G’day George, now I know you’re secretary of the Maldon Petanque Club, but you actually live in Castlemaine. How long have you called Castlemaine home?
Most of my life. I moved to Campbells Creek when I was young and went to school there… My father and my brother had the upholstery shop in Castlemaine in the late 50s… And then after school I got married and moved here (Castlemaine). Designed and built this house, well Ivan Girvan actually built it although I did a lot of work on it myself and so did (wife) Janet…
Wonderful! So what’s your working background?
I worked at Thompsons. Thompsons, Kelly and Lewis it was then, and now it’s Flowserve. I worked there all my working life.
Were you an engineer?
Yes… I drew up housing plans for friends and then went on to have a small business drawing up plans for houses. That was while I was at Thompsons and then when I left Thompsons in 2000 I just set up as a small business then for another ten years or so. I worked for (garden designer) Kevin Walsh for a while too. I did drawings for him.
What’s keeping you busy these days?
Mainly the petanque club. I was secretary of the West End Hall for about thirty years. The new group have taken over and they’re doing a good job… I’m in U3A.
What do you do there?
Play petanque. They have a Friday group. I just go along and enjoy myself… And they have another group going at Maldon at the Penny School and I joined them as well, a sort of social group. They play alternate Sundays to when we play at the St Brigid’s Church. That’s where we (The Maldon Petanque Club) have our setup. We’re a fully incorporated registered club.
So all up how many times a week would you be playing petanque?
Well every Friday at Campbells Creek, every second Friday out at Maldon at the St Brigid’s Church grounds, and every other Sunday at Avoca with the Pyrenees club.
Do you welcome new members to the Maldon Petanque Club George?
Yes we do. We encourage people to come along and have a look and have a game if they like. They can play a couple of games before we’ll ask them to join.
And you do travel around a bit to compete against other petanque clubs too don’t you?
Yes we went to Woodend last weekend and played the Woodend-Hanging Rock Club there. We beat ’em!
Congratulations. Does your wife, Janet play too, George?
She helps with the scoring and organising.
Any philosophies by which you like to lead life?
Just try and enjoy life. Take it as it comes.
Pet peeves?
Can’t think of anything at the moment.
OK. Three dream dinner guests?
Just family I think. My wife Janet, and two children.
What are you reading at the moment?
I’m reading Stephen King books. They’re a bit frightening though. And Lee Child books, Jack Reacher books. I’ve gone through all the Terry Pratchett books that I can find.
Do you have any particular musical genre or artist of choice?
I enjoy the dance music that we used to dance to. Something with a nice beat.
What do you enjoy most about where you live?
It’s a lovely place to live. Nice and quiet. Good neighbours. Lots of birds.