Brian Joseph Prove

Full Circle of a life lived in Faith

Brian Joseph Prove was born on the 3rd of September 1946 at Janolma Private Hospital Greenslopes to parents Ross and Alma Prove. He was baptised in St.Luke's church Buranda on 28th September 1946. Ross and Alma were living in Buranda with Alma's parents and by the time Dad's sisters arrived the family had moved into their new home at Henderson Street, Camp Hill.

He attended St. Thomas Catholic Primary School at Camp Hill, before moving to St. Laurence's College where he was a drummer in the air training corps band among other pursuits.

He was very skilled at drawing and painting, which guided him into his future career as a draftsman. Upon gaining his Senior certificate, Brian commenced geometrical drawing at QIT Gardens Point and was indentured as a draftsman with a company that designed and manufactured items for the building industry.

Brian's sister Carmel was working at the ANZ bank in Queen & Creek Street where a colleague Noelene (Mum)was introduced to Brian in 1963 and there has been an enormous amount of love, care and adoration between them since.

Brian married Noelene Denise Esplen at St Thomas church Camp Hill on the 2nd of November 1968, and have 5 children - Vanessa, Richard, Luke, Nicholas and Tony.

In early 1984 Brian was working as a draftsman / estimator and project manager, the company closed and he and a trade-qualified business partner saw the opportunity to continue their relationship with clients. Toppshopp & Office Fitters was set up, a shed was built behind the family house at Burbank and through hard work and long hours more clients were established, the home shed was outgrown so a move to Murarrie then to Bulimba in 1990 followed.

Dad was a man of faith and valued this very highly, he has been a parishioner of St. Catherines since 1977. In 1993 Dad became involved with St. Vincent De Paul at St. Catherines, and in 2023 brought up 30 years of service in roles including President, Regional President and Treasurer. Through the parish, Dad also became a volunteer mini-bus driver for The Little Kings Movement at Buranda. The Movement is a Membership of people who commit themselves to working with and enriching the lives of people with disabilities to respond to the joy, hope, and love in their Spiritual and Social lives.

Spiritual travelling trips followed including a Biblical trip through Jerusalem and the Sea of Galilee, plus the walking of the Camino Trail in Spain. He was a very loving and thoughtful person who tried to assist people not as fortunate as himself.

In 1997 Brian became Papa when Mum and Dad welcomed the first of their 15 grandchildren.

Dad had his first major health issue in 2022 when he underwent a double heart bypass and his cancer diagnosis on November 23 was a major shock to all.

After 48 years at Burbank the move was made in June 2024 to a unit overlooking St. Luke's church and bell tower, back to where he was baptised and his funeral held - Full Circle.