Town Talk

Don Kilgour contacted me a couple of times over the past few months, and, on the second occasion, we talked for some time about his early life and ambitions. I thought you’d also be interested so I asked if he would join me for coffee.

A coffee with Don

When Don Kilgour was in Grade 6, his teacher asked the students what they wanted to do when they finished school. Don said he wanted to be a radio announcer. His classmates were loudly amused. Surely no-one in Katamatite could be a radio announcer!

When he went home that day, he told his mother about their laughter and her wise response was: “You can be anything you want to be — if you want it enough.”

A little over five years later, a 16-year-old Don was in Shepparton, waiting for his father to finish his business and pick him up. Standing on the corner of Wyndham and High streets, he saw Radio 3SR’s signage. It was just down Wyndham St and it beckoned him; he says he felt propelled as he entered the office and asked for advice. Mr Jim Milburn, a Numurkah boy, gave him all the information he needed.

The following week, Don and his twin brother, Rod, both applied to Melbourne’s Radio College — and were both accepted. An instant decision had to be made, as the college year began the next day. Finish school? Or take the opportunity beckoning? It wasn’t a difficult choice for the Kilgour boys.

They spent two years at Lee Murray’s college, attending four nights a week and working full time at Myer during the day. Lee Murray had trained all of radio’s ‘big names’ and Bert Newton regularly called in for a refresher.

At Myer, Don sold college wear and Rod worked in the dress materials department. Don wasn’t content asking “How may I help you, madam?” — he set up a microphone and cheerfully sold to passers-by, potential customers and everyone within range. I can image that the management of that large emporium was uniformly sorry when the Kilgour boys were offered radio jobs – Rod to 3YB Warrnambool and Don to 3UL Warragul.

The Kilgour twins had roomed together for 19 years and I asked Don if the separation was difficult. He said they spoke on the phone from time to time but were excited and stimulated by their work. And, perhaps it was okay, for a while, not to be asked: “Which one are you?” (My words, not Don’s.)

However, their ultimate goal was to come home to 3SR.

Their wishes were granted, two and a half years later.

Rod’s 3YB boss was transferred to Shepparton and he promised Rod a position as soon as an opportunity occurred. Within months Rod was 3SR’s breakfast presenter and Don followed. Don laughed when he told me that there were many, many days when there was a Kilgour on air, in Shepparton — from 5am to 6pm. They wrote scripts, commentated on sports of all varieties and their well-modulated (but not overly modulated) voices became well known in the region.

And there were two attractive young women waiting. Cheryl married Don, and Karen married Rod; two weddings in 1969.

However, opportunities were being presented to both young men. They were not only well-known but well-respected. Don accepted a position at Ducat’s — taking care of marketing and acting as Ray Ducat’s right-hand man. He says Ray was a marvellous employer and he enjoyed his work for 18 years.

Despite new careers, the Kilgour twins continued working at 3SR — in the evenings — on sporting activities. If one couldn’t make it, the other would. They frequently heard people ask: “Which Kilgour have we got tonight?”

During this period, Don was active in many community groups including the Guthrie St School council — where one of the school’s houses was named Kilgour House — and Kiwanis Sunrisers, in which he was active for 33 years. In football he was president of GV School Boys team, GVFL publicity officer and magazine editor. He is a GVL tribunal member. He has been awarded life membership of the GVFL. He was on the Primary Care Connect board for 14 years. Both he and Rod compèred Shepparton’s Carols by Candlelight for 25 years and Don chaired the Carols Committee for many years.

And then came politics

One day, an opportunity he had never anticipated came his way. Mr Peter Ross-Edwards told Don that he was retiring from Victorian Parliament. He wanted Don to stand for the seat. In 1991, the boy who wanted to be a radio announcer won pre-selection and the by-election — and became the Member for Shepparton. Don spent the first year in opposition, at the end of the Cain/Kirner years — when the state was left a ‘basket case’ financially. There was simply no money available. For example, any department with available funds would pay school teachers. However, in 1992 Jeff Kennett became Premier and things began to change. Money was still tight but Don found that, if he presented a good case for the region, he would be listened to. Shepparton got a much-needed new police station, and as things began to move at the lake — Aquamoves was funded. Tatura received its sporting complex and a large extension to the Tatura Research Station; Dookie and many other small towns also benefited.

I asked Don about working with Jeff Kennett — who always was, and always will be, a controversial figure. Don smiled and said (carefully, I thought): “He was a true leader.”

After persuading Jeanette Powell to stand for the Victorian Upper House, Don holds a special memory of introducing her at her first National Party parliamentary meeting. He introduced Jeanette as the “first woman to represent the Nationals in the Victorian Parliament”. She received a standing ovation. It was an emotional moment for Don.

There was another special memory that year — 1996 — when Don was selected to represent the Victorian Parliament at a Commonwealth Parliamentary Seminar at Marlborough House, London. Here he met Queen Elizabeth and had a chat with Prince Charles. Don mentioned that Her Majesty had taken a tumble from her horse and had her arm in a sling — a matching sling, which appears to have been made from the same fabric as her gown.

(I found myself wondering how his Katamatite classmates would have responded, if he’d said ‘One day, I’m going to London to meet The Queen’. But, of course, like much of his life story, that wasn’t on his agenda.)

A kind of retirement

Don retired from Parliament in November 2002 but it will not surprise you to read that he has been busy ever since; he has been helping people overcome their fear of public speaking, which is something he finds particularly rewarding. Don is also on the committee of our Greater Shepparton Sports Hall of Fame and secretary of the GVL Hall of Fame.

And it will not surprise you that he received an OAM in 2019 for services to the community.

Don and Cheryl have two daughters and a son, who have provided them with six grandchildren aged 8 to 19 years — in whom he obviously delights. None of their family live locally, therefore offering them excuses for regular holidays.

Our conversation lasted for more than an hour and a half; we kept wandering off track, until one of us said: “Now, what year are we up to?” I enjoyed it very much and left with the impression that I’d been talking with a very contented man; well satisfied with his past and present — and looking forward to his future.

Last week

I received a text message from Barbara and an email from Keith. I apologise to both of our readers, but I fear I am out of space. Sorry Barbara — I enjoyed our chat and will happily include your story next week. Roger also has just sent an email — over which I am pondering.

Keep warm everyone — stay well. And may it be easy, my friends.

Marnie

Email: towntalk@sheppnews.com.au

Letter: Town Talk. Shepparton News. P.O. Box 204. Shepparton 3631.

Phone: Send a text on 0418 962 507. (Note: text only. I will call you back, if you wish)