This morning I would like to tell you a story about a MAN who you may know as a husband, a father, a family man, a work colleague, a sporting buddy, a fellow community worker, a travelling companion or friend.
Or perhaps; as has been suggested to me several times …. a person who has always been there. Someone who has been part of the fabric of the Communities in which he and his family have lived.
Had our MAN remained in the town of Wentworth where he was born on the 30th September 1936 and if we were assembled at the McLeod oval named in honour of his Grandfather Lachlan … we may have even been referring to him as “OUR DON” because intertwined through his story is Cricket … and sport in general.
But we’re not. Here we are in Gloucester some 79 years later in a community he loved and the man on which this story is based is Don McLeod.
The story unfolds from a boy who was educated at Yanco Agricultural High School and had Parents named Donald & Mavis McLeod and a younger brother Trevor who lived at Curlwaa and had a Citrus block near Wentworth.
Don worked originally with his Mum and Dad on the family Citrus and Grape farm and played as much Cricket and football as he could. He was known to be a competent middle order batsman in the Sunraysia competition. Consistent with most young blokes they find that a man’s life is not complete without a wife; and so Don and Lorraine Married 0n the 27th September 1958.
The date of the wedding was chosen with meticulous care and had great significance … not just because it too; was in September, but it was the only free weekend between the AFL and Cricket.
Once a man finds his love, they need to be financially secure and so Don and Lorraine purchased their own Citrus block nearby, on Murray Road.
For those of you on the land in this period you will remember the fickle citrus pricing of the era and so Don and Lorraine owned the Citrus Block until they sent 2 semi-loads of oranges to the Melbourne Markets and received a bill for freight. That was it … the Block was sold.
Lorraine resumed to teaching.
Overlapping this period in the Mid 60’s Don had also started work in the Public Hospital System at Wentworth; and in fact his father had to give up his position on the Hospital Board to enable his son to work. Don spent the rest of his working life progressing through the Public hospital system.
I went searching on the Internet and found that Don was first President of Meals on Wheels at Wentworth (47 years ago).
Sport is interwoven all through our story as Don loved his Cricket and AFL and was heavily involved in the Wentworth Kangaroos as both a player and in the Administration side.
Don joined Apex and so began an associated career of Community Life.
Apex was heavily involved in many community activities and much of the levee bank construction at Wentworth to control the flooding of the Murray and Darling rivers.
Not all Don’s administration I understand was successful as on one occasion they were moving a Fergie Tractor to an island when the barge ropes broke and the entire project went in the river. Don’s involvement in developing the Indigenous Housing project showed an early link between Service Club and what was to be his vocation. However, Don’s potential was recognised and in the mid 60’s he was made Zone President which covered South Australia and the Northern Territory. This early Community work started Don on a love of travel that he and Lorraine enjoyed all their lives.
Don went to India to see if Apex could be successful there and in 1967 oversaw the establishment of 2 Clubs.
Don remained an Apexian until he gained the obligatory walking stick at 40 and made a life Member.
Now it was not all work and no play for our Don as he and Lorraine had 3 children.
Craig who lives locally with his wife Suzy and their 2 children Lachlan and James,
Leanne who lives in Sydney with her husband David and 2 girls, Lauren and Keryn.
And Karen who has passed away married Stephen.
The story now takes a twist when in 1974 the family took a transfer to Cobar for 4 years where Don worked in administration at the Cobar Hospital. It was during this time that he started his Diploma in Health studies at Bathurst.
Cricket again surfaced in the family with Don being involved in the Administration of Junior Cricket with 10 year old Craig wielding the bat.
In fact his first contact with Gloucester was meeting Brian Middlebrook at Sydney meetings. I find this significant since one of the guys who also knew him in this era was Dave Mann then a young cricket adversary who’s role it was …. to quote Dave …. “to deliver him home safely after liquid refreshments after the game.”
While at Cobar Hospital Don was instrumental in establishing the relationship between Sydney specialists and Cobar by flying them in to consult.
In 1979 Don and Lorraine relocated the family to Gloucester where he took up the position as CEO of Gloucester Hospital and Lorraine a teacher at Gloucester Public.
Having spent all his life in the dry west Craig was amazed at Gloucester and asked his father … “Does it rain here every day”
Don continued his studies at Bathurst as a mature age student.
Don was instrumental in the establishment of what we know today as Community Health. He saw the acquisition of Physio and Occupational Therapists and the transition from the wards-man performing X-rays to having a radio-therapist.
Many of the changes that we today take for granted at our hospital were transitioned through Don’s time at the helm. Don presided through the advancements from typewriters to computers and book entry payroll to financial management systems.
A lasting testimony to his work was in the construction of Kimbarra Lodge.
Don finished his career in Public Health in 1994 at a difficult time when administrators were deemed as needing a medical background.
As Viv. Webeck put it …
“Don was uncomfortable with retirement and used his many skills to be involved in community work as a replacement.”
Don was never far away from sport or Community involvement.
Country week Golf was legendary with many of you listening in now. Make sure you have a look through the many photographs that will be out at the Country Club after the service.
Don was the inaugural winner of the “Dero” award for being the largest “Dero” for the week at Country week.
No one will admit to the rules of selection.
To me it sounds very much like …. “what happens on the ride … stays on the ride..”
His love of sport led Don to be President of the Golf Club 1980- 1988 and made a Life Member. Fred Meyers was telling me yesterday how he and Don shared many hours behind the bar serving and counting the “Pokie” money. Don was a regular volunteer in the Pro shop.
