Individual Details

Birth Certificate No. 12311/16

ALFORD, Gordon Vernon Registration number: 120 Freshwater Creek State Elementary School No. 256: Register for 1904-1975

On 23 Oct 1937 Gordon was residing at 36 McKillop St, Geelong and his occupation was Machinist.

Gordon listed on his marriage certificate as a machinist.

On 21 Aug 1943 Gordon was residing at 52 Upper Skene St. Newtown, Victoria and his occupation was Machinist.

On 4 Jul 1949 Gordon was residing at Caulfield East, Victoria, Australia.

Gordon attended Mt Duneed Primary School where he did well. He then went to Geelong High School for 3 years where he didn't do so well academically but excelled at sport. He was involved in running, swimming and football. His excellence at swimming allowed him to rescue a young woman, named Edna (Tim) Blyth, who was drowning in a swimming hole at Bream Creek.

During Gordon's teenage years his mother died from a cerebral aneurysm.

When he left school he worked in the timber industry for some time. He then worked for the Ford Motor Company in Geelong. While working at Ford, Gordon had his left hand crushed in a sheet metal press. He was taken to Geelong Hospital and waited most of the day in agony before having surgery. He lost his ring and little finger and had the middle and index finger fused. He remembers being violently ill afterwards because the only anaesthetic available was chloroform. When his father heard about the accident he said, "He's done for now." and wouldn't travel the 7 miles into town to visit him in hospital. After recovering, Gordon went back to work at Ford on light duties and was told he was "guaranteed a job there for life".

As a young man, Gordon was a friend of Joe (Six-gun) Selwood who went on to become a Deputy Commissioner of Police. Gordon also wanted to join the police force but could not because of his injured hand. When Anthea was young, Six-gun Selwood and a team of detectives burst into their home at Caulfield and scared the hell out of her.

Gordon ran at Stawell over the Easter weekend in 1938.
The following results were published in the "Stawell-News" on Wed. 20/4/1938.
1. Ran in "Stawell Handicap" half mile event, third heat, off 48 yards. (Unplaced) About 12 starters in each of 5 heats.
2. Ran in "Federation Handicap" one mile event, off 90 yards (Unplaced) About 46 starters.
3. Ran in "Grampians Stakes Handicap" two mile event, off 135 yards. (Unplaced) About 41 starters.
In the local newspaper there were no 'times' recorded for unplaced runners and no 'place' recorded for runners other than the winner and the next two or three places. He wasn't reported as being in the first four places and it is not known by us what place he ran.

Gordon went for a holiday with family who lived at Aireys Inlet. There he carried the luggage of a young woman named Thalie McCulloch and her friends who had come for a holiday at Mountain House. Gordon was smitten. He began courting her immediately. They went swimming at Red Rocks and rowing on the Anglesea River.

Despite his disabled hand, Gordon wanted to join the Army and fight in the Second World War. He applied to enlist and was told that he didn't have to join-up but he said he wanted to. He convinced the enlisting officer and went to boot camp. He would ring Thalie at work at Waites Mail Orders from camp and at 86 years old he can still remember the phone number. His hand was injured again during training and he did not go on to serve.

Gordon proposed to Thalie in Caulfield Park. He said, "I think I would like to marry you" and Thalie said, "I think I would like that too”. Thalie and Gordon married at St John's Church, East Malvern, Victoria on 7 March 1942. They lived in Geelong for a while.

Eventually Gordon got a job selling life insurance for City Mutual and they moved to Melbourne. One of Gordon's territories in the early days was Werribee and he would ride his bicycle there and back, catching the punt across the river on the way.




















Eulogy for Gordon Vernon Alford (by Anthea)

Gordon Vernon Alford, our dad, was born on the 28th May 1916.
He was the youngest of three children. His two elder sisters Eva and Catherine, "Miss Kitten", doted on their little brother and so they should have! He was a very cute little boy and became a very handsome man, with strong chiseled looks, not unlike Errol Flynn.

Dad lived in the rural community of Mt Duneed, outside Geelong, on a small farm. He attended the local primary school, then Geelong High School.

