The Boggabri community was shocked and saddened to hear of the untimely death of Peter Sidney Atkinson on November 27, 2024.

A capacity crowd filled St Barnabas Community Church in Boggabri with many more friends and colleagues standing and sitting outside during the service.

One of Peter’s best and long-term mates, Paul Carrett delivered a heartfelt eulogy on behalf of the family.

Peter Sidney Atkinson was born on February 28, 1968, at Tamworth Base Hospital.

The third child of Ron and Ronda Atkinson.

Peter had two older sisters, Raelee and Leonie and younger sister Brenda.

The Atkinson family lived initially in the old dairy house in Hull Street, Boggabri, before moving to 44 Laidlaw Street.

Mr Carrett told those present, growing up in those early years for Peter involved running around with his sisters, chasing cattle while his dad drove the ute beeping the horn, going to his Ma and Pa’s place ‘Waverton’, catching and skinning rabbits, and taking his friends out shooting, and of course, pranking them.

Peter attended Boggabri Public School, where Mr Carrett first met him in 1975 when the Carrett family moved to Boggabri.

Peter liked to push boundaries with his teachers and spent quite a bit of time at the principal’s office which was evident when he got home with a sore hand.

Mr Carrett added it must have been time well spent with the principal as Peter was appointed vice captain of the school in 1980.

Following in his sisters’ footsteps, Peter attended St Mary’s College in Gunnedah.

He disliked secondary school as much as primary school, and at the age of 14 years and nine months he left school to work with his Pa and parents on their two properties.

Peter loved all types of sport and no matter what it was, he excelled.

He played soccer, cricket, softball, golf, lawn bowls and tennis, winning many trophies.

He desperately wanted to play rugby league, but his mother Ronda wasn’t keen on the idea and decided to bribe him with a new tennis racket.

This tactic ended up being quite expensive for Ronda though, as whenever Peter wanted something new, he would tell his mother that he was going to play footy.

In most things in life, Peter set high standards and expectations of himself.

This was exacerbated on the golf course when combined with his slight temper, sometimes resulting in golf clubs being thrown around if he played a poor shot.

It was rumoured that Ronda got word of his behaviour and engaged some informants to advise her should they witness any golf club incidents.

Apparently, Peter demanded to know who these informants were, but Ronda held strong and wouldn’t divulge their names.

Peter was a dedicated and skilled stockman who loved horses.

The late Peter Atkinson.

As a young bloke he attended Boggabri Pony Club.

His dedication is evident by him taking his own children in later years back to the club and performing the role of boys’ dorm master at camp.

The demands of droving cattle and working on farms meant that Peter was very familiar with driving vehicles, tractors and riding motorbikes.

A licence to Peter was just a piece of paper, and up until he was 17, Peter managed to get himself from the house in Laidlaw Street to the farm and other places without too much trouble.

However, Peter would tell the story of when he arrived at the Boggabri Police Station to sit his driving test, the cop on duty at the time was most surprised that Peter didn’t already have a licence, having seen him on many occasions getting around town.

In 1986 whilst droving cattle down on Cox’s Creek, Peter met Raylee Barrie and they started going out.

They were married in St Barnabas Church in October 1992 and went to live out at his Pa’s property, ‘Waverton’.

October 1994 saw the arrival of their first child Larissa, followed by Tiffany in June 1996 and their son Ryan in December 1997.

Following the sale of the family properties, Peter and the family moved to ‘Woodgrain’ with Peter working as a stockman.

In 2002 they moved down the road to ‘Milchengowrie’ and in January 2006 they moved to ‘Kerala’ near Barraba, with Peter working as a station hand.

The family moved to ‘Mullion Creek’ at Orange in 2006 with Peter gaining employment initially as a livestock buyer, then moving into contact farming.

Peter had many interests whilst living in Orange.

He spent many hours with the girls who played representative hockey, and with Ryan when he played rugby union.

Apparently, Peter tried one season playing hockey but was banned for taking out another player’s ankle illegally, after completing a tackle with the hook of the hockey stick.

Peter also found a love for water skiing; he and the family became proficient skiers.

Peter had a secret, he loved cutting ‘sweat firewood’ – if the girls had a big night out, he would make them get up early the next morning and go and cut firewood with him to sweat off their hangover.

In March 2019, Larissa married James and they have two children, Lewis and Boyd.

Peter’s second daughter Tiffany married Jacob in April 2022, and they have three children, Lizzie, Kealee and Xaviour and Peter’s son Ryan married Ebony in September 2022 and they have two children, Ricky and Elena.

In 2020, Peter’s life took a different direction and he moved to the central coast and then to Blackwater in Queensland.

In 2022, Peter moved to the property ‘Cardington’ at Molong, gaining a job managing the property.

This was his ultimate job; he was finally the manager of a property.

Unfortunately, this also was where he passed away suddenly, but he was doing what he loved.

Mr Carrett finished by saying: “whilst Peter was a great mate to us all, I want to reflect on his greatest achievements in life, his children and grandchildren.

“Larissa, Tiffany and Ryan, Peter loved you all and he always did his best to ensure that you had great opportunities and life experiences.

“He was very proud of his seven grandchildren, and I’m sure he will live on through you and them”.

Peter’s daughter Tiffany said: “a day and words that I never wanted to think about has come way too soon.

“But Dad always said everyone is born with a date and time, you never know what it is, so live every day like it’s your last, and that is one thing Dad did.”

“I also told him that he would grow old in my backyard because he would have been too grumpy for a nursing home”.

She thanked him for everything that he had done for her and the family, the things he taught and showed her and said that she will teach her children everything about him.

Peter’s older sister Raylee said: “The tears I have cried is not only that you were taken too soon, but also knowing that I will never see your smiling face again.

“As I look back and remember the life that we shared I hear your laughter as you tell one of your jokes or pranks you loved to play on those around you.”

Raylee also said that she would always treasure the life that they shared as brother and sister and that she knew Peter would hate to see everyone crying for him, instead he would want us to live the best life, hug and love those closest and forgive ourselves for whatever regrets we may have.

During the wake, many stories were told which showed the true character of Peter.

Someone who could laugh at you, and with you at the same time.

Someone who would jump in and lend a hand no matter what the task.

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