Peter Connolly is a community man, through and through
From his years in the railways and playing football to his steadfast volunteer service, Peter Connolly has been a credit to his hometown of Tailem Bend.
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Peter “PJ” Connolly, affectionately known as “Feathers”, has lived a life intricately woven into the fabric of Tailem Bend, a small town with a big heart.
Born in the old Tailem Bend Hospital in 1937, Peter grew up in a community where everyone knew everyone.
His journey is not just a personal history, but a rich tapestry that reflects the growth, struggles, and triumphs of his hometown.
Peter was raised in a large Catholic family, one of 15 siblings.
His early education came at the hands of three resolute Josephite nuns, including the unforgettable stern Sister Henrietta, who had a particularly effective way with the cane.
Like many young boys in rural communities, Peter left school at the age of 14 to work, and his first job was at Sid Olly’s fruit and veg shop in the main street of Tailem Bend, where the laundromat stands today.
Sid’s shop was a bustling hub of activity, especially on railway paydays when business would boom.
Peter’s job was to load up the ute and travel around town on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, delivering fresh produce to various parts of Tailem Bend.
He fondly remembers Sid as a good boss, but by the time Peter turned 18, it was time to move on, as the shop didn’t keep workers beyond that age.
Peter’s early working life was anything but ordinary.
After his time at the fruit and veg shop, he joined his brother Bob and sister-in-law Pat on a milk delivery round.
But when Bob found work with the railways and Pat became a receptionist for the local doctor, Dr Gooden, Peter was once again in search of new opportunities.
His next adventure was with a friend named Morris Norton.
The two young men set off on a bit of a walkabout, eventually landing in Victor Harbor, a seaside town about an hour’s drive from Tailem Bend.
Peter found work there, and though Morris soon returned home, Peter stayed on, proving himself a capable and high-flying football player.
His prowess on the field earned him the nickname “Feathers”, not just because of his athletic skills but also due to a cheeky incident where he was caught stirring up chickens.
Feathers were said to be flying everywhere, cementing the nickname for life.
In Victor Harbor, Peter learned the building and painting trades, skills that would serve him well for the rest of his working life.
After spending a few years there, he returned to Tailem Bend when his mother’s health began to decline.
Family always came first for Peter, and he made sure to be there when his family needed him most.
Upon his return, Peter’s life took a significant turn.
It wasn’t long before he met Doris, a friend of his sister Rayleen, who lived across the road in Webb Street, known then as Gun Alley.
The two quickly became inseparable, and in 1965 they married.
The couple went on to have two sons, Paul and Justin, and their family grew to include seven grandchildren: Travis, Mitchell, Ellen, Madison, Shana, Carl, and Olivia.
In a sweet twist of fate, Peter and Doris spent their honeymoon back in Victor Harbor, the town where Peter had honed his trade skills and built lasting memories.
Around the time Peter was starting his family, the railways were booming in Tailem Bend, and he applied for a job as a house painter, but when that didn’t eventuate, he took a position as a labourer with the railways’ works and buildings division.
Known jokingly by his colleagues as “works and jerks”, the team was responsible for maintaining houses and infrastructure around the town and in other railway towns nearby.
While working for the railways, Peter and Doris began building their own home.
They bought five blocks of land and built seven glasshouses, where they grew tomatoes, cucumbers, capsicums and strawberries before selling three of the blocks to build their family home from the ground up, even planting trees that would later become a trademark of their home.
Peter’s work ethic and dedication helped him rise through the ranks in the railways.
He passed several exams and eventually became a porter and signalman, working at the number-two signal cabin on the outskirts of Tailem Bend.
There he stopped and directed selected trains into the marshalling yard, sending the others straight through to their destinations.
When the railways began to slow down, Peter was offered a position at Dry Creek, but his love for his hometown kept him in Tailem Bend.
Before retiring, Peter spent his final years working as a signal operator at the Tailem Bend Railway Station, now the town’s Info Station.
Retirement didn’t slow Peter down.
He continued to contribute to his community in countless ways.
In 2013 he was named Tailem Bend’s citizen of the year, a fitting recognition of his years’ of service.
Two years earlier, in 2011, Peter had been inducted into the local Football Hall of Fame.
His athleticism and commitment to the local football scene had long made him a beloved figure in the town.
Peter’s contributions extended beyond sports.
He became a life member of both the local bowls and football clubs, spending more than 30 years writing sports reports for The Murray Valley Standard.
His reports on football finals were eagerly received, and he later expanded his writing to include a series titled The Changing Face of Tailem Bend in the local monthly publication, Tailem Topics.
To date, Peter has written more than 150 episodes documenting the evolution of the town he loves so much.
He and Doris have also led the town’s Christmas Parade as town criers for just over 30 years – another milestone for the lovely couple.
Peter’s legacy in Tailem Bend is more than just his public achievements.
He comes from a large, well-known family, and his siblings and their families are scattered far and wide.
His passion for writing and photography is something he inherited from his father, and it has only grown over the years.
While Peter has always been the writer, it’s his wife Doris who has been the true photographer in the family.
Looking back, it’s clear that Peter Connolly’s life has been one of service, adventure, and deep love for his community.
At 87 he continues to contribute to Tailem Topics and his community.
Whether he was playing football, working in the railways or now writing about the changing face of Tailem Bend, Peter is still active in his community.
