Pilbara's oldest resident, Jack Renault has just passed away aged 105

Joanne Pritchard speaks to Ngaarda Media

Ngaarda: I'm talking to Pilbara personality Joanne Pritchard about the late and recently departed Jack Renault.

He had an amazing life and he lived in in Karratha for about 54 years.

He was contracted as a painter for Hammersley Iron and took over a friend's parts shop and called it A1 Autos. Now the amount of time he spent in Karratha is about the amount of time Karratha's been here.

JP: I think he was there when they put the first peg in for the town.

He was originally from New York and he married an Australian lady.

He was a US Army veteran and he traveled the world and he spent a lot of time in Japan. I think his wife was a diplomat in Japan and he spent many years there. So he had a really interesting life and he's

traveled the world and he was well read and he was very worldly.

He loved a good challenge. He always had the fire in the belly. He always liked to challenge the local Council and it go to the meetings and it, you know, get up and do a deputation on a particular subject

He was like your grandfather. You could always go and chat with him about different things. Like you go into the shop and say: "what do you think about this" or "oh gee what's going on

over there" and he'd always know and he put his little piece in there and just give you little tips of all you need to do that.

He was just an amazing man.

Ngaarda: And from what you're saying a bit of an activist. Can you think of any of the issues that you brought up that actually had a result?

JP: "Oh, he just used to go on about people spending money in Karratha and the way that the town would go up and down.

He'd say "beware of buying housing". Of course Karratha always goes up and down in slumps.

So he was really worldly.

"He always loved diving and reading and he loved fishing and he loved the bush.

I think one of his memorable traits easy was always independence. He didn't want people fussing over him. He wanted to do it his way very much.

He was amazing and he was well liked by the people from Roebourne to Karratha, Dampier. He was well known all over the Pilbara.

Ngaara: We've been talking to estwhile City of Karratha Councillor Joanne Richard about the lake Jack Renault. He's just

passed away at the age of 105.