Written circa 12 August 1998.

" In looking back over Wilf Keenan's life the thing that stands out is that it can be split into two distinct and almost equal eras.  In the first half of his life he grew up, worked, married and started a family in New South Wales, mostly in the townships of Batlow and Young.  Then, at the age of 43, he brought his family to Shepparton and began what was, in many ways, a new life.

Wilf was born in 1910 in Batlow, a small town in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales.  His father, James, was a goldminer, shearer and farm labourer.  His mother, Florence Skien, was the ninth child of dairy farmers.

The Skien’s were of Scottish descent.  Wilf once told me he felt more like a Skien than a Keenan; more like a Scot than an Irishman.  Perhaps he was, because when it came to issues involving money, those of us who knew him can certainly testify to his frugal nature.

Wilf’s grandfather and grandmother, on the Keenan side, were immigrants from County Derry, in Northern Ireland.  They came to Australia as newly weds in 1864.  James Keenan, Wilf’s father, was their first child.

Wilf had two brothers - Fred and Hector - and three sisters - Grace (who died in childhood), Edna and Muriel. All have passed away, the most recent being Muriel, who died almost two years ago to the day.

Wilf suffered severley from asthma from birth. So, at the age of about 8, he was sent to the milder climate of Wagga, to live with an uncle Skien.  He left school at 13 and his first job was at his uncle’s barber shop in Wagga. 

A few years later Dad returned to Batlow and started work at the main fruit packing shed, which opened in 1923.  For the next 10 or so years he worked as a fruit packer at Batlow, Young, Leeton and in other parts of New South Wales, as well as in Queensland and Tasmania.  He gained a reputation as one of the best and fastest fruit packers in Australia.  I'm told that he still (in 1998) holds the record in Batlow for the most fruit packed in one day.

During the war years, Wilf became foreman at the Batlow Packing House and guided it through a very difficult period.  Locals have told me that without his efforts the Packing House would not have survived. 

But for the boys who stayed at home, the war years weren’t all bad.  A lot of the workers at the Packing House were young Land Army Girls, down from Sydney to lend a hand.  So being one of the few, fit, young men left home certainly had its advantages.

After a number of romances, Wilf met, courted and, in 1944, married a lovely, dark-haired beauty from Young, by the name of Venda Nolan.

Wilf and Venda had three children, Barbara, Geoffrey and Peter.  Today, Barbara is married to Rowland Crosby, Geoff is married to Rosemary O’Brien, and Peter is married to Margaret Andrews of Melbourne.  Between us we have blessed Wilf and Venda with 13 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.  (Sadly, Venda passed away 6 years ago.)

Back in 1953, after the death of both of Wilf’s parents and the death of Venda’s mother, the family moved from Young and ended the search for work in Shepparton, Victoria.  In the years that followed Wilf often said that moving to Shepparton was the best thing he’d ever done.

His move to Shepparton was the start of many changes.

He changed his football code from Rugby to Aussie Rules, and quickly became one of its greatest fans.  Whenever he met up with his New South Wales relatives he would praise the game to the hilt, like a true-blue Victorian.  Most Saturday afternoons he would be at the local footy barracking loudly with the best of them.

Wilf also changed his other religion too, that is the one involving God.  Although he had been baptised a Presbyterian, he was, at the age of 52, confirmed in the Church of England at St Augustines.  Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, this change did not alter his attitude to alcohol, and he remained a near teetotaller.

Another change Wilf made (out of necessity) was in his regular occupation, from fruit packer to builders labourer, and, soon after, to carpenter.  However, the fruit game was in his blood, as well as an accessible source of the extra income needed. So for many years he worked over the summer holidays and on weekends packing fruit at various orchards.  As a carpenter he worked on many sites in and around Shepparton, including the Shepparton Post Office and the Gowrie Street School.  He also built a large extension (bedroom) on the family home at 6 Regent Street.

However, one thing that didn’t change with the move to Shepparton was Wilf’s character.

Everybody who knew Wilf would have many special memories of him. The ones that remain with me are of a man who was strong, passionate, affectionate and hard-working.  Despite suffering from asthma all his life - including a long period when there was no effective treatment for it- he seemed to thrive on heat and hard work.  And, until very recently, he seemed to be 10 or 20 years younger than he actually was.

Barbara and Geoffrey have memories similar to mine.  Wilf had firm views on life, morals, politics and sport. And although we did not always agree, we admired his basic values.  A good, enjoyable life to Wilf was having a sturdy roof over our heads, plenty of healthy food, good friends and neighbours, and working hard.

When we were gathered together for a celebration and a few beers, Wilf would often say to us, “what’s wrong with water”, or “you can’t still be thirsty”.

At home Wilf had a huge vegetable garden of which he was very proud.  He and Venda took great pleasure in providing family and neighbours with his home grown produce.