Bass Coast Post
  • Home
    • Recent articles
  • News
    • Point of view
    • View from the chamber
  • Writers
    • Anne Davie
    • Anne Heath Mennell
    • Bob Middleton
    • Carolyn Landon
    • Catherine Watson
    • Christine Grayden
    • Dick Wettenhall
    • Ed Thexton
    • Etsuko Yasunaga
    • Frank Coldebella
    • Gayle Marien
    • Geoff Ellis
    • Gill Heal
    • Harry Freeman
    • Ian Burns
    • Joan Woods
    • John Coldebella
    • Jordan Crugnale
    • Julie Statkus
    • Kit Sleeman
    • Laura Brearley >
      • Coastal Connections
    • Lauren Burns
    • Liane Arno
    • Linda Cuttriss
    • Linda Gordon
    • Lisa Schonberg
    • Liz Low
    • Marian Quigley
    • Mark Robertson
    • Mary Whelan
    • Meryl Brown Tobin
    • Michael Whelan
    • Mikhaela Barlow
    • Miriam Strickland
    • Natasha Williams-Novak
    • Neil Daly
    • Patsy Hunt
    • Pauline Wilkinson
    • Phil Wright
    • Sally McNiece
    • Terri Allen
    • Tim Shannon
    • Zoe Geyer
  • Features
    • Features 2022
  • Arts
  • Local history
  • Environment
  • Bass Coast Prize
  • Community
    • Diary
    • Courses
    • Groups
  • Contact us

Vale Malcolm Dunn

27/11/2018

5 Comments

 
PictureMalcolm Vivyan Dunn was the backbone
of the Kernot community
By Rob Parsons
 
MALCOLM Dunn died on Saturday November 17 doing what he loved best … riding his beloved motor bike with his Vietnam Veterans MotorCycle Club.
 
I first met Malcolm when I became his neighbour in July 2013, so I have only known him for the last five years. He was the first person to welcome me into the district, introducing me to the local Kernot farmers lunch group, and helping me  with his tractor to lift a heavy fountain into place in my front garden.

​Since then I have found out that Malcolm has been the building block of this small community in the hinterland of Bass Coast. With his tractor and bulldozer (his father had one of the first in the area) he helped build the local Kernot Hall, church, tennis courts, playground and covered barbecue. In fact just about everything except the Kernot store. Only a few weeks ago he was helping clean up the Kernot railway reserve with his tractor. He was always helping his neighbours with cutting hay and looking after their cattle and property.

PictureMalcolm Dunn with his silver tray, August 2018,
50 years after it was presented to him at the Kernot hall before he was sent to fight in the Vietnam War.
In March 1968 both Malcolm and Thomas Loughridge were called up for National Service in Vietnam. During a presentation at the Kernot Hall, the Shire President, Cr D. Atkinson, wished both boys “God’s speed and a safe return”.
 
The presidents of the Nyora and Bass RSLs, Geoff Brook and Bernie Shackelford, presented each man with a leather wallet and Cr George Garry, on behalf of the residents of Almurta and Woodleigh, presented each with a cheque and a silver tray. Malcom’s was inscribed “Presented to Malcolm Dunn from the Residents of Kernot and District on his departure for Service in Vietnam 1968”.
 
Malcolm was a genuine warm-hearted good guy. The best neighbour you could possibly ask for and loved by so many people. He was taken away from his family and so many other farming and bike riding friends well before his time, and leaves a big void in our little community.

His funeral in the Kernot Hall on Wednesday was the biggest event in Kernot for many years, possibly ever. An estimated 500 to 600 turned up, mostly locals but also scores of Malcolm’s friends from the Vietnam Veterans MotorCycle Club
 
Thank you, Malcolm, for everything from your Kernot community and your Kernot farmers lunch group. May you rest in peace. You will be very sadly missed.

Picture
Malcolm Dunn's funeral was the biggest event in Kernot for many years, perhaps ever.
Picture
Malcolm's fellow veterans and motorcycle club member form a guard of honour at the Grantville cemetery.
5 Comments
Liane
29/11/2018 03:24:38 pm

I first met Malcolm when asked to lunch at the Kernot Store. It turned out that there was no such thing as a free lunch as I was asked to help to firstly in responding to a Council plan that would placed a number of restrictions on farmers, and later to help prevent a planned Milk Bottling Plant from being built which would have marred the beauty and tranquility that is Kernot. Malcolm was at the forefront of both - in his quiet, yet doggedly determined way to protect his beloved Kernot and to ease the burdens of his fellow farmers. He will be greatly missed.

Reply
Stephanie Dunn
30/12/2018 10:38:28 am

Thank you for your beautiful tribute to Dad, Rob. Not a day goes by when we don’t miss him

Reply
Doc Nagle. Barry
8/1/2019 05:45:34 pm

First first met Mal @ Mc Donald's in Elsternwick having his break while doing the Brake Tests for GMH around Melb. some years ago. Then at the reunions up at Cohuna. Such a wonderful guy, so greatly miss. Doc. Nagle

Reply
raymond swankie
8/1/2019 07:50:30 pm

Another one gone that will be sadly missed condolences to all involved
Ray& Gail Swankie

Reply
Jade link
11/10/2020 06:05:59 pm

I loved my grandpa I used to go across the yard to see him and my grandma one morning I knocked on there door and my grandma answered and I asked where is grandpa and I grandma said he is out biking I would not go until he came

Reply



Leave a Reply.