Lorne Victoria Australia

Lorne people with family names starting with F.

• Fatouros, George
• Ferguson, Linton and Mandy
• Fletcher, Heather and Michael McGrath (2017)
• Floyer, Graham (2017)
• Ford, Tim (2017)
• Freeman, Nola and John (2018)
• Fulton, Meryl (2018)

Fatouros, George

George came to Lorne in the post World War II immigration scheme to rebuild Australia’s population. John Agar remembers him from the days of the San Toy Café, as a young Greek man full of passion, humour and patience. George married Bertha ‘Billie’ Ferrier.

[Source: John Agar, Surf Coast Times article “Oi ypérochoi Éllines mas” (Our magnificent Greeks) 2021]

Ferguson, Linton and Mandy (2017)

Linton and Mandy Ferguson (2017)

As many do, Mandy and Linton met in their work place  – Maribrynong High School. Mandy, actually a librarian, but who spoke four languages, found herself assigned to teaching English as a Second Language when the Timorese arrived at the school. Linton’s expertise was in maths and computers and taught those subjects in Melbourne for ten years, in Shepparton for 20 years (five years as Assistant Principal) and helping out part time in Lorne for ten.

After they married and were living in Tatura, Mandy took time off from teaching to care for their two children. When she resumed her career she taught French at Kyabram Secondary College before taking on teaching English to Iraqi refugees. She also took on learning yet another language – Indonesian.

Since childhood, Linton’s family came to Lorne for holidays and rented accommodation. In the 60s his father bought the family holiday house, which eventually became the home Linton and Mandy lived in after retirement until they built a new one.

Their two daughters and their partners have produced two grandchildren for Mandy and Linton and all come to Lorne to visit regularly. Mandy loves to sew and knit and no doubt as a grandmother gets plenty of practice at both.

Linton contributes to Lorne as a committee member of The Stribling Reserve and as a member of The Men’s Shed. During the summer you have probably seen him helping out at Foodworks in the liquor section or gardening at home. Mandy has worked at Lorne Beach Books and Lorne Diva.

They have enjoyed travelling in the past and hope to again in the future. They spend time regularly in Melbourne babysitting grandchildren and caring for Mandy’s elderly mother. In Lorne they enjoy swimming and walking the dogs.

CW

Fletcher, Heather and Michael McGrath (2017)

Heather Fletcher and Michael McGrath, 2017

Both Michael and Heather’s first connection to Lorne was through their parents, who coincidentally had both spent their honeymoon here.  Michael says he wasn’t born in Lorne but might well have been conceived during that time! However, it wasn’t until he was in his teens that his family began renting a house each summer for three weeks over Christmas. Two of his most enduring memories are learning to drive in front of The Old Colonial Club and New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Born and educated in Melbourne, Michael graduated as an engineer and spent many years of his career with Mobil Oil.  He travelled extensively throughout Australia and South Pacific, including moving his family regularly interstate and to Port Moresby. When he returned to Melbourne twenty years ago, Michael wanted to replicate for his family what his parents had provided for him. The cycle of renting in Lorne for family holidays began again. After several years renting, he bought his own house.  “The children and grandchildren have first priority to use it for school holidays and we fit around their needs for these times. However, Heather and I come as often as we can, and we use Lorne as a hub for visiting throughout the Otway region.”

Heather’s family roots are on “the other side” and was only introduced to the area by Michael, five years ago. Her qualifications are in educational leadership. She recently retired from a career in academic administration at Melbourne and Monash Universities.

Michael has a passion for eating food and Heather one for cooking it. Heather loves opera. Michael doesn’t. Heather likes nothing more than cooking with her favourite arias playing.  Michael quickly learned that loud opera results in great creative dining and says his tolerance for opera has increased exponentially.

Both are committed walkers.  They are regulars on all the bush walking tracks in the Lorne area. Much of their travel is planned around spectacular walking opportunities in Australia and overseas. USA, Canada and Japan are next in their sights.

“What we love about coming to Lorne is the contrast with our city life. As we start to come down more often we would like to be more involved in the community”.

It was no co-incidence that I happened to meet them at a Committee for Lorne forum.

CW

Floyer, Graham (2017)

Graham Floyer, 2017

Graham’s family has a long connection with the Great Ocean Road and Lorne districts. In 1884 his paternal great grandfather from England settled near the St George River, the 1899 census showing him as a market gardener. Graham’s maternal great grandfather helped cut the original road from Deans Marsh to Lorne with a bullock team.

Graham was born in 1946 at Birregurra Hospital, attended school at Lorne until year eight, then to Belmont High to year eleven. He recalls at age sixteen, he and his brother drove over the edge of the GOR near Cumberland River, landing upside down on rocks thirty metres below, both escaping to tell the tale.

Graham joined the National Bank in 1964, beginning at the Korumburra branch, then Ocean Grove, Sorrento, and Geelong in 1967 where he met his future wife, Carleen, at the Palais Theatre. Carleen was a nurse at Geelong Hospital.

