Following last month’s topic of ‘Relationships’, I believe that it is opportune for me to say that three of those with whom I’ve had relationships have also played a role as ‘Someone who shaped me’. In saying so, I refer to Rolfe Mann, Norm Matthews and my wife Bernadette.
Rolfe and Norm were both men of high integrity, honesty, sincerity and positivity. They also had strong family values.
I was working on a committee with Rolfe when his wife gave birth to a daughter with special needs. This event, while being calamitous, to my mind, brought out some of the best in Rolfe. He immediately became involved in a steering committee for the introduction to Benalla of an educational and housing environment for people with disabilities.
Largely, under his guidance, Ballandella (Benalla and District Mentally Retarded People’s Welfare Association) became a reality. He became treasurer and finance director of the Committee of Management and so had a huge impact on that committee. He was responsible for my becoming secretary, and we worked together for the next 13 years.
Once the Centre and Residence were constructed and had become functional, Rolfe took on the role of Chairman.
In the employment field Rolfe was the manager of the State Electricity Commission whose district office was in Benalla. He was very community spirited and was elected to the Benalla City Council, where he later served for three terms as Mayor.
He was, indeed, an inspiration!
So too, was Norm Matthews. My involvement with Norm commenced on the bowling green where he was my skipper. As well as playing bowls together, we served a lot of time in the administration of the bowling club. He also was responsible for the building of a fourth green and the refurbishment of the dilapidated green keeper’s cottage. He was by trade a carpenter, but all of this work was done on a voluntary basis.
Outside of bowling, Norm took an interest in the Cooinda Retirement Village operation. The fact that there is now a ‘Norm Matthews Wing’ speaks for itself. He encouraged me to join the Cooinda Finance Committee which role I held for 9 years.
In a business arrangement, we formed a land development syndicate and developed and sold 150 home building blocks in Benalla. Norm’s commitment was outstanding, and I must say that he was the best ‘thinker’ that I’ve ever encountered.
I believe that under the tutorship of Rolfe and Norm, my life was shaped. And so, I can say that they were people who shaped me, along with my wife, Bernadette.
No husband that I know would dare to write that his life had not been shaped by his wife!
And so, to Bernadette.
I had been an independent, beer drinking individual who was just “one of the boys”. I was enjoying my bachelorhood and lived in a flat alone. I was a member of a table-tennis team and a member of the Lion’s Club.
That was all to change! I courted and married Bernadette 57 years ago!
Bernadette ensured that I ate 5 veggies per day and became a moderate alcohol consumer. She has provided me with a loving home environment and has mothered our 4 children, 2 boys and 2 girls, of whom we are both justly proud.
Bernadette, too, is a community-minded person, having just finished her 51 years of delivering Meals on Wheels with a Council commendation. She has also retired as a counsellor with the St.Vincent de Paul Society, which position she held for many years.
I believe that Bernadette has played more than a significant role in shaping me.
And so, these three relationships have been fruitful and have helped shape me.
Ray O’Shannessy
10 October 2024.
Rolfe and Norm were both men of high integrity, honesty, sincerity and positivity. They also had strong family values.
I was working on a committee with Rolfe when his wife gave birth to a daughter with special needs. This event, while being calamitous, to my mind, brought out some of the best in Rolfe. He immediately became involved in a steering committee for the introduction to Benalla of an educational and housing environment for people with disabilities.
Largely, under his guidance, Ballandella (Benalla and District Mentally Retarded People’s Welfare Association) became a reality. He became treasurer and finance director of the Committee of Management and so had a huge impact on that committee. He was responsible for my becoming secretary, and we worked together for the next 13 years.
Once the Centre and Residence were constructed and had become functional, Rolfe took on the role of Chairman.
In the employment field Rolfe was the manager of the State Electricity Commission whose district office was in Benalla. He was very community spirited and was elected to the Benalla City Council, where he later served for three terms as Mayor.
He was, indeed, an inspiration!
So too, was Norm Matthews. My involvement with Norm commenced on the bowling green where he was my skipper. As well as playing bowls together, we served a lot of time in the administration of the bowling club. He also was responsible for the building of a fourth green and the refurbishment of the dilapidated green keeper’s cottage. He was by trade a carpenter, but all of this work was done on a voluntary basis.
Outside of bowling, Norm took an interest in the Cooinda Retirement Village operation. The fact that there is now a ‘Norm Matthews Wing’ speaks for itself. He encouraged me to join the Cooinda Finance Committee which role I held for 9 years.
In a business arrangement, we formed a land development syndicate and developed and sold 150 home building blocks in Benalla. Norm’s commitment was outstanding, and I must say that he was the best ‘thinker’ that I’ve ever encountered.
I believe that under the tutorship of Rolfe and Norm, my life was shaped. And so, I can say that they were people who shaped me, along with my wife, Bernadette.
No husband that I know would dare to write that his life had not been shaped by his wife!
And so, to Bernadette.
I had been an independent, beer drinking individual who was just “one of the boys”. I was enjoying my bachelorhood and lived in a flat alone. I was a member of a table-tennis team and a member of the Lion’s Club.
That was all to change! I courted and married Bernadette 57 years ago!
Bernadette ensured that I ate 5 veggies per day and became a moderate alcohol consumer. She has provided me with a loving home environment and has mothered our 4 children, 2 boys and 2 girls, of whom we are both justly proud.
Bernadette, too, is a community-minded person, having just finished her 51 years of delivering Meals on Wheels with a Council commendation. She has also retired as a counsellor with the St.Vincent de Paul Society, which position she held for many years.
I believe that Bernadette has played more than a significant role in shaping me.
And so, these three relationships have been fruitful and have helped shape me.
Ray O’Shannessy
10 October 2024.
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