Obituary

Part of the eulogy, delivered by son Peter, follows. “Jim Campbell was born in North Fitzroy on October 20th 1927, a third generation Australian whose family arrived in Australia in 1830.

"He was the eldest of seven kids … his parents Jim and Elvia were living in a rented house in Union Avenue Northcote, their father having been killed in an explosives accident at the Northcote Brickworks.

"Dad’s father Jim was working at Wrights, the Timberyard in Northcote. The depression was beginning and layoffs happening, and when Jim lost his job, the family decided to move to Wangaratta, initially rabbiting for extra cash.

“Jim, Dad’s father, started a concreting business and the family lived in rented properties in Wangaratta. Wangaratta like most country towns was poor at that time, but developing, and Dad's father won the contract to pave gutters and footpaths in Wangaratta.

“This would shape the family over the coming years, in the spare time Jim’s dad and the boys built cement bricks before and after school and soon the family had their first home.

“Dad attended Wangaratta State School, then the Wangaratta Technical School. He attained an Intermediate Certificate, then a Diploma in Engineering Drawing.

“In 1945 with the war was in full swing, the Federal Government commissioned under the Department of Defence a new explosives factory in Mulwala to manufacture gunpowder and sulphuric acid, and Dad applied for the position of draftsman.

"Dad was successful and started work at the explosives factory as a junior draftsman 15th March 1945, one of its first employees.

"He would continue as a draftsman for 22 years, after which time he became a senior technical officer, managing work flow within the factory. He would do this role for another 20 years until his retirement in 1987 after 42 years.

“Mum and Dad joined the now defunct Railways Tennis Club, starting a passion with tennis and for sport that would continue for 70 years.

“They met and were married nearly 72 years ago on September 9, 1950 in Yarrawonga. Mum is a McDonald, and it is said in Scotland that a Campbell should never marry a McDonald. Mum and Dad spent over 71 years demonstrating that to be a myth!

"Mum and Dad moved into newly built Government flats in Mulwala, flats built to attract workers to the explosives factory.

“As the post war development of country Victoria accelerated, Dad and Mum became very involved in sport, sporting clubs, but also in the community.

"Dad had been playing football and cricket for the factory teams, and had joined the Railways Tennis club in 1946-47. (Tar and sawdust tennis courts).

“Mum and Dad, having met there, played tennis for 11 years with great success until 1958 when they joined the emerging Yarrawonga Lawn Tennis Club, which had six grass courts (now 18 grass and four hardcourts).

“In his first year he became secretary of the lawn tennis club. He was also treasurer for eight years before being appointed president in 1967. He served as president for 11 years.

“During this time a new clubhouse was built and a government loan was approved to build four plexipave hardcourts and an additional six grasscourts.

“In 1958 Dad also started a junior tennis program at the tennis club - Every Saturday morning from 9am-noon in summer. The first morning there were 20 school kids from Yarrawonga; this grew to 350 kids over a 22-year period from 1958 to 1980.

“Dad, with Mum’s involvement, and also with Mum’s bother Ian, was the tournament secretary of the Easter tennis tournament for over 20 years.

“Dad and Mum were both awarded Life Membership of the tennis club in 1973. Additionally in 1971, Dad was awarded Life Membership by the Lawn Tennis Association of Victoria for his services to tennis in the NE region.

“Concurrently with all of this, in 1952 Dad joined the Yarrawonga/Mulwala golf club (then 18 holes, now 45 holes). Dad was on the games committee and became the club handicapper for over 15 years. His brother Colin was on the board of directors.

“Dad and Mum both played golf, had a lot of fun and a lot of success. Winter was golf, summer was tennis, with a bit of table tennis and fishing thrown in for good measure.

“Dad was asked to joined the Alexandra Park Trustee committee, the trustee at the time that managed the caravan park, football oval, tennis courts, rifle club and picture theatre in the main street. He did this for 12 years.

“Dad also joined the high school advisory council as the school was looking for funding for a canteen, and Dad a strong track record with the local government members. This was achieved and a deal done with a Yarrawonga Housing company to build the canteen. Dad was on the council for five years whilst Ros and I were at high school in Yarrawonga.

“Dad became an elder of the Presbyterian church, and then became secretary of the church board committee. He had these roles for the most of the 1970s.

“In 1971 there was a push in Yarrawonga to start a credit union. There was significant resistance from the four banks in the town. It was established on the 8th August 1972, with six Foundation Directors of which Dad was one.

“Dad and Mum transitioned from tennis and golf to bowls in 1979-80. Dad remained a member of the Yarrawonga Bowls Club for a mere 43 years. He was chairman, president and games committee member at various times.

"Dad's many sporting achievements are too many to mention here (subsequently mentioned in a tribute to Jim by Yarrawonga Bowls Club President Robert Tait) however what many people don't realise is that he truly was ambidextrous.(

“Besides his family and sport, he loved gardening...the Richmond footy club … and his stamp collecting. He also loved fishing.

“Jim was a constant in every way…a constant presence in the town, in the sporting clubs, in many organisations…a constant in the Dept of Defence…everybody knew Jim Campbell.”