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Sometime ago, I suggested that Town Talk was similar to Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates — in that you never know what you are going to get.
At times, that is also true for me.
This week I chatted with a gentleman, just days before his 97th birthday.
He was in business in Shepp for almost two decades, a member of the Apex Club and, for more than 70 years, a member of the Masonic Lodge.
However, it soon became clear that Bruce Pederick wanted to talk about motorcycle racing, which has been a passion for 80 years.
The beginning
Bruce was born in Adelaide, with the family property 20 miles away in Angle Vale.
When he began his working life, he boarded in the city but needed to travel to see his family.
A friend suggested he purchase a motorbike, and that was the beginning.
His first bike cost him 13 pounds and 10 shillings.
It was a 1926 BSA and, on it, he entered his first race.
His last race was at Shepp East.
He remembers that he was 80 years old at the time.
He is most likely correct, as his memory is good — especially in regard to his races.
However, I could find no way of confirming this, as his most recent trophy was dated 2002, when he would have been 74 years old.
Anyway, the action took place between these two races.
He raced on Phillip Island and many, many times at Eastern Creek, Sydney.
This was his favourite venue, where many of his trophies were won.
He visited the Isle of Man and was welcome to race; however, he had travelled without the necessary gear, not expecting an opportunity.
He told me with a laugh that he “almost raced on the Isle of Man”.
Bruce had 11 different motorcycles over the years, including the Velocette (pictured), an International Norton, and his favourite, a Moto Guzzi.
Talking about the latter bike reminded him of a story — which amused him at the time, and still does.
Fergus Anderson was a British professional rider, making his living from winning races.
He came to Australia in the mid-1950s to “clean up” and, said Bruce with a grin from ear to ear, “he lost race after race because the Aussies were too good for him”.
Anderson sold his Moto Guzzi to Bruce, to make a ticket home possible, and returned to England very disappointed.
With the exception of this bike, all of Bruce’s motorcycles were British.
“There were no American bikes,” he said, very firmly.
I asked about injuries, and he told me that he had never fallen from a bike in road racing.
But, he did come off during a dirt race and broke his little finger.
He also mentioned beach racing, between Portland and near Mt Gambier.
From Adelaide to Shepparton
Bruce relocated from Adelaide to Mount Gambier, where he joined the Apex Club and the Masonic Lodge.
He also met and married Joylene, in 1955.
They then moved from Mount Gambier to Casterton, where their two children, Wendy and David, were born.
At some point, he taught himself to play the organ, which, I understand, became useful at the Lodge gatherings.
The family relocated to Shepparton in 1964, where Joylene joined the staff of GMV6.
Bruce had run businesses in Mt Gambier and Casterton, and here it was the Northern Tyre Service, located in High St, opposite the showgrounds.
To be precise, the tyre sales and re-treading business was situated where Ryan’s Fruit and Vegetables is today.
And now
It has been two years since Joylene’s passing.
But despite this, and despite the passion he still has for motorcycle racing, Bruce appears to be at peace with his life and surrounds.
He has a precious Jack Russell (Jackie) who alerts him to anyone on the premises.
He reads The News and Herald Sun every day to keep up with happenings.
He also spends some time with books about car and motorcycle racing — and watches television, of course.
A friend takes him to ‘Afternoon Delights’, which he enjoys very much, and I’ve been informed, by the same friend, that he intends to live to be 100!
Good on you, Bruce!
Satisfaction brings peace, and peace breeds longevity.
God bless.
KidsTown
It was distressing to read that KidsTown is deteriorating.
Mind you, it is some years since I was last there, with grandchildren clamouring to stay.
(Saturday was ‘Marnie Day’ and tired parents dropped off their children, to very willing grandparents.)
We had many fun Marnie Days at Kids own and I met several families who had travelled for a couple of hours, or more, to be there.
I remember one mother asking me where they could go for a peaceful lunch.
“Then we’ll have to come back,” she said.
“The kids haven’t had enough.
“Hopefully, they’ll sleep all the way home.”
The International Village
I keep thinking about the International Village, the year when there were 33,000 visitors.
When the place looked stunning — there were barbecues in use, a little train taking people from site to site, happy kids in the playground, even rose bushes beneath the flags of other nations flying high.
It had taken a while, but we were almost there — perhaps just one more visit to Canberra with some great photos to show.
In 1995, Shepp was run by three commissioners who decommissioned the land.
And then our council came back and bulldozed the site — or most of it.
A six-year fight to retain our village was heartbreakingly lost, and the first council of Greater Shepparton let us all down.
DECA
The Driving Education Centre of Australia was acknowledged worldwide and held a chair on the ‘Governing Council on the Safety and Health Hall of Fame International’, which was based at a university in the USA.
Some 10,000 students per year were completing five-day courses, and it was estimated that DECA was adding $5 million annually to our economy (late 1980s).
Eric Montgomery was quoted as saying, “The future of DECA is where it has always been, in the hands of the community.”
But it wasn’t.
Ultimately, the future of this important body was in the hands of a state government.
Members of which apparently thought that road safety was not a worthwhile subject for youngsters.
DECA continues — but is certainly not what it used to be.
What can be done to save KidsTown?
We are (I hope) a sensible, thoughtful community.
There is no point at all in knocking on council doors demanding that money be spent.
There isn’t any — and it is apparent that our state government has little concern for Greater Shepparton or Regional Victoria.
But does that mean we can’t do anything?
Even if, for now, we can only prevent more deterioration.
Is there a gentleman around, with available time, who could liaise with the informed people in the council building — have a chat with the Men’s Sheds and a few mates and at least protect what we have?
A couple of working bees would surely help?
And when the current government is no more, we should be able to plead our case.
KidsTown was a destination — perhaps it can be again.
I know I’m an ageing Pollyanna — but Shepp has lost enough.
That’s it for this week.
I’ve been told that a young lady sent a text to her grandmother, thanking her for a birthday present.
The grandmother replied ‘AJKEEHLOP’.
I know this wasn’t you — or was it?
May it be easy, my friends
Marnie
Email: towntalk@sheppnews.com.au
Letter: Town Talk. The News. P.O. Box 204. Shepparton 3631.
Phone: Text or call 0409 317187
Town Talk