George Key and best friend Storm are moving on after aBy Kath Gannaway
GEORGE Key paid a farewell visit to his old school last week.
George who was born at the Yarra Junction Hospital on 28 July 1938 is celebrating his 70th birthday with friends in a couple of weeks, then moving out of the district and plans to travel around Australia.
“It doesn’t look that much different,” he said surveying the timber building which is now the local pre-school.
His father opened the Don Valley State School building and his mother taught there during his childhood.
Just a stone’s throw from the family’s nine hectare farm, it has special meaning for George.
He remembers walking to school each day, delivering newspapers from the general store on the corner of Don Road, adventures with school chums at Launching Place State School and walking with his teenage mates to the dances at Yarra Junction.
Among many memories are the little timber train which ran along the ‘Powelly Road’ and wonderful times at local halls including Powelltown, Warburton and Gilderoy.
The farm was subdivided for housing and neither the Gilderoy hall nor the general store are still standing but George says he’s not sad, or even nostalgic, about the changes he has seen in the valley over the years.
“I like to see things move on,” he said.
“If I sold you something for $5 and you sold it for $10 I’d say good on you. I wouldn’t be thinking I could have got more for it,” he said by way of explanation.
After leaving school George did an apprenticeship with local carpenter Fred Atkinson and among a number of careers worked as a bottle recycler for 25 years, at Wesburn tip for two years, founded Yarra Valley Security where he patrolled the valley for six years and was a senior partner in WasteNOT Recyclers in Lilydale for five years.
George will be guest of honour at a combined 70th and moving away party to be held at Wesburn Hall on Saturday 2 August.
He’s says he’s looking forward to catching up with old friends, including many of the guests he missed at his 60th birthday party at Gladysdale Hall.
That milestone is not among his fondest memories. There were plenty of friends gathered at the hall but George became ill just hours before the party and was rushed to hospital where he spent the night.
“I missed my 60th but I’m not going to miss this one,” he said.
“Tell them I’ll be there.”