Right up until a few weeks ago Don and Lorraine were part of the Friday night dinner attendees with a full table of friends at the Country Club.
In fact some years ago they were known as the “Slice Set” …. no not because of his Golf Swing , but as the group of friends who used to kick on after the meal with different slices over a Port at friends homes.
One of Don’s Golfing Mates called him a Handy golfer with a handicap in the 14-15’s. Mind you Craig says that …”his handicap was in fact his Golf Stick … because he swung it like an axe”.
Don is remembered as having lead the Golf Club at the time it needed strong leadership and financial stability. Don was respected as a leader by his fellow golfers.
Many personal stories will be shared later today as you look through the photos.
Don’s office at home is testimony to his varied Community Interests.
He was involved with the establishment of the Gloucester Triathlon with Terry Hayes … and Don was there as Secretary of the Shakespeare festival….. and Secretary/ Treasurer of the School of arts working with Warren Goodrich to establish the Art Gallery
But it does not stop there. Don had a stint as Chair of the Economic development Committee of Council in 2009.
I’m tired just recounting this story … however the chapters roll on in Don’s “Life story”
Don Joined Rotary on the 1st July 1990.
He was Club President 1993-1994
Again in the half year 2007
Again in 2009-2010
Club Treasurer 2010-2011
Club Secretary 2014-2015
and his final term … Don is the current Secretary and officiated at our meeting last month.
At District Level … the scoreboard is blurred …. Don joined the Rotary and World Community Service District Committee (RAWCS) as Secretary in 2005; and to quote one of his current team mates …
“Don McLeod was one of nature’s gentlemen and a RAWCS stalwart.
To new members of the committee he was a mentor, an encourager, gracious, patient and approachable.”
Don was District Secretary in 2007-2008
and my Conference Treasurer in 2012-13
When it came to Rotary … Don was not far from the action.
The sequel to this story is that I really think Don missed his vocation in life … he should have been a travel agent … or at least had shares in one. He and Lorraine have been to USA, Canada, India Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong. Visited many of the Old Eastern Bloc countries and Scandinavia and with “Golden Oldies” New Zealand South Africa and the UK. The one thing missing was his dream of a family “White Christmas”.
He and Lorraine have shared holidays with Terry and Jill Carson and Geoff and Lynne Slack to various parts of the Globe. Don loved to plan the trips and would go right down to knowing the train timetable from Istanbul to some isolated place in Croatia.
Don and Lorraine loved the New Years day test in Sydney.
Craig says that Don could not wait to get him to a Test so they could enjoy a beer at the bar. One of the Proudest photos you will see is of Don taking his two grandsons to the SCG Test.
This chapter of our story firmly places Don as a family man.
The family had tried caravanning but after Don and Lorraine took the kids from Cobar to Qld. via Emerald in January with no air-conditioning that was it … Van sold!
The subsequent vacations to the Test Cricket in Adelaide and Sydney and the extended family Easter Gatherings at caravan parks from the North to the South Coast have remained. 7 days of Tents, Tarps and Tarpaulins where rain was always a challenge. Craig recons Don “loved fishing but could not tie a knot and had no idea .. but loved a cold beer.”
Leanne and Craig were the partners of many Easter talks. Where to quote them .. “Dad could be quite volatile .. especially after a few reds.” They both remember being on the verge of getting kicked out of a VAN PARK after a heated discussion on Joh Bjelke–Petersen.
Don loved to offer his advice … but then would not interfere.
The final Chapter should centre on Don the Man.
Don used the word “Yeah” … and it was the way he pronounced it that made the difference … sometimes it was with enthusiasm and other times it was more … well it could be done that way … but I wouldn’t.
He could spit it … he was fiery when you roused him … would wait his time in a meeting ….. you could sometimes watch … waiting for the eruption.
“Well did we make a decision … or not”
“I would just like to remind you that we did not decide to do it that way”.
“We have all ready made that decision … now let’s move on”
Some of the lines I have heard on many occasions
Don’s morning walks were landmarked in Barrington … you could set your watch on them and everyone waved as he did his Morning exercise.
Don had a unique way of answering the phone
“Hel.. lo”.. He kind of held the “lo” with an up-ward inflexion.
To me he was …. “Sir Donald” … I’ve no idea how or when I started using it … but it somehow seemed to fit.
Don was always in his office … always friendly … always there.
As Viv said to me the other day … “Don was a Friend when she needed one.”
and Roberta … “Don’s always been one of those guys that’s always been around”
It has been interesting to find out all the details of Don … because He was usually the “go to guy” that we all went to find out the information on others.
It is the involvement and friendship we have all had with Don that we remember.
To each of us that is unique.
We will all miss his Wealth of specialised meeting knowledge.
Meticulous Meeting minutes
and Yes … his characteristic … licking of the lips as he spoke…
Yes Don McLeod … we will miss you …
Yes you have left some mighty big holes to fill in our Community …
Yes …. your family will miss your devoted guidance and love.
And Yes, over the coming months and years we will see your name as signatory on many of the varied projects you worked on ….
But … “Sir Donald” as we say our individual “Goodbyes” today we reflect on the legacy of memories you leave with us..
Friends … and Don’s Family …
I leave you with a final thought..
“The way that we will be remembered in life … is the degree to which we have contributed to the lives of others”.
Today we say thank-you for the contribution Don made to our lives and the lives of so many others.
Farewell my friend.
Eulogy for Don McLeod:
30/9/1936 – 29/4/2016
Gloucester NSW
Written by Brian Beesley