​In February 1950, as a 17 year old, just left school, my uncle had got me a job as a clerk with Victorian Producers Co-Op (VPC) in Benalla, a place I had never heard of, and only discovered that it was in north-eastern Victoria, far from my home of Swanwater, in the Wimmera.
 
Uncle Tom, or Toby as he was known, and Aunty Kath, decided to drive me to Benalla.  It was the longest drive I had ever experienced.  My only memory of it is the many trees on the side of the road between Mooroopna and Shepparton.
 
We arrived at Benalla in the late afternoon and booked into the now extinct Broken River Hotel.  After tea we located the office of the VPC in the main street, where the barber David, now operates Warehouse Cuts.  It had grey shaded windows with a little peep hole in the front section.  There was a light on.  We peeped through the window but saw very little.
 
Next morning the three of us went to the office and met the manager, Mr John Gilbert Short, and the other two staff members, Charlie Hancock, and Ed Lewis, whose position I was taking.
 
I was told that Mr. Short had arranged accommodation for me with Mr Devine, the publican, at the Broken River Hotel (not very appropriate for a 17 year old) and that my wages would be 3 pounds and 5 shillings per week, with 2 shillings and 6 pence to be taken out for tax.  I was later to discover that my board would cost 2 pounds 10 shillings per week and I had to do my own washing.  That left me with 12s.6d. per week pocket money.  The office provided me with a bike.  I had been used to riding horses, and a bike was a relatively new experience. 
 
I was given a rough description of what my duties would be, with the result that there was much I just had to pick up for myself.
 
After I’d been introduced  to the Catholic Priest and Uncle Tom and Aunty Kath had left I settled into my accommodation, only to discover that Mr. Devine had put me up as a favour to Mr. Short, and my presence was really regarded by him, as an imposition.  My room was at the very back of the building above the boiler room, so it was very hot in the summer month of February.
 
I located a commercial laundry and when I could afford it, had my shirts laundered.
 
My job at VPC involed working with the farming community, attending sheep and cattle markets, handling farm chemicals, woolpacks and other merchandise, and doing all the bookwork.  It also involved phoning farmers, advising them of their wool and stock prices.  This phoning occurred after the evening meal in order to accommodate farmers who generally were in the paddocks all day.  Consequently I had a lot of contact with the telephone exchange girls, with whom I became very friendly.
 
I also became friendly with a number of youths who I met at the church, and there were frequent dances at St. Joseph’s hall.  I also attended the Saturday night dances at the Memorial Hall.
 
There were a young couple (Frank and Jean) with a young daughter, staying at the hotel and they had just moved to Benalla for a change of lifestyle. They were looking for work.  Eventually Frank obtained a job at Harrison’s Hardware and Jean was employed as a waitress at the Hotel.
 
They were also looking for accommodation, and through their efforts, after some months, I obtained private board with Mrs McFarlane and her daughter in Charles Street.  One of the greatest assets here was the fact that Mrs. McFarlane did my washing.
 
I joined the C.Y.M.S. (the Catholic Young Mens’ Society) and enjoyed going to their dances and playing table tennis, which I had never played before.  As a clerk, I was soon roped into the job of being the society’s secretary.  We used to go to the other towns C.Y.M.S. dances regularly.  The president didn’t go to the dances, so at every dance I was expected to give a speech.  This was a good learning curve.
 
After some 12 months or so Mrs. McFarlane became ill and I had to seek other accommodation.  This I found in George Street at the home of Frank and Eileen Elliot, the parents of (now) Trish McCabe.  They were fantastic people and when I turned 21 they put on a surprise 21st birthday party for me in St. Joseph’s Hall, with so many of my friends attending.
 
I became friendly with Kevin Hernan who boarded near the Elliot’s.  He came around frequently to the Elliot’s and each week-end I would go out to his parent’s home in Winton.  He had six brothers and sisters and I fitted into his family, playing Santa Claus at every Christmas Dinner and proposing the toast at all of their 21st birthdays.  The Hernans gave me the home that I had never before known.  I then started to play football with the Winton Football Club.
 
I left Benalla in 1955 and returned in 1963.  It is my real home town. 
 
 
Ray O’Shannessy
February 2017
 

On New Year’s Day 2014, Bernadette and I were delivering ‘Meals on Wheels’, as we regularly do, and were nearing the end of the round.

We delivered a meal to a gentleman in Killeena Avenue.  He took his main meal from me at his door.  I stepped backwards and - bingo!  There was no step!  There I was, flat on my back, struggling to get up.  The gentleman, being aged, was unable to help other than to advise that I wasn’t the first person to fall there.  Some comfort!

With some effort Bernadette helped me rise and we completed the round
.
At the hospital, later, I received the news that ‘I broke it!’  I had broken my pelvis in two places and had incurred a lumbar injury.  I learned later from Mr Critchley, an orthopaedic surgeon, that the pelvis would mend itself in time (about 6 months) and I should take pain killers.  After 8 months he told me, ‘You are not healed but you are healing’.  Today, after 3 plus years, I am still not healed.  However recently, at the local clinic, I obtained some new painkiller medication which, thank goodness, seems to be effective, although I have been warned that there may be some side effects.

Having sustained my injury as a council volunteer I had, apparently unreasonably, assumed that I may have an acknowledgement at least from a councillor, who would ask how I was managing.  Not so!  Nevertheless I did receive a visit from a council community worker who offered many council facilities to me.  I did not utilise these facilities.

I also received a visit from a council officer, offering to meet all medical expenses incurred by me.  This was greatly appreciated as I incurred expenses to the tune of some $3000, which was the figure net of Medicare.

I enquired about insurance and, having made a claim, was told by the insurance company that, as I was not being paid to do the job, I was ineligible.

I was advised, by outside sources, that I would be entitled to a substantial payout, should I make a claim through one of the public liability firms.

As a long term Benalla resident I was loath to involve Benalla Council in such a claim, which would undoubtedly become public knowledge.  After a lot of to-ing and fro-ing I accepted a minimal settlement.  I felt that at my age there were too many complications for me to be concerned with a formal claim.  It would be too much of a hassle and would only un-nerve me.  I would have to repay Medicare and I couln’t be bothered with what I considered unnecessary involvement.

So there you are!

That’s how ‘I Broke It’.


​
Ray O’Shannessy, Feb 2017