Don O’Bryan farewelled

The eulogy was delivered by daughter Louise Cross which included the following: “Donald Barry O’Bryan was born on the 27th February 1937 in Yarrawonga Hospital to the very lucky Alan and Doris O’Bryan.

“He was the second of five children who all grew up on the Savernake Station where his parents worked for the Sloane Family. His parents couldn’t decide on a name for him so the nurses named him Donald after Don Bradman because on the day he was born the famous cricketer made 169 runs in 223 minutes in his fifth test ensuring the win for Australia in the Ashes.

“Dad had a happy childhood in the country. He enjoyed going to school. His schooling commenced at Wonbera school and once this closed he moved on to complete his education at Savernake School which he left at age 15.

“He worked for a time on the farm and then moved into Yarrawonga to commence employment with George Armitage as a Carpet layer. During the time before the rest of his family moved to Yarrawonga, Dad boarded for several years with ‘Auntie’ Beryl who treated him like one of her own.

“After working for many years for Armitages, which then became Magg’s Furniture, Dad decided to go out on his own and started his own carpet laying business. Initially he ran this business from home, but at the business grew he moved to a shop in Orr St and then later to Belmore St. He ran this very successfully for many years until ill health forced him into early retirement.

“Retirement didn’t last long for Dad and he started a new job at Yarrawonga Housing. After a few years he decided to venture out on his own again and started his blind and awnings business, finally retiring at the age of 62.

“In his younger years Dad was quite good at sport and played tennis for Roseneath and football for Rennie and Mulwala, at one stage winning a best and fairest for Rennie.

“Once the family got older, he returned to sport. This time it was lawn bowls where he played for Yarrawonga socially and in their pennant team.

“Dad met the love of his life Elva in the early 60s. They married on the 5th June 1965 in St Cuthberts and were married for nearly 58 years. They rarely spent a day apart. One of their friends actually referred to them as a ‘hand and a glove’.

“Once retired dad developed a passion for woodwork and spent a lot of time in his shed. Having five women in his life may also have contributed to his ‘shed time’. Over the years all the grand kids were recipients of rocking chairs and horses, while the rest of us have bedside tables, beds, and restored furniture to remember him fondly by.

“Volunteer work formed a big part of his life, both while working and in retirement. He was a eucharistic assistant in this very church for decades getting up for 7am service every Sunday while the rest of us slept in. He helped out with the Church of England Boys Society, Meals On Wheels, St Andrews as a Treasurer and Op Shop worker.

“To all his friends, Don was a true gentleman, a hard-working, genuine bloke, but to those of us sitting in the front rows, he was an adored and much loved husband, father and pop who will be sorely missed.”

Don’s 10 grandchildren gave short heartfelt comments about their adored and appreciated Pop.

During the photo tribute, the song ‘Through The Years’ by Kenny Rogers was played, in obvious loving reference to his wife Alva, grown up children and 10 grandchildren.