Andy Wallace was raised in the Scottish region made famous by Paul McCartney’s song Mull of Kintyre and arrived in Australia at 16 after tragedy changed the course of his family's life.

"My dad was a milkman," he said.

"Later he bought a 75-acre farm, which was considered quite big over there."

Just 18 months later, his father died, leaving Andy's mother to raise four children alone.

"We had an uncle on Singapore Rd (in Cobram) and he sponsored us," Andy said.

Looking back, he believes his mother saw Australia as offering greater opportunities for her children.

Andy found this to be true and knew very early on he wasn't going back.

The family travelled aboard the troop ship Monarch of Bermuda in 1956, a journey he still remembers fondly.

"It was a fantastic trip, a big adventure,“ he said.

The sunshine was a novelty after the Scottish cold.

A group of boys decided to sunbake on deck.

"I was lucky. I woke up hot and moved into the shade,“ he said.

“The others ended up in hospital."

He vividly remembers police with guns boarding the ship at Port Said in Egypt, as it passed through the Suez Canal, a confronting sight for a young teenager.

Like many migrants of the era, the family arrived with vague perceptions of Australia.

"We honestly thought there would be kangaroos and koalas everywhere," he said with a smile.

His first job was on his uncle's dairy farm. In a very wet season.

After milking, he took the cows grazing along Singapore Rd, onto the highway to Yarroweyah, all on his pushbike.

"It was easier then because there wasn't much traffic,“ he said.

His uncle's soldier settlement home was crowded, so Andy and his brother slept in the machinery shed, which had its challenges.

"You had to be careful if you left an apple for later, the possums and rats would get it," he said.

"Dairy and cropping were good back then, but most farms were around 100 acres, and the water situation was easier.“

In life, only one regret lingers.

"I really liked school and did well, but I was told, 'you don't need certificates in Australia,' so I left,“ he said.

Had life taken a different turn, he would have liked to have become a vet. Still, he smiles.

"I’m lucky, and I'm not complaining,“ he said.

After six months on the farm, Andy moved through a series of jobs, including Adam's General Store, where IGA now stands, and a produce store which stood in the current car park.

Indoor work wasn't for him, so he returned to dairying with ‘a wonderful boss’, Bill Hatty.

“I liked making things,” he said.

So AEM engineering was a good fit. He stayed 13 years.

Work was plentiful in those days, and like many others, he earned extra money fruit picking and carting hay after hours.

"I got to know a bloke called Sam Bedini, and we started building dairies," he said.

That continued for the next 40 years.

Many of the dairies they built are still standing today, although most are unused now.

"Dairies are now big rotaries, and you need to milk 400-plus cows to be viable,“ he said.

An invitation to build dairies in the Philippines was considered, but with reports of bandits and cobra snakes, they decided to stay put.

Closer to home, Andy had his first snake initiation when he ‘foolishly’ volunteered to tackle a five-foot brown snake in a shed.

"To my horror, it came straight at me," he said.

It escaped his shovel but was caught outside.

Andy also enjoyed the dances and balls that were once a big part of country life.

One lasting friendship was with Kevin Bourke, who was establishing Bourke Hire.

He enlisted Andy’s help setting up marquees at cattle sales in Walwa.

"I think Kevin knew I had a ute and trailer," he said.

He immersed himself in community life, making wonderful friends through badminton, tennis and golf.

Badminton was his favourite, first played during National Service after he was balloted, and later through the Uniting Church when the team enjoyed considerable success, winning seven premierships in 12 years.

He often rode his horse to tennis matches.

"The hardest part was catching the horse," he said.

"I could have ridden my pushbike, but everyone loved seeing me arrive on horseback."

He enjoyed playing at club halls across the district and still fondly remembers Marg Watson's sponge cakes.

“One hall had a big fire, a little kitchen, and it was fantastic,” he said.

Some of the old halls were showing their age.

"One was so old you could almost hear the white ants chewing," he said with a smile.

"Tennis was good, but golf is the most frustrating game”

But he still plays.

He first met his wife Margaret at a party. During a storm, he offered to help tip water from a sagging marquee.

"Guess who was underneath it," he said.

Andy still remembers Margaret's blue dress and that she was soaking wet.

Fortunately, she forgave him. The couple have shared 61 years together, raising three children and seven grandchildren, of whom they are amazingly proud.

After major changes in the dairy industry a decade ago, Andy reluctantly retired.

His is one of many migrant stories that helped shape the district.

Along the way, he gained lifelong friendships and a deep appreciation for community, proudly calling this district home for 70 years.

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Saturday, 14th April 2029

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