Welcome.

It was a sunny day, with the temperature at 19°C, when I stepped out of the car, leaving my jacket where it was.

I looked up and down St George’s Rd, suddenly remembering it as Skene St.

I was allowed to walk home from school because I’d turned seven and always walked on the east side because the footpath was better, and several members of my father’s family, including my grandparents, lived along there — between Benalla Rd and Hayes St (which was the end of Shepparton and my known world).

Coming back to 2025, I knocked on a door and Len Clarke opened it.

When we had settled into our chairs in his lounge room, I told him about my memories from long ago.

Len is 95 years old, and he told me he had built his home, with the help of family, 70 years ago and had lived in it ever since.

His much-loved wife had passed away 16 years ago.

Len’s faith is important to him, and he has been associated with the Church of Christ since he lived with his parents at 24 Maude St.

He used to walk to Balaclava Rd to a dairy farm to get milk and cream.

(Balaclava Rd was the other end of Shepparton and his known world.)

Len told me that he left school at 13½ years — with a special exemption, because he was supposed to stay until 14.

He went to work at Riordan’s Shoe Shop, doing deliveries and, important to him, boot repairs.

He then went to Williams the Shoemaker for a short time, and we both wondered where the little man and his hammer had gone to.

His next job was at Fairleys, in the furniture department, where he drove a truck for deliveries.

He mentioned some of the people he remembered, including Max Gaylard, Jack Porter (Jack’s daughter still lives in Shepparton) and my father.

Then he said, “And his little girl — what was her name?” I said, “Me, Len, that was me.”

He then told me about his friendship with my father.

“I helped him build the house in Hayes St,” he said.

Apparently, in the winters, they would go chop trees and stock up on firewood, using the truck Len had access to, and “very definitely” with the permission of the landowner.

He worked at STY for a while (this he’d neglected to tell me) and was also very friendly with my Uncle Bill, who was a builder.

We talked about building a home back in the day, when it was common and sensible to build the garage first and make it liveable.

Families lived in the garage while the house was built.

He did this in Skene St, and my dad did it in Hayes St.

Then, following his many jobs, Len drove the mobile library around the district for the next 30 years.

He loved this work.

When he started at the library, he noticed a young woman who worked at Trainer and McBride’s newsagency (now Lovells).

Her name was Beverley; they married and lived happily together for 57 years.

They had two daughters and three sons, one of whom died at six weeks of age.

One of the daughters, Lisa, remains in Shepparton, and there are three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren living locally.

Len has come to terms with the past, the present and the future; as a result, he is without regret and without fear.

Listening to him was an absolute joy for me, and I am wiser for the experience.

(I think he might have enjoyed it too!)

Take care, and may it be easy, my friends.

Marnie

Email: towntalk@sheppnews.com.au

Phone: Text or call 0409 317187

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Wednesday, 31st May 2023

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