On the road to true love
In the early days of patrolling Brisbane roads on his motorcycle and sidecar, original RACQ patrol officer George Clark discovered more than stranded motorists – he also found the love of his life.
George and fellow mechanic Eddie Henderson were appointed by RACQ on 26 March 1925 to conduct Sunday patrols on Brisbane’s north and south sides, marking the beginning of the roadside assistance service now celebrating its 100th anniversary.
George’s daughter-in-law, Bev Clark, said he operated his business, Geo Clark & Co., at North Quay during the week and patrolled for RACQ on weekends.
“He used to patrol from Petrie to Redcliffe – that was his run,” Bev said.
Before joining RACQ, George had served his country during World War I. He was an aircraft mechanic with the Australian Flying Corps’ No.4 Squadron in France – a role that likely shaped his mechanical expertise and dedication to service.
During one of his RACQ patrols, George’s life took an unexpected turn – not because of a mechanical breakdown, but a romantic breakthrough.
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George Clark's job with RACQ led him to his future wife.
“He used to call in at the Redcliffe police station to find out if anybody needed help, and that’s where he met his future wife,” Bev said.
“Would you believe it, she was Annie Clarke with an ‘e’. She just dropped the ‘e’ off when they got married.”
Annie was friends with the daughter of the Redcliffe police sergeant and was holidaying from her home in Blackbutt when she met George.
They married in 1934 and had two children – a daughter and a son, also named George, who was born in 1937.
Bev married George Jr in 1960, seven years after George Sr died in tragic circumstances at the age of 63.
“He used to repair hydraulic jacks, and one flew out of a vice and hit him in the chest,” Bev said.
“After recovering in hospital, they rang his wife to say he was coming home. He got up to go to the toilet, and apparently a blood clot moved to his heart, and he died.”
A former teacher, Bev turns 87 on 21 September. She lives on Bribie Island and has been an RACQ member since 1976. Her husband George Jr passed away 10 years ago.
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