JOHN & SYLVIA NEWMAN - LIFELONG FRIENDS. (BY TONY & NOREEN PANOS)
I first met John Newman on 22nd February 1985 when I was appointed to Chatswood Branch as an Assistant Manager & John was the Manager.
I had joined the Old CBC in 1962 in London Office as a Junior & in 3 years worked my way up from No 80 in the Branch to No 75 & was in charge of the General Ledger. Because of its size London Office was in effect classed as a State Office.
This was the last time I was in General Banking for many years as I & my family emigrated to Australia & I was appointed to the Overseas Department at Head Office. Over the next 18 years I progressed to various Managerial Levels as an International Manager – the First to be a CBC Manager IN NAB State Office.
In August 1983 someone in the then NAB decided to remove me from International Banking & toss me into the General banking field. Not my choice. From that month until February1985 I was tossed hither & thither in retraining etc & relieving duties until I finally ended up in John Newman’s lap.
Initially John was not overly impressed as I was still in the novice stage, but John being John he rolled his sleeves up, took me under his wing & became my Mentor. Thank God he did.
His actions stopped me from resigning & were the start of a bonding that led to a lifelong friendship, not only with John, but also his Wife Sylvia & their Children.
John & Sylvia welcomed us into their family & we have been strong friends ever since & continue to do so.
After John’s accident in which he nearly died & his subsequent retirement, we have still kept firm our friendship, even when I also left the Bank in 1995.
Despite the passing of a “Great Friend & Mentor” my Wife Noreen & I will never forget him & will continue with our long standing friendship with Sylvia & her family.
John is & will always be sorely missed by Noreen & I, but will be forever remembered. Now we chuckle over old times & events & John is predominantly in our thoughts.
He was one of the “CBC Gentlemen Bankers.”