euskalkultura.eus

07/04/2020 - Canberra, Australia

August 19, 1939 - July 4, 2020

Longtime member of the Gure Txoko Basque Club in Sydney.

Jose Antonio Gandarias passed away on Saturday 4 July in a Canberra Hospital at the age of 80. He had a car accident on 1/06/2020. He fought incredibly hard to recover however he is now at peace.

Father and father-in-law of Rosamari, Candy and Graeme, adored Poppy of Nelson, Macayla and Sam.

José Antonio Gandarias Gorroño was born on the 19.08.1939 in Mendata, Bizkaia. He was one of 8 children. He reluctantly left school at the age of 14 to work on a property away from his family. He then started his carpenters apprenticeship in Gernika. He was conscripted to serve in the army which was a hard time for Dad. He was always hungry. He told us that he would sneak into the chook pen each morning and steel 2 eggs and eat them raw. 

In 1963, he came to Australia. A friend (Fabian Aranaz) was already working in Australia and he encouraged Dad to do the same. He came here with the intention of making money and returning to his home country. He travelled by boat to Australia which took 33 days. This was a wonderful experience – a party every night. 

On arrival in Australia, he couldn’t speak English and only had a suitcase of belongings. He was brave and independent, traits that he would portray all of his life. He travelled to Roma and Texas in Queensland to cut sugar cane before working in Mudgee, Kiah and the Kangaroo Valley. He worked on many iconic buildings including the Sydney Opera House, Canberra High Court and Parliament House. He also spent a number of years working on the Snowy Mountain Scheme.

In 1977 he was living and working in Canberra. This is where he married Joan Curtis and they had 2 children - Rosamari and Candida. José and Joan purchased the farm in the Tinderry in 1978. It became Dads ambition to improve the farm and make it viable. This is where Christmas, Easter and long weekends were spent with close family and friends. Dad cherished his family and adored his 3 grandchildren, Nelson, Macayla and Sam. 

We are so proud of him for having the courage to come to Australia. Leaving a beautiful and loving family behind in the Basque Country. He made Australia his home and he loved it. He was brave and independent, ambitious, resourceful, hard working and had an amazing work ethic. He would fiercely defend his family – we were his world. 

The funeral service for Jose Antonio will be held on July 10 at the Norwood Park Crematorium (Sandford Street, Mitchell) at 10:00 a.m.

Gure Txokoko zure lagunek gogoan zaitugu. 

Goian Bego (GB). Rest in Peace (RIP).