I attended two memorial services in three days, for two men on opposite sides of our wonderful livestock industry. The first was of the late James “Jimmy” Richard Matthews.
Congratulations to Robert Woodward for suggesting a service be held, and to Peter Lee and Pat Reddan for putting the service together.
I grew up in the livestock industry while working at Newmarket saleyards in the 1970s and early 80s. Along with many at the memorial service, held last Saturday, at the Inglis horse auction complex, the days of Jimmy, and his company Fisken Reid & Co, are very memorable.
Jimmy was very well regarded in the livestock industry, and also for his involvement in his other loves of family, football and camp drafting. Unbeknownst to me, Jimmy was vice-president of the Essendon football club in the 70s. He was responsible for getting Des Tuddenham to go to Essendon, and between them they formed part of Essendon’s young player recruitment team.
Robert Shaw was one such player recruited by them, and Robert spoke very highly of Jimmy, not only for what he did for him, but as person of great integrity, and a loving family man.
Numerous people remembered Jimmy on the day, and all spoke of his firm but fair attitude, his business ability, and his love of Essendon and camp drafting. To be truthful, having listened to how much time Jimmy spent away from home, both for work and play, it was hard to imagine how family life came into a 24-hour day.
From the time Jimmy took over Fisken Reid, he turned his company into the largest stock agency in the southern hemisphere, as described by many on the day.
Right up to the very last day, Jimmy was working and selling cattle. A testament to the man himself.
Monday was the day I attended the memorial service of Ray Giles, loved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. Along with this brother Colin, Ray took over the family’s business, and built the Trafalgar abattoir up to a level that serviced all facets of livestock.
Besides being a passionate family man, fisherman and hunter, Ray was the fairest of any processor of the industry right up to the time their abattoir was forced to close.
During Ray’s memorial, friends, producers and agents, also friends, plus his grandchildren, spoke of their highest regard for a quiet man of very high integrity.
Numerous humorous stories were told, about his fishing and hunting, and of his family life. But what stood out to me, as an agent and auctioneer over the years, was Ray’s honesty to producers. Ray was well known at sales, not to work in with anyone else. If Ray wanted the livestock he purchased them, and producers were happy with these results.
Ray had been known to pay more than asked for during paddock sales, which earned great him respect as a processor. Their abattoir catered for all varieties of animals, and even small, local farmers could not speak highly enough of Ray.
The underlying theme during the testimonial of both Jimmy and Ray was the dedication to their families, their chosen professions and their friends and outside commitments.
Jimmy’s memorial service attracted people from all over Australia, and for Ray’s memorial, the number of people from the local community was amazing.
Rest In Peace.