Dad’s family was hit hard by the 1930s depression. His father, James became a council worker. His mother, Amanda, a wonderful cook, enabled the family to make ends meet. Her specialties were making rabbit stew, roast rabbit, fricasseed rabbit, rabbit and dumplings… the varieties were endless. No wonder Dad was hopping all over the place, into this and into that.

Indeed Gordon was a wonderful athlete. He excelled in swimming, cycling, running, football, golf and even squash. His skill at swimming allowed him to save a girl who was drowning in Bream Creek. He was also a very good runner and ran in the mile at the Stawell Gift in 1938. Dad played football, was a passionate supporter of Geelong football club, and steadfastly looked forward to seeing his beloved Cats win another premiership.

In fact he loved life, he loved people and he excelled at mixing with people everywhere and anywhere.

When Dad’s mother died (at 56), Dad boarded in Geelong with Joe (Six Gun) Sellwood, who became one of his closest lifelong friends. Joe and Dad decided to try out for the police force. Joe was accepted and went on to become a senior member of Victoria Police. Dad was knocked back because he had arthritis in his little toe. Many years later he related this story to Police Commissioner Christine Nixon. She said, "You're pulling my leg!" Dad replied, "No! It was my little toe!"

As we all know Gordon was charming, witty, a true gentleman and had a wonderful booming baritone voice. Eva and Miss Kitten learnt to play the piano, so Dad took up singing lessons and all three regularly performed at the Corio Theatre in Geelong. They met some very famous people from the district, including Dame Nellie Melba, who was a close friend of Eva. All three attended Dame Nellie Melba's first public recital at Deans Marsh near Lorne. After the war Gordon still continued on with his musical aspirations and sang, "They'll always be an England," on Geelong Radio. Dad could muster an adoring audience anywhere!

In about 1933 when Gordon got his first big job at the Ford Motor Company in Geelong, with Cousin Les Anderson, Dad had his hand crushed at the Stamping Plant. He lost his ring and little finger and had the middle and pointer finger fused. A remarkable feat for a surgical procedure performed almost 70 years ago. And history has showed the accident never impaired his ability to try anything, or quench his eternal optimism.

On Dad's return to work at Ford after recovery, he was allocated to light duties. He was offended when a male worker told him he would no longer have to work hard. We all know Gordon has always worked hard.

Dad regularly holidayed at Aireys Inlet with his extended Anderson-Roadknight family. The Andersons owned the Aireys Inlet Hotel & Mountain House. In 1940 Mum & 2 closest friends Bet & Audrey traveled down for a holiday. Dad was asked to carry their cases to their rooms, and when he first saw Mum he was awestruck and totally overcome by this beautiful woman. Dad said, "It was love at first sight!"

Dad wooed Mum at Aireys Inlet. He took her swimming at Red Rocks and rowing on the Anglesea River. I remember Dad telling me he had to hold her dear little tummy up, as Thalie could not swim. When Mum returned to Melbourne, she said to Dad, "Write to me soon, won't you!" Dad was elated.

Prior to their marriage, Gordon would travel up from Geelong to Melbourne by train and tram and stay overnight with mum at her Grandparents, house in Caulfield. (Grandfather McCulloch had been the Mayor!). Tilley, Mum's grandmother, was very strict & carefully supervised dad. Dad's room was down the hallway at the back of the house. He said he used to love hearing Mum's "pitter patter" down the hallway in the morning to say to him, "Good morning my sweet!"

One of dad's favorite anecdotes in later years was saying how he proposed to mum in Caulfield Park. Dad said, "I think I would like to marry you?" and she replied, "I think I would like that too!" He would love to have sung (or indeed may have on that day), "Love is a many splendid thing!"

Gordon and Thalie married on 7th March 1942 at St John's Church, Finchley Street, Malvern.

Near the end of World War ll, Gordon and Thalie shifted from Geelong to Melbourne, after the death of their infant son Paul. Gordon worked in the Life Insurance Industry, & rode everywhere on an "autocycle", including to Werribee on the day I was born! Werribee was an important place for Dad. His friends from work will tell you that he loved the Italians and was cooked many fine meals in return for singing "Back to Sorrento" in Italian!!

