He had older siblings Edmun, Theodore and Rena. 

Norman, the youngest, was born after the family immigrated in 1928.

They left everything they knew and risked all to find the children a better life, away from the hardship of the northern coalmines. 

The family lived in Birchgrove and Balmain through the Depression years when work, income and basic necessities for a large family were not always available.

Young Denys roamed widely around Sydney, sneaking onto ferries, going out on log-hauling boats, watching timber ships being stripped and burnt in the harbour, joining the Naval Cadets, riding trams with his grandmother and making tin canoes and billy carts with his brothers. 

In 1937, his father took over Bayliss’ electrical business in Bathurst, and a long association with Bathurst began.

Denys and Theo did apprenticeships with their father. Later, Denys started an electrical contractor  business with his brother Norm, providing residential and commercial electrical services until he retired. 

Denys’ son, three nephews and other young Bathurst men all came under his strict guidance through their electrical apprenticeships.

This long service gave him a detailed knowledge of many of Bathurst's buildings, businesses and institutions. 

With his formidable memory and his interest in Bathurst, he was an endless source of history for the family and others who might have a question.

Did you know that there was once an upstairs viewing gallery in the Webb's building so that ladies might sit in comfort while viewing outfits being modelled on the ground floor? 

Did you know that Bathurst children with lung conditions were taken, as a treatment, to the gas works to play in the cinders and ammonia, when these were raked from the gas furnaces?

Did you know that those six holes in the structure in front of Mitre 10 in Bentinck Street were there to carry the town’s water supply pipes?

All facts from Denys; mine of local knowledge.

Denys’ interests ranged wider than work, though, and his mechanical abilities with motor bikes, cars and go-karts supported his brother Norm's speedway experiences, his own joy of bike riding, go-karting and of course his children's adventures with cars and bikes.

He had the mind of an engineer, a full commitment to problem solving and a mechanic’s knowledge of methods and materials. His rewards came from identifying a solution that was effective, neat and durable.

Denys was a superlative tradesman who was held in high regard by those in the trades and customers. 

This enjoyment of challenges was with him until his last few weeks, as the management of St Catherine's Aged Care may attest – as a resident, he was advising them on the air-conditioning problems at the new Gormans Hill facility from day one. It was his nature to not let go of a problem (nor let anyone else let go) until it was fixed.

During World War Two, Denys worked at the Bathurst munitions factory and, with his father, was rostered to watch for enemy planes in the watchtower that was once on the corner of Church and William streets. 

At the factory, he met the one and only love of his life, June Smith, and they were married in January 1946, beginning an enduring, loving relationship of over 68 years.

They raised four children, Kay, Sandra, Robin and Peter.

After they retired, travel beckoned and they joined the grey nomads around Australia and also travelled overseas. They had a simple but contented final part of their life together until June passed in 2014.

Denys then moved to St Catherine's Aged Care. 

His last three years were in a caring and supportive environment, surrounded by excellent staff who respected him and his significance as a community member.

At the beginning of November 2017, his lifetime of work in all types of buildings caught up with him and he was diagnosed with mesothelioma from exposure to asbestos fibres. 

Denys passed away on December 8, 2017, leaving a bereaved family proud of his achievements.