Gordon Stanley Bennett
19.08.1932 - 30.07.2004
Gordon Stanley Bennett was born on 19th August 1932 at Birchip to Eva and Ernest Bennett. He was the third child, siblings being Thomas, Matthew and May.
He first attended school at Nullawil South West then transferred to Nullawil West and then during the drought he and May went to live in Melburne and they attended school in South Melbourne. This is where his love of the South Melbourne Football Club started.
Gordon rode his bike to Nullawil South West School, 6 miles there and 6 miles back even in the drought times, through sandy billabongs and corrugation. One of the memories May has of going to school with Gordon was on their way home one day they saw a snake sunning itself in a billabong. Both of them armed themselves with sticks, killed the snake, then decided to show it off to their Mum. They tied its tail with their dinner tin string and hooked it on behind Gordon’s bike. When they got home they showed their prize kill to their mum, who screamed “Go chop its head off”. Little did she realise they had dragged the snake for three miles.
At school, Danny Smith was blamed for putting a blue tongue lizard under the mat so when Miss Lynas unlocked the door, the mat had to be shifted and they all waited for her reaction. Not many people realise this, but it was Gordie and a group of others.
Gordon as a child was afraid of heights, hence, he would pretend to hold the ladder on the windmill, (which was actually very solid) while May went up to prime the windmill to start it. Oriel can remember having to climb up the silo and shut the lid because Dad couldn’t and Ashley wasn’t allowed to (he was the only son!).
Gordon attended Winston Methodist Church and Sunday school regularly, becoming an elder of the church up until his death and was also secretary for a period of time.
He met Anna Jones after being in the same deb set at Nullawil. They married on the 26th March 1960 at Winston. They had five children; Sharee, Oriel, Jacquelene, Ashley and Tamara. Never a prouder Dad was when he walked his daughters down the aisle at Winston, where he and his parents were married.
As a young family, Gordon and Anna took them away on a yearly holiday to various places.
The children can remember their Dad’s statement “I don’t need any sheep dogs I have five kids.”
He later became the grandfather of five grandchildren: Derek, Rachel, Tiana, Nikita and Chloe.
Sport & Dances:
Gordon loved sport. He was a premiership player, president, and life member of the Nullawil football club. Gordon enjoyed his cricket club days with Nullawil. His bowling was first helped by the late George McLean who taught him some of the finer points. May received many bruises from his bowling in the back yard.
Many will remember the cricket grandfinal at Birchip in 1977 when Gordon batted all day to help Nullawil win a premiership, when he should have been at Nola Poyner’s wedding. He played in many premierships including 4 A grade, and 1 B Grade as vice captain. He was A Grade club captain in 66-67 and Club Champion of the cricket club in 1963-64.
In his later sporting life he enjoyed bowls at Birchip and Wycheproof.
Gordon was lucky enough to witness some of the 1956 Olympics at the MCG.
Gordon belonged to the PFA and IOOF groups for a while. He also joined in the younger set and helped ut on concerts in the Nullawil Hall.
Gordon enjoyed driving to various Balls and quite often he and Mac Bartram got up to mischief. Often when they were coming home around 2 or 3 am there would be road repair workers asleep in their caravans. They would stop and annoy the person inside until they work them up and then run for their lives. One time when May stayed in the car, she drove off and left Gordon and Mac running when the worker came out swearing.
Farm Life:
After the death of his father, Matt and Gordon share farmed their cousin Maude’s farm and many other blocks, eventually being able to purchase a block of land between Culgoa and Lalbert (known to the kids as Dumb Farm because it was so far away).
Gordon and the late Ron Hogan brought Lockwood’s together, local identity the late Alan McClelland, stated that he would not bid against two young farmers who were trying to set themselves up. Harry Townrow sold part of his farm to Gordon and Anna when Harry decided to sell up and move to WA and then they sold ‘Dumb Farm’ and Lockwood’s and the farm was one block (no more travelling!).
During the drought Gordon and many local farmers worked on the railways at Lalbert. The weekly pay was handled with great care.
Gordon once tried to burn the Church down! One day, Gordon was driving the orange Holden, Sharee was drining the Fargo Truck in the stubble and the automatic transmission over heated and started a fire in the Church paddock. Harry Townrow was protecting the Church, but being on sacred ground the fire split and went around it.
Gordon, Gordie, Dad, Grandpa – we are sure knowing that the true farmer you were you are happy that you died with your working boots on, and on your much loved farm.