His work colleagues and friends remember Gordon for his wonderful voice and sense of the dramatic. He and his work mate Con used to sing "The Bold Gendarmes." Best remembered is the chorus, "We run them in, We run them in, We run them in, We run them in, We are the bold gendarmes." It was generally as a duet, but sometimes with three or four voices.

Dad seemed to have many police friends. Twenty or more would turn up for a singsong around the piano, including the Police Commissioner Reg Jackson!

Gordon and Thalie purchased a house in Caulfield. I was born in 1946, Katrina in 1950 and Melissa in 1952. We spent most of our childhood (1958-1975) in our family home in Brighton, near our school. When we daughters grew up & moved, so did Dad & Mum, to remain close to us - They purchased homes in North Melbourne, Parkville and finally Kew. They loved & supported their grandchildren - Jason & Miranda (dec), Paul, Amanda & Celia. All are here today in spirit. Amanda, who is studying overseas, cannot be here today, but her best friend will read a short message from Amanda which captures Dad’s extraordinary and admired qualities.

Most of our holidays over the years have been at Dad’s ‘historical stamping ground’, Aireys Inlet, The Alford girls had some memorable holidays with their cousins, Eva and Croft Stocks children. On top of the beach clifftops Dad would give his mighty "Tarzan Call" & beat his chest, delighting everyone but Mum. Another favourite on night cliff-top walks was, "The Green Eyed Dragon" with Dad holding a torch under his chin.

In 1975, Gordon and Thalie built a house at Aireys Inlet & lived there until the late 1990s. Family and friends spent many happy holidays there.

Dad never stopped working. He was an inventor, a builder of many handy pieces of woodwork and a hoarder of all sorts of bits and pieces that might come in handy. He dreamed one day of making an invention that he could patent.

Dad was a strong supporter of the Surf Coast & Aireys Inlet communities, and received a community award for his tireless work. He fund raised a considerable amount to build the Fairhaven Surf Life-saving Club tower. Gordon was a Justice of the Peace and many people sought his advice and assistance.

Even when Gordon was confined to a wheelchair he still maintained his wonderful qualities and his sharp, if not cheeky, sense of humour. Gordon's love for Thalie, "His little baby," never wavered and when they were separated he continued to visit as often as possible and tell her he loved her.

We wish to express our heartfelt thanks for everyone's great support, to Gordon's many visitors, friends and carers over recent years, and all those who have touched his heart.

You are here today because you have known & loved an honest man, a witty, charming and loveable gentleman and a sincere friend. Dad & the family appreciate your support. Thank you all very much for attending today.

Now we will hear extracts from a couple of Gordon's favourite songs.

• 

Birth	28 May 1916	Geelong, Victoria, Australia
Event-Misc	24 Nov 1925	Boys under 10: 2nd - School Sports, Grovedale, Victoria, Australia
Marriage	7 Mar 1942	St John's Church, East Malvern, Victoria - Athalie Evelyn MCCULLOCH
Residence	Aug 1944	120 West Melbourne Road, Geelong West, Victoria, Australia
Residence	1954	13 Blake Street, Caulfield, Victoria, Australia
Residence	1958	Holmehurst Court, Brighton East, Victoria, Australia
Death	7 Apr 2006	Respiratory arrest, Aspiration pneumonia, CVA, NIDDM - Surrey Hills, Victoria, Australia
Burial	11 Apr 2006	EAS-LAWN-K-808-167, Geelong Eastern Cemetery, Geelong, Victoria, Australia

Spouse	Athalie Evelyn MCCULLOCH (1920 - 2013)
Child	Paul Tracy ALFORD (1944 - 1944)
Child	Anthea Zara ALFORD BEd (1946 - 2021)
Child	Living
Child	Living

Father	James "Jas" ALFORD (1884 - 1964)
Mother	Amanda ANDERSON (1871 - 1932)
Sibling	Eva Mary ALFORD (1909 - 1982)
Sibling	Catherine May "Kit, Miss Kitten" ALFORD (1911 - 1986)

Notes