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Eulogy 27 - The Believer who re-built Clunes

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  A SALUTE TO TIM [1]   Very sad to learn of the passing of Tim Hayes! [2]   Tim was a joy to be with, a leader in needs-based local business, and an inspiration in Community Activism!   His work on behalf of Clunes was prominent in his creation of Coloma Day (linking the gold discoveries at Coloma California with Clunes Victoria) as it re-positioned the tourism possibilities of Clunes. He was a backbone in provisioning and supporting the establishment of the Main Street as a flexible Film Set, and in ensuring the continuing welcome at the Wesley College Student Campus.   Tim with Tess Brady, Graeme Johnstone, and Jane Lesock provided the 4 Pillars and the amazingly solid concrete that created, built, and sustained CLUNES BOOKTOWN - a Community Gift that keeps on giving!   As a Ward Councillor and Mayor, Tim's humour, promotion of diversity, and knowledge of community needs, were torchlights in very difficult times of Hepburn Shire Council. Tim...
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Eulogy 26 - 1892-1918 - A Salute to Bert & Frank Collis

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 "JUST 1 of 5,301 THAT TIME" The Battle of Menin Road Ridge [1] took 5 days from 20 th to 25 th September 1917. Private Albert Edward (Bert) Collis [2] was shot in his legs the first day. They got him out and up to the 3 rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station where he died the next day. Bert was 0ne month shy of his 22 nd birthday. Bert was now a notable number – 1 of 5,301 Allied “ casualties ” in that battle. Bert had been born in the black hills, up near Brighton, Tasmania. All four of his great grandparents had been Convicts. The two generations between had worked hard to make the “Blackbrush Farm” a goer. But Bert was the 6 th of 9 children – too many for the Farm to support. He was also just 19 years when THEY declared World War I – perfect timing to snap up farm labourers in their late teens. Bert followed his 2-years older brother, Frank [3] , into the Infantry. ...
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Snippet 20 - "Third Time Lucky?"

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  1767-1856: “INEVITABLE? OR THIRD TIME UNLUCKY? OR LUCKY IN HINDSIGHT?” Lydia Letitia Munro [1] was born deep in Poverty in London 1767. By an early age, probably less than 6 years, she was “living on the streets”, assisting in petty thefts. Both her parents had died by the time she was 5. By 12 years, she earnt some of her living through street prostitution. By 17 years, she spent some time in the Brothels for young children (then named “lodging houses”), and other time with a gang of young females who shared the earnings from shop-stealing. Lydia was tried for 3 offences in 1787. None of them related to Prostitution as this was not a Transportable offence. But stealing bolts of cotton or lace was! The first 2 cases were dismissed for lack of reliable witnesses. The last (before the same Judge) hit the jackpot and Lydia was given 14 years Transportation. The next 3 years were undoubtedly “living Hells of survival” in the Newgate Prison, the Convict hulks, the 8 months vo...
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Snippet 19 - Thomas (Tom) Frank

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  “ HAVE YOU TIME FOR A CUP OF COFFEE? ” Tom Frank [1] taught me to Fish. Tom Frank taught me to understand the relentless Terror of living under the Nazis and then the Russian Communists. And Tom Frank taught me how to enjoy “ coffee with a friend ”. As often as we could in the late 1980s/early 1990s, Tom and I, accompanied by my Labrador, Sam, would wander down from Tom’s Kew home to the banks of the Yarra River to fish. Well, only one of us fished as Tom was very insistent on my learning the correct way to knot sinkers ‘n hooks, the best way to hold a rod whilst watching the water surface, the best way to hook a fighting fish, and what recipes were to be used for its cooking, and so it went. Sam adored Tom. Tom loved dogs, indeed all living things except Humans. So, Sam would leave my side and rest his head on Tom’s gumboots and listen attentively to all the instructions.   After Tom’s appointed “ sufficient ” t...
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