By Casey Neill
“It’s a pretty long innings but it’s been good.”
Jack Rae was referring to his 70 years as a Dandenong Agricultural and Pastoral Society committee member.
The society renamed the historic sale ring complex at its Greaves Reserve home the Jack Rae OAM Pavilion on Thursday 15 February.
Mr Rae is a fourth generation farmer, and still runs cattle with his brother Bert today.
Bert, Jack’s sister Thelma, and his daughters Dianne, Judith and Noelene all attended the dedication.
“It is a bit special,” Mr Rae said.
“I was a bit instrumental in asking the council if we could resurrect this.
“To me, it meant a lot.
“How much longer it will be used here, who knows.”
The 89-year-old worked with then-Greater Dandenong Council heritage co-ordinator Colleen Lazenby on the project.
In 1998 the council set her the task of capturing the Dandenong stock market’s history before it closed it down.
Mr Rae helped to open doors for her, the council fearing she’d cop the brunt of ill-will towards the closure decision.
Together they set about saving signage, the sale ring and other relics.
“They were all destined for scrap,” Ms Lazenby said.
Mr Rae opened the building that now bears his name back in 2000.
“Jack Rae knows everybody and everybody knows Jack Rae,” she said.
“His energy is legendary.
“We are all proud to be your friends and colleagues.”
Mr Rae said Lindsay Keys – “his grandson is on the committee now” – suggested 71 years ago that Jack or his brother Fred join the society.
“I’m only a lad,” he said.
“All the men are on the society.”
He was 18-years-old and was intimidated about joining, but took on the challenge.
Another Keys, George, a few years later suggested Mr Rae become the society’s representative on the then-Chamber of Agriculture.
“That was my beginning really,” he said.
“I suppose it’s the relationship that’s been established on the Dandenong Show society that has kept me as involved.”
He’s served on the committee since May 1948, as president in 1957 and 1985, and is a life member of the Dandenong and Berwick show societies.
He was the Royal Melbourne Agricultural Show ringmaster from 1984 to 1995 and received a Medal of the Order of Australia for his services to primary industry.
MC Graeme Marriott said: “If Jack Rae is in a meeting and he says something, people listen – simple as that.”
