I started life in Clayton and was joined by my sister Debbie when I was 15 months and brother Greg 2 years later.
Dad was a plasterer, working for his father. Mum, a teacher, stayed home and looked after us.
I watched Dad woodworking and subconsciously copied him squinting from cigarette smoke when hammering nails, and so on.
Dad took me looking for farms and I was with him when we found the farm in Stanhope.
Mum didn’t want to leave Melbourne, but made it an adventure for us.
Dad saved me from a charging cow using his skills with a stockwhip. Mum worked at the Girgarre kindergarten. They both became involved in community organisations.
I had my first swimming lessons at 8 and soon Mum recognised my potential and got me private lessons.
My brother, Russell, was born when I was nearly 11.
They had me working on the farm from an early age, first feeding chooks and later raising calves and milking cows.
Dad coached the under 13s footy team for which Greg was a star player.
Mum started teaching at Rushworth High School, when I was in Form 1. This was hard for me as I was bullied, but I won a fight which helped a lot.
We were all involved in the swimming and life saving club. I became club champion and would swim in the lane Dad was judging, because I figured if I got a perfect score from him I’d have to be perfect.
We had a great life on the farm. One highlight was playing table tennis on the front lawn, often on frosty nights.
A few years after I left home Dad caught encephalitis. It was the first time I had seen him vulnerable. I went home and helped with the farm, which they had decided to sell. When this was under control I moved back to Melbourne.
Debbie, who was adventurous with both travel and work, was visiting home with her boyfriend, Steve, when she had an epileptic fit and died at 22. I came back to help again until the farm was sold.
Mum and Dad moved into Stanhope. Dad started a haberdashery. It was interesting to see him dealing with people in the rag trade.
Greg and my cousin, Michael, did an outdoor recreation course at Bendigo where they both became very skillful in kayaking, rock climbing and so on.
Sadly, at 22 Michael was killed in a car accident. A year later, at 25, Greg had a heart attack and died whilst travelling in Europe with his girlfriend Rosanne.
My parents kept on going. Community work seemed to keep them sane.
Russell found work in Melbourne as a quantity surveyor.
Dad started a tourism business which had great trips but not many customers.
They were not really happy about me marrying Sally, partly because she couldn’t have children, but over the years, have come to love her.
Russell is married and has two boys.
Now Mum and Dad are in their nineties and still at home. It is hard watching them struggle with day to day tasks.
They still contribute to the community and we find that, as they are getting older they are getting more open minded. We have great conversations with them.
John Holschier
September 2024
Dad was a plasterer, working for his father. Mum, a teacher, stayed home and looked after us.
I watched Dad woodworking and subconsciously copied him squinting from cigarette smoke when hammering nails, and so on.
Dad took me looking for farms and I was with him when we found the farm in Stanhope.
Mum didn’t want to leave Melbourne, but made it an adventure for us.
Dad saved me from a charging cow using his skills with a stockwhip. Mum worked at the Girgarre kindergarten. They both became involved in community organisations.
I had my first swimming lessons at 8 and soon Mum recognised my potential and got me private lessons.
My brother, Russell, was born when I was nearly 11.
They had me working on the farm from an early age, first feeding chooks and later raising calves and milking cows.
Dad coached the under 13s footy team for which Greg was a star player.
Mum started teaching at Rushworth High School, when I was in Form 1. This was hard for me as I was bullied, but I won a fight which helped a lot.
We were all involved in the swimming and life saving club. I became club champion and would swim in the lane Dad was judging, because I figured if I got a perfect score from him I’d have to be perfect.
We had a great life on the farm. One highlight was playing table tennis on the front lawn, often on frosty nights.
A few years after I left home Dad caught encephalitis. It was the first time I had seen him vulnerable. I went home and helped with the farm, which they had decided to sell. When this was under control I moved back to Melbourne.
Debbie, who was adventurous with both travel and work, was visiting home with her boyfriend, Steve, when she had an epileptic fit and died at 22. I came back to help again until the farm was sold.
Mum and Dad moved into Stanhope. Dad started a haberdashery. It was interesting to see him dealing with people in the rag trade.
Greg and my cousin, Michael, did an outdoor recreation course at Bendigo where they both became very skillful in kayaking, rock climbing and so on.
Sadly, at 22 Michael was killed in a car accident. A year later, at 25, Greg had a heart attack and died whilst travelling in Europe with his girlfriend Rosanne.
My parents kept on going. Community work seemed to keep them sane.
Russell found work in Melbourne as a quantity surveyor.
Dad started a tourism business which had great trips but not many customers.
They were not really happy about me marrying Sally, partly because she couldn’t have children, but over the years, have come to love her.
Russell is married and has two boys.
Now Mum and Dad are in their nineties and still at home. It is hard watching them struggle with day to day tasks.
They still contribute to the community and we find that, as they are getting older they are getting more open minded. We have great conversations with them.
John Holschier
September 2024
RSS Feed
