the farming tradition to become the fifth generation of Zwars to farm in the Wirrabara district since Peter Zwar took up land at Appila in about 1880. Their third son, Brian, established an engineering business in Adelaide.

 Church

Reg and Elsie raised their family in the love and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Over the years Reg held many offices in the church, including layreader, chairman and elder.

 Inventor

Stemming from times when necessity resulted in innovation, Reg enjoyed developing solutions to problems, and won several awards and held a number of patents for his inventions. These included :

• A chemical extractor (for safer handling of agricultural chemicals)
• An automatic bale density control unit for small square balers
• A quick change scarifier share clamp
• An auxiliary airbag suspension kit for trucks

 Lucerne

Early on, he found a need to diversify into lucerne seed and hay production and in many respects was a pioneer in this field. Lucerne seed from his property was included in the first to be exported to Libya in 1973.

District Council

Reg’s community activities included serving on the Port Germein District Council (which became the District Council of Mt Remarkable) for 11 years, where he also served a term as chairman.

 School Centenary

In 1979, Reg achieved much pleasure and satisfaction as chairman of the organising committee for the Wirrabara Primary School centenary celebrations.

 Charateristics

While often strong in his views, Reg was universally respected for his integrity and honesty, and deeply ingrained work ethic. His travels in his enterprise took him to every corner of the state and beyond, and as a result of his ability to relate well to people, made many hundreds of business and social acquaintances.

 Hobbies

In later years, as the weight of responsibility was increasingly shared by his sons, Reg took up and enjoyed lawn bowls and golf, and indulged his hobby of collecting machinery of many varied shapes, sizes and vintages. Reg and Elsie also enjoyed travels both within Australia and overseas.

 Final Year

Following a fall in 1995, Reg’s health deteriorated which necessitated full-time care at the Booleroo Centre District Hospital, where he passed away on 7^th August 1996. His funeral was held on the 10^th August 1996 at the Zion Lutheran Church, Wirrabara.

 

© Reg Zwar Family