When Brian initiated the formation of the Rutherglen Historical Society in 1964, it was not his first venture at district history. At 18, Brian had become a vestryman at St Stephen’s Anglican Church. In 1963, he co-authored with Bruce McIntosh a booklet celebrating the 100th anniversary of that church.
A memorable achievement of the society in its early days was the discovery of the importance of the Henry Handel Richardson House in Chiltern. Offered to the society as “historic,” the house was identified by Brian as Ultima Thule. Through the North Eastern Historical Society, Brian gained National Trust recognition of the find. He was later awarded Life Membership of the National Trust.
In 1978, the society under Brian gained responsibility with the arts community for the use of the Rutherglen Common School as a museum. Built in 1872, the building opened as one of the first state schools in Victoria the next year.
Brian’s first civic activity was as a member of the Rutherglen Rural Fire Brigade at the age of 16. He served as secretary 1955-1976 and by then had led the campaign for a fire station in the Main St.
Continuing as Operations Officer for 10 years, he also added 20 years on the Regional Fire Prevention Committee. For his service to the regional CFA, Brian was awarded a national medal, 1st and 2nd clasps.
Elected to the Rutherglen Shire Council 1972-1993, Brian served as President 1980, 1983 and 1990. He chaired the council’s finance committee for most of those years; he saw a Senior Citizens Club opened in 1983; he championed development and then succeeded with the opening of what is now Uncle Toby’s in Wahgunyah; he chaired the successful Rutherglen-Corowa campaign against the opening of the Industrial Toxic Waste incinerator near Corowa. For his record of civic service, Indigo Shire Council awarded Brian a Citation of Appreciation in 2008.
In 1972, Brian also became a member of the Rutherglen/Wahgunyah Sewerage Treatment and water reticulation system, being Chairman 1980-1999. His legacy is evidenced by the building at the southern end of the Foord bridge.
Between 1975-1985, Brian also chaired Rutherglen Shire’s Co-operative Housing Society during a time of high interest rates.
1975 was also the year Brian joined the Rutherglen High School Council as Chairman, a post in which he continued until 1992. During his chairmanship a new Arts and Science building was constructed, and Brian successfully campaigned for a Community Centre to be financed and constructed on High School land.
Other community activities included the Local Masonic Lodge of which he was a member for 65 years and achieved Grand Lodge rank and Life Governorship of Royal Freemasons; he was a member the Rutherglen Nursing Hospital’s Committee for 16 years; for 10 years he was a member of the Rutherglen Park Committee (mostly as Secretary); he also served on the Rutherglen Tourism Association for 12 years.
For St Stephen’s church he was part of the re-roofing of the building for the 1963 Centenary, a leader in raising a $16,000 loan to construct a new church hall in the 1970s, a historian in updating the church’s 125th history in 1989 (but persuading another Historical Society member to update the text for the 150th anniversary in 2013).
His main fund-raising initiative was the establishment of the annual Anglican Ball for which he was secretary for its first 50 years. His church involvement also extended to a Diocesan Committee in Wangaratta.
Brian’s wife, Jeanette, was also greatly involved at St Stephen’s, particularly the Mothers’ Union in which she took leadership roles at parish and Diocesan level. However, vestry involvement was not possible until Camberwell where, during Brian’s last illness, Jeanette was Vicar’s Warden. Theirs was a partnership of service. Their sons remember a father arriving home for a timely dinner before changing to hurry off to some committee on most evenings.
Hospitality was a mark of the partnership as experienced by Brian Lloyd during his contract to write the official history of Rutherglen.
Jeanette’s community involvement included membership of the Rutherglen Primary School, membership of Meals on Wheels for 30 years (including a stint as President), a Club leader and later District Cub Leader for which she was awarded a medal of merit by the Scouting Association Australia, and active in the local Red Cross.
Jeanette’s community service was recognised by the award of Rotary’s Paul Harris Fellowship in 1992, the only female and non-Rotarian to be so recognised locally.
Brian’s work had already been deservedly recognised by the award of an Order of Australia Medal the previous year.
A humble gentleman with a quiet grin and chuckle, Brian was always accessible to the public in his Japer Bros. office during the day, at the petrol pump during the weekend, or in an emergency RACV vehicle call during a holiday evening. He richly deserved the award, but he never sought such recognition. His was a life of service.
