The new Coles precinct development at the corner of Colgan and Hamilton Sts, Cobram, has conjured memories for Berrigan man Gordon Saunders. Photo: Barb Love.
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Barb Love
Development triggers memories
Cobram is undergoing changes, with development of a new Coles supermarket and shopping complex on the corner site bounded by Colgan and Hamilton Sts that was previously owned by West Motors, bringing back strong memories of years long gone for Berrigan man Gordon Saunders.
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Born in Melbourne, Gordon Saunders arrived in Cobram with his family in 1956 when his canny mum, who always loved a good buy, purchased a new home for the family for the sum of seven thousand pounds from Rocco Surace. While it was indeed a good buy, there was also a hitch, as the house was not fully completed and in need of additional carpentry work. The family secured the services of the Denson brothers, Colin and Alan, who completed the job using their Morris Oxford utility and pushbike to cart everything they needed. The brothers were later to open Denbro, which became a thriving business in the town.
The land to house the Coles complex was purchased in the 1950s by Roy Kortum, who moved to the district in 1949 from Elmore after securing a contract to cart tomatoes for Heinz in Dandenong. Initially, Roy and his drivers did it tough, living in tents before Roy built a house and several large sheds where he worked on keeping his 25 trucks on the road.
Gordon, who was working full-time at the age of just 16, said on some nights he would load 30 to 40 trucks of fruit for the Sydney markets.
“We carried for most of the orchards in the district including the two biggest ones, Bob Pullar and Bob Cornish,” he said.
“Roy was the biggest cartage contractor outside of Melbourne in the 1950 and ’60s and one of the nicest men you would find.
“He and his wife, Amy, had five children and besides looking after them, Amy would cook daily for as many as eight of the drivers as well!”
Today, Amy is 91 and lives happily at Amaroo Aged Care in Berrigan, while Roy passed away some years ago.
Amy Kortum poses in front of one of the company trucks while behind is Murray Valley Packing Co-Op. Photo: Gordon Saunders.
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Gordon began his working life at 14 with McFarland Engineering in a grain shed opposite the Cobram silo where he learnt to weld.
“They taught me everything,” Gordon said.
“One job I recall was smashing up a printing press with a sledgehammer owned by the Cobram Courier and run by Les Parry.
“It was fun, but hard work!”
While Gordon was still at McFarland’s, Don Holbrook asked him to fill up a trailer with sand and pour it over the cricket pitch ready for the footy season, then take the trailer back to the yards and drive him home. He did it! Not bad for a youngster of just 14 who didn’t hold a driver’s licence.
“I thought I was pretty good, driving for the teacher,” Gordon said.
“My dad saw Mr Holbrook a while later and asked how I went. His response? ‘Some kids make it, some don’t, but he did!’
“After that I went to work for Roy, I was 16 years old then.”
Kortum’s carted tomatoes, fresh fruit (including oranges and stone fruit), cans of milk and cream for Murray Goulburn alongside sheep to market. It ultimately became a very big concern.
A Kortum truck is loaded ready for the Sydney markets with Roy Kortum on top and ‘Tiger’ Falls standing. Photo: Gordon Saunders.
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Gordon, now 80, learned so much from a young age. He became a skilled truck driver and could turn his hand to just about anything.
“When I purchased my first farm it was next door to the Kortum property, ‘Mowbray’,” he said.
“I grew potatoes and produced two crops each year and also bought my own trucks. I was being paid just $1 for a 50kg bag. It was tough going, as I also had to pay my workers!
“Times have certainly changed, as recently, I had to pay $15 for a 4kg bag of potatoes.”
Gordon and his wife of almost 60 years, Margaret, produced a son, Robbie — who passed away from a horrendous accident at the age of 24 — alongside two daughters, Elizabeth and April. The couple today have five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. The Berrigan Race Club has conducted a race in Robbie’s honour each year for more than 30 years.
Being a country chap, anything with a motor and wheels became a passion for Gordon. His most highly prized vehicle today is a shiny black Ford LTD 2000, previously owned by the managing director of Coles Myer and used only on special occasions.
Speaking of his prized LTD brought back memories of Dr Gerald Kennedy, who drove a magnificent 1957 Jaguar. He was proud of his car and took care to ensure it was perfectly maintained. On one particular occasion, he booked it into the local Caltex garage for a service and oil change. It appears the old oil was removed, but the mechanic had forgotten to replace it with the new. Consequently, when the doctor started the engine, the car blew up! Oops.
Gordon retired at 65, selling the farm to Angela and Frank Diaco. The time was right; after all, he had been in the workforce since the age of 14.
