“You’ll do no such thing …. You are staying here!”

With these words in my ears I commenced two of the happiest years of my life. Good Vibrations ensued.

The year was approximately 1960 and I had been transferred in my employment from a Victorian country branch to the Head Office in Melbourne.

I was staying for a short time with my brother John in Prahran. I had purchased the Age newspaper to find an advertisement for permanent accommodation, and my sister-in-law had asked what I was looking for.  I explained, and received the response above… ”You are staying here!”

On our mother’s death in 1937, John, aged 14, went to live with our married sister in the small railway hamlet of Maroona.  How long he lived there I do not know.  Still a boy, he moved to Birchip and took up a job as a drover.

In time he moved to Melbourne; somehow qualified as a cabinet maker and went into business on his own account. 

He boarded with a dignified English widow who had a daughter, Marg, some months older than him. They, mother and daughter, had previously been living in poor circumstances in Rupanyup, but then obtained rental accommodation in Prahran.

At age 18, John married Marg and then continued to live in the same residence, where they raised their family of five children.

Then in 1960, I came on the scene, and for the first time in my life, I lived with family. Although they were family, they were really strangers. I had to get to know them.

John was of small stature, like me.  He had wavy, sandy coloured hair and was a friendly, hard- working, hard drinking, racist, Irish family man, with a larrikin streak. He had a quick wit and the ability to quickly make strangers comfortable in his company. Despite being like chalk and cheese, we bonded as family.  He was my idol.  He was my brother.  I’m sure that he regretted, as I did, not having spent our boyhood together.

Marg and I also bonded.  From a strict English background, Marg was a dignified, refined lady with a strong sense of purpose.

In my early life I had only two women who showed me any affection – my Aunty Kath and Marg. Yet for reasons known only to themselves, they never had a friendly relationship.

I adored John and Marg’s children and they responded. They affectionately call me UNK.

I am pleased to be able to say that I brought something advantageous into their lives. I introduced them to golf, a game they both enjoyed until their deaths.  In fact, from the time of John’s early death at the age of 55yrs, Marg gained much enjoyment from golf until her death at age 83.

The good vibrations I experienced over my involvement with John and Marg and their family will for ever be memorable to me.

​
Ray O’Shannessy
October, 1917     

Dear Mr.O’Shannessy,
             
I am writing on behalf of the Governor-General to inform you that you are being considered for the award of the  Medal of the Order of Australia……….

These were the words which hit me after I opened the letter from the Governor-General’s office in April 2013.   I was to go from “anticipation vibes” to “good vibes” in a matter of seconds.

Towards the conclusion  of the letter were the words …”After the Governor-General has considered all the proposed awards, I shall advise you of the outcome….” 

The anticipation vibes returned.

On May 28th  my   worries disappeared with the advice  “your award… ..has been approved by the Governor- General.”.. There was great jubilation. Very “good vibrations”.

The award was announced in the Queen’s  Birthday honors list on 10th June, and I was the subject of many phone calls, cards, and personal well wishes. Letters were received from the Victorian Governor, the Premier and more politicians than I knew existed, from the north-eastern area of the state. I even received a congratulatory letter from Latrobe University who were claiming me as an alumni after having studied one solitary subject at it’s Bendigo campus.

Friday 1st November was to be the investiture date at the Victorian Government house, with Governor Eric Churnov officiating. I was allotted “three Entrée Cards for yourself  and two guests.” The letter added  .. “we are unable to meet any requests for additional guests”. 

Bad vibes.  I have a wife and four children and only two tickets. Who do I invite? How  could I not offend someone? Fortunately the boys were not interested in formalities and so weren’t phased about  attending . However, the girls, in their own little way, made it obvious that each of them expected to attend.  Problems!

In desperation I phoned Government House and spoke to a very understanding lady, (Wendy). She advised me to put my problem in writing to the Governor, which I did. Several days later I received unobstrusively in the mail, a third Entrée Card with only a handwritten note “herewith an extra Entrée Card”.             How grateful I was!  Family harmony had been saved!

Investiture day was a lovely sunny day. Guests were to be seated in the main hall, while recipients were to assemble in an adjourning dining room, prior to investiture.  We were seated in alphabetical order, and I had the privilege to be seated beside Ross Oakley, former CEO of the prior VFL and then AFL. He also played football with the St.Kilda football club.  As I am a St.Kilda fan we chatted.

The Investiture went swimmingly and everyone gathered in the main hall afterwards, prior to  nibblies and a drink, and an inspection of the Government House surrounds.

We met Cadel Evans, Tour de France winner and OAM recipient and obtained his autograph on replicas of his riding shirts, which son Anthony, and son-in-law Heath had provided in anticipation.

In the evening, the whole O’Shannessy clan, grandchildren and all, celebrated at a restaurant in Springvale Road.


Ray O’Shannessy OAM
September 2017.                        
 

I always have good vibes, or good vibrations, when I am with my family.

I was not raised in a traditional family environment, and honestly, I have always envied those who have been. I have sorely missed contact with my parents and with my siblings.

I now have a family of my own, a wife, 2 sons, and 2 daughters. I love them all unreservedly and indeed am very proud of them and I like to skite about them and their achievements. Doing so always gives me good vibrations.

So here goes.

My wife has been a marvellous company and  mother who has attended to all the children’s requirements from the baby years to their adulthood.  She was affectionately  known as a legend at FCJ College for her numerous years’  service in the uniform shop and as co-ordinator of the Debutante  Ball.  She was awarded the Sandhurst Diocesan Community Service Award for her  service at Galen College Wangaratta. She has been awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship at Rotary.

My children all graduated at university and have done remarkably well in their careers.

I am proud to say that Anthony, our eldest boy, was sent to Switzerland for two years in his employment with ABB Engineering, and now  holds the position of Chief Financial Officer with a large  Victorian Corporation, the Melbourne Water Board. In his youth he excelled in football and squash, and still plays squash.

Peter, our second child holds the position of Chief Financial Officer of the Cranbourne Racing Club and Trio’s Restaurant and gaming organisation, also in the Cranbourne complex. He played, for many years, football and basketball.

Our eldest daughter Jacki, married a wool grower and attends to all the farm accounts and acts as a farmwife. She and her husband Heath won the “Best Fleece” award in the lamb’s section of the 2017 Victorian Wool Show. Jacki also works as office manager for the Royal Hotel in Benalla. She is a netball and basketball enthusiast.

Cathy, our youngest, was awarded the Galen College Award for Excellence in her last year of secondary education. After spending two years in a managerial role for Brown. Brothers Winery in London, she has now settled in as senior marketing director for  the Charles Sturt University in Albury. She, too, concentrated on netball and basketball.

We have now been blessed with ten grandchildren, five girls and five boys, and the good vibrations become even better at Christmas, when the whole O’Shannessy family gathers at our home for special celebrations.

It is great to see  our children all accept parental roles in their own children’s sporting and other activities, and I sincerely trust that they all have long and happy family associations.

Good vibrations mean different things to different people, and I hope I have indicated how they mean so much to me  in my family life.
 
Ray O’Shannessy.
September 2017.