Donald Graeme McGREGOR's memory board

Dad was born in the Quambatook bush Nursing Hospital, the 4th son of Laura & Charles McGregor. He grew up on the farm at Lalbert East, going to school on a horse & gig. As a teenager dad helped around the farm, at 1 point driving a tractor over an old bridge which collapsed under him. Dad rode the tractor into the water and was rescued by his older brother Bill. When dad was 17 he was sent to Essendon for further schooling. Luckily for him he had to have his appendix removed and was sent home, never to return. Dad was a country boy at heart. Very shortly after at a local dance dad met the love of his life Anne Billing. They began courting, with dad making regular visits to take mum out for drives in the Fliver. Aunty Gwen and uncle Bruce could always be relied on to be waiting on the tray of the Fliver to ride along with them. Dad had a very generous nature taking chocolates around not just for mum,but for Aunty Gwen as well. Not many people would be aware,but dad was quite the romantic, writing mum many love letters, expressing his undying love. Mum & dad married and moved onto a dairy farm in Gunbower where Dahle then Deirdre were born. The night Deirdre was born there was a big storm and the hospital lost power. 5 babies were born that night, and in the rush dad wasn't informed he had a new baby daughter. 3 days later mum was slightly upset(probably a lot,truth be told) that dad still hadn't been in to visit. It just didn't occur to dad to just ring the hospital and ask what was happening. The next phase of life was the big move to Lalbert having purchased the local garage. Dad built the garage into a very successful business over the next 30 years,training 7 apprentices including his son Dahle. Dad also taught most of us who worked in the shop how to swear quite well too. Dad worked hard educating himself further, at 1 time spending 2 weeks away in Melbourne training,leaving mum home with a new born & 2 toddlers. As well as completing other courses in all things mechanical. Dad was very involved in the local community,playing football,later becoming club secretary for many years. He served on the cemetery trust,church elder,the progress association, the local Lalbert Mechanics Institute, parents committee at the local primary school, captain of the fire brigade and was the local Justice of the Peace. I think the only thing he didn't do was play golf,cricket and drink at the local pub. During his time at the garage,dad purchased a block of land in town,then built a new modern premises himself. Dad really could turn his hand at building anything he set his mind to. He built mum a washing machine, a little motorbike for Dahle(which dad jumped on & rode first, making Dahle cry), go-carts, truck bulk bins before moving on to tractor conversions, which involved rebuilding 2 tractors into 1 doubling the horsepower. (Some years ago I met a farmer on the Mornington peninsula who on discovering who my father was, rushed away to return with a photo of a tractor conversion, very excited to have met a relative of Don McGregor). Dad built a special exercise bike for Deirdre. In later years dad converted a hand powered paper roller into an automatic plastic wrap for the papers, still in use today at the newsagency. As a family some of our most treasured times would be 3 weeks at Rosebud by the beach. Certainly it was the only time dad ever had clean hands. Christmas was also a wonderful time,going to Gunbower to Aunty Gwen uncle Sar and the boys where we all had a fantastic time. Naturally we took all members of the family including Jinx the dog and Zac the horse. (Dad built a horse float to transport him, & even taught himself to clip the horses hooves.) The most heartbreaking thing dad ever endured was Deirdres car accident,leaving her paralysed and wheelchair bound in 1978. Never a day went by that dad wasn't thinking about ways to make life easier for Deirdre. When the boys were born dad built a special baby change table that attached to Deirdres wheelchair, as well as steps the boys could crawl up onto so she could change & dress them on the change table. Mum & dad spent much of their precious holiday time with Deirdre doing any & everything that was required in & around Deirdres home. In his 70's dad was still climbing on the roof doing running repairs. Dad also converted Deirdres car,enabling her to drive. I know dad would have spent his last cent to see his darling daughter walk again. The only time his dementia was a blessing, Deirdre being diagnosed & subsequently dying of cancer. In 1987 it was time for a new direction. Leeton and a newsagency. As usual dad rose to the challenge,with mum & Dahle by his side. Dad joined Rotary, working hard in the community, but staying in the background. He was give the Paul Harris Fellowship, 1 of the highest awards given to a Rotarian. The rotary adage was "Pride of Workmanship, Do it once Do it well". Certainly dad embodied this. He was very humbled to be presented with the award, but asked mum to speak on his behalf, as public speaking was something he disliked intensely. Dad was on the committee of Manegment , & handyman at St Andrews church, as well as giving very practical advice to the church. Dad took great pride in his home & workshop. Everything was always spotless,including the car. On 1 particular occasion he took the car down to the automatic car wash. The lady running the car wash wondered why, when it finished, he didn't drive away. Upon checking the car dad was found sound asleep at the wheel. Dad was a much loved husband and best friend to mum. I don't believe mum could have asked for a better man than dad. Dad would have given mum the world. They shared a wonderful love. Dad did try mum at times though. Some years ago they were coming to stay with us in Melbourne & left home, got to Jerilderie, only to discover dad forgot his wallet. The only thing he had to pack! Worse still, mum didn't have a card or money either, so they turned around & drove all the way back to Leeton.. You can guess how that trip to Melbourne was... A chill in the air for sure. But like everything they got over it. Dad was much loved by Dahle Deirdre & myself. He spoilt us rotten. We wanted for nothing. I remember as a teenager begging dad for a horse, which naturally I received. Then a few years later I wanted a German Shepherd. Mum said no. Then 1 night mum received a phone call from a lady telling her the pup would be arriving on the train in Swan Hill the next day. Needless to say dad was well & truly in the doghouse for that. Dad would do running repairs on our laneway fence every time Deirdre ran her old Indian motor bike into the fence, before mum found out. It was quite easy to get dad to agree to something we wanted to do,just by telling him mum said yes, which she very rarely did. I'm sure they eventually woke up to that. My own family used to go away with mum & dad for holidays. I remember 1 occasion up in Echuca, in the very early days of brick sized mobile phones, because dad loved gadgets, we left dad home with Hamish while mum Rob & I went shopping. When we returned home we discovered Hamish on the phone trying to make a call, while his grandfather was sound asleep. Another occasion, at our home dad was working in the shed with a circular saw, & could see no reason to turn it off & unplug it, that is until 2 yr old Callum came along & turned the whole thing on. Lucky for dad no harm done. On another occasion dad came home from work complaining about a shocking pair of undies & how tight they were. He dropped his trousers to show mum, only for mum to realise he had 1 of the legs around his waist threatening to cut off circulation. All in all dad was a man who worked hard in life and business, but more importantly blessing us in so many ways as a much loved husband, father and grandfather. Thanks to all who have come along to celebrate dads life with our family. He would be humbled. And a special mention, thank you to Judith Pam and the team at Alf Herman Lodge for taking such wonderful care of dad especially in his final weeks and days. We truly do commend the dedication and compassion you showed, not just to dad, but the family as well. Mum would love you all to come back, after the internment, to have a cup of tea, something to eat and reminisce about dad at the church hall.