Gordon Wright with wife Eira 8th July 2007

Ana Paula Junqueira (Brazil) & Gordon Wright April 2009

Gordon Wright & Taylor Clark with Daryl & Maureen Lee March 2009

Gordon Wright tree planting Tullamarine July 1991

Maestro Gordon 3rd February 2010

Gordon Wright with President Greg Birchall (Torquay) and David Meller (Strathmore) 12th April 2010

Gordon Wright PP PHF
(Past Member of the Rotary Club of Strathmore)

We are saddened by the death of our dear friend on Thursday 20th January 2011 after a short illness.

He had a great life over 87 years.

He had a proud record of service to Rotary with a 100% attendance over 32 years.

Early Life
Gordon was born in Essendon on 25th December 1923.

He grew up in Sydenham on a mixed farm with 5 other brothers. He went to school some two miles away, on a shared horse, with his brothers. Later, he had his own bike. He had a very arduous life with lots of farm work and school studies. Gordon had to help the family with milking the cows by rising at 5.00 am every morning and after school at night before having dinner at about 8.00 pm. After dinner he studied by candlelight. (No electricity on the family farm) He attended Williamstown High School some 2 hours travel time from home. He rode his bike to the station, train to Footscray, changed train to Williamstown and same for return.

Gordon started his teaching experience in Grade 3, when he was nominated a monitor to help the teacher in the one teacher school.

In secondary school he showed a flare for French, but in Leaving Year, failed miserably in French dictation.

Gordon enlisted in the army in Diamond Creek in 1940 and was posted to the Princes Park camp for basic training. On his first night, he was posted to the Provo Corp because of his teaching experience. He had never handled a rifle in his life before. He had no idea how to handle the troops who absconded over the fence each night for a night on the town. Gordon later served in north Queensland, then shipped overseas to New Guinea, then Rabaul. By this time he had been posted to an engineering unit whose job it was to construct bridges, airfields and other buildings. He also trained as a bomb disposal officer. His unit came under Japanese fire a number of times.

After demobilisation Gordon did a one year teachers training course and his first posting was to a one teacher school at Edenhope. Naturally he joined the local cricket club, football club and became a Sunday school teacher at the local church. He remained there for 8 years.

After a number of other postings Gordon went to Deer Park. It was here that he met a fellow teacher named Eira. Well, the rest is history. After their marriage, they became parents to Bruce and Bronwen.

After Deer Park, he went to Sunshine and was promoted to a much larger school, Brunswick East. This school was notable for its high ethnic community including many Turkish children. This had many challenges and Gordon acquitted himself very well.

Gordon's final school, before retirement, was Tullamarine Primary School, where he was Principal for 16 years. The school had over 1100 students and Gordon taught at least one subject to all of them each year. He knew the names of every child who attended the school.

Gordon and Eira settled into a house in Strathmore. They were mother and father to two children, Bronwen and Bruce. Gordon became heavily involved in many sporting bodies in the area. These included, cricket, football and bowls.
Other interests included St John’s Uniting Church (where he taught Sunday School for decades), church choir master, youth club leader and Freemasonry.  
He is a great gardener, with a great love of roses and orchids.

Gordon lost Eira, after a long illness in September 2008

He was awarded a life membership of the Rotary Club of Strathmore.

Strathmore Bowls Club
Gordon was a member for 46 years and was recognised as a Life Member.
He held many senior posts within the Club and at State level.

President 1996 - 98
Secretary 1986 - 94
He was Greenmaster for over 20 years. He continued as an active player to the end.

He was renowned for having five sets of bowls in the boot of his car. He would pick carefully, before each game which set to use, on the day to suit the conditions.

Gordon was a great teacher of the art of bowling, particularly with students from the local schools, who came to Strathmore to learn and even take up the game as a sport.

He was a keen participant in lawn bowls on the Thursdays before each Conference over many years. This active participation continued in the Torquay Bowls Club.

ROTARY SERVICE
When Gordon joined the then Rotary Club of Strathmore-Gladstone Park in 1978 he was the principal of the State’s largest Primary School at Tullamarine with some 1100 students. 

In more recent times, within the Club, he was known as the Maestro, because he conducted the members in the rendition of the National Anthem, "On the upbeat".

Gordon was recognised with the awards of a PHF and two sapphires for his service to Rotary.

Gordon was instrumental in forming five Probus clubs in our area. There are two Strathmore Mens, one Strathmore Womens and two Strathmore Mixed as well as a Gladstone Park Mixed.

He served on virtually all the committees of the Club in some capacity.

Gordon was President in 1986-87 under the RI Theme of "Rotary Brings Hope".

His greatest service to Rotary was his membership of the District Youth Exchange Committee for 27 years. Countless students, both inbound and outbound, passed through his hands.

He was always amongst the first to be at fund raising activities and other functions so it was little wonder that he can claim to a 100% attendance record for his 32 years of Rotary Service with the Club.

He was also known affectionately as "Mister Youth Exchange". Others just called him "Gordo" --- everyone knew him.

Gordon moved down to Torquay to be near his daughter and family in early 2010. He was inducted into the Rotary Club of Torquay on 12th April 2010 and immediately set about being involved in all its activities.

Rotary Club of Strathmore

Official Records

District Youth Exchange Committee

Gordon was a member of the District Youth Exchange Committee for 27 years.
Literally hundreds of students have passed through his hands over the years.

Gordon & Eira hosted a succession of Youth Exchange Students from the late 1970’s until well into the 1990’s from many parts of the world.  He was quick to move into a District role on the Youth Exchange Committee and became responsible for the co-ordination of students from specific global regions.  He was the longest ever serving Member of that Committee.  But that wasn’t enough for Gordon in his retirement  -  he also took on the role of "Airport Liaison Officer" which meant meeting students at all times of day and night, both inbound and outbound, to ensure their safe passage through Melbourne Airport.  He had his own car space at Tullamarine Airport, thanks to PP John Edwards, because of his frequent visits at the oddest hours to the airport. In emergency situations he and Eira picked up a student late at night, brought them home, bedded them down for the night and next day sent them on to their host club in the country. Many rang him at odd hours to seek his help and he never refused them.

He actively participated in orientation weekends for both outbound and inbound students.
Both Gordon & Eira were very regular attendees at D9790 District Conferences assisting with the Youth Exchange Program activities.  They also accompanied the students, as “Mum & Dad” on the early “Rock to Reef” bus trips.

Rotary Observations

Gordon entered a new phase of his life when he moved to Torquay to live with his daughter, Bronwen. Being a very proactive person, Gordon set about being involved in the local community.
He became a member of the local church.
He became a member of the Torquay Bowls Club.
He became a member of Torquay Probus Club.
He became a member of the Rotary Club of Torquay.

Rotary and Bowls.
I have a long standing joke with Gordon about lawn bowls. For years, he asked me to come and try out bowls and join the Strathmore Bowls Club. For years I had other commitments, like work and raising kids. Finally, after I retired from full-time work, I relented and joined. Gordon became my coach. It is the best thing I have done. I thoroughly enjoy the challenge of the game and the great fellowship of fellow bowlers. So, I have this saying, “It took me 21 years to take up bowls!” Thanks Gordon.

PP David Meller

Gordon and Little People.
I remember a dinner held at my place for the Club where Gordon sat on the floor for most of the night playing with my son Taylor.
Gordon is the man Taylor associates with Rotary because he took the time to play with him.
The oldest man at the dinner who gave most of his time to play with the youngest man! Testimony to his ability to relate to all age groups.

PP Peter Clark

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