They married in Geelong in 1974 and first lived at Hoppers Crossing. Graham’s first manager position was at Inverloch, then Moe, Sale, Mansfield, Morwell, and his final nine years at Traralgon.

He retired in 2002, and lived in Torquay while their home was rebuilt in Lorne. His brother Brian was a line foreman in Lorne for many years.

Graham and Carleen have two sons, a daughter who lives in Port Headland, and seven grandchildren.

In 1989 Graham found, via a cousin, other Floyer family in England. There was only one Floyer name in the London ‘phone book, but it led to ancestry back to 1086, and a family royal coat of arms. In 2010 Graham was invited to manage the Bendigo Bank in Apollo Bay, a four year stint to round out his long banking career.

Graham’s interests today are family history, reading, walking, and still managing finances as honorary Treasurer for the Lorne Historical Society. He remembers Lorne in earlier times as a more working class society, with more permanent resident home owners, but today, after a career traversing Victoria, very much enjoys the Lorne environment.

WMB

Foord, Tim (2017)

Tim Foord, 2017

“I really love chilli plants and grow so many I end up giving lots away. I have had a market stall now and again.” Tim can’t explain this unusual passion and has even named his beautiful dog, ‘Chilli’. He enjoys food and cooking and Megan agrees he does 80% of it at their house. It would be fair to say he puts Chilli in almost every meal.

Tim came to Lorne with his father when he was three. He attended the local school before completing his secondary education in Geelong.  He spent a happy year as an exchange student in Saskatchewan, Canada, an experience he valued so much, he would like any children he has, to be part of that program.

When he left school, he set off for Europe and Canada to backpack for 12 months. He returned to Lorne for two years before heading north to Noosa to work in hospitality. Seven and a half years later he came home to join his father in management of the family business, Lorne Beach Front Accommodation.

 “A family business is relentless. It’s all day, every day.”  Understandably he looks forward to his annual skiing trip- something he has done since the age of 14, and takes a week of warmth in Queensland. When business is quiet, he tries to slip away for a weekend.

As well as growing chillies, Tim and Megan have beehives. They collect more honey than they can eat. Tim loves to travel but the purchase of their house in December has put that on hold for a bit. He has North America and Japan in his sights for when the time comes.

 Killing two birds with one stone, Tim takes their dog, Chilli, for a walk on the beach twice a day.

CW

Freeman, Nola and John (2018)

Nola and John Freeman, 2018

48 Years ago Nola’s girlfriend and flatmate organised a blind date to take her to a Ballarat Teachers College Ball.  It was John, who lived on the family farm at nearby Mt Mercer.  The date was a success and he asked her out the very next week. Although she turned him down that time, he persisted. “We fell in love  – and still are – and six months later we married”.

John was born and educated in Ballarat. He was under no pressure to return to the farm but it was and is still, his passion. His own son has carried on the tradition and after Agricultural College has also returned, albeit with a “different” approach.  John and Nola have moved into Ballarat but John says “I don’t really want to be out of it yet”.

After the Freeman’s were married they set up their own business. They created Freeman’s Transport, a grain trading and transport company which their son has taken over.  Nola runs the office with her daughter–in-law (a nurse) and their accountant who Nola taught in grade six.

 When the children were in school Nola served on committees, did heaps of fund raising and worked for charities, in particular, SIDS. Not only was she part of setting up the organisation but with her own tragic personal experience became a vital member counselling other parents who had suffered the same sadness.

John’s not really into sport.” I played a bit of tennis and golf and I support Geelong Footy Club. Nola follows Essendon but we never go together when they play each other.” Nola played squash and had a go at golf. John has been part of his local CFA for as long as he can remember.

Nola’s passion is her home, garden and their grandchildren….. I AM a grandmother and I love it”. To celebrate her 70^th birthday she is taking her two eldest grandchildren to Disneyland. She believes the travel they did with their children proved inspirational. Their daughter gave up a legal career, went to London, married an Englishman and created a chain of coffee shops which become bars at night.

The Freemans have travelled widely, love cruises and are happy to have family in London, an excuse to visit Europe more.

They bought in Lorne ten years ago and come for weekends regularly, usually with family or friends. They are party people. Their entertainment includes Qdos and The Aquatic Club.

CW

Fulton, Meryl (2018)

Meryl Fulton, 2018

Sport has been a passion and a major part of Meryl’s life. “I was a fanatic”.  Many in Lorne would know she was behind the upgrading and expansion of netball as a serious sport in Lorne.

In 1960 when she first became involved in the then Polwarth League, Lorne were Premiers.  She not only played but coached teams to further success over 17 years. There were even five night teams.

Her generous and enthusiastic nature and the respect with which she was held in the community resulted in upgrades to the courts, lighting for night games and donation of a shed – complete with a chip heater for the players to change and shower in. “There was such a strong sense of community”.

Meryl was born the second youngest of eight children and educated in Colac. “My great grandmother was the first white lady to live in Colac permanently.” At school she thought about nursing but was directed towards sewing instead. She studied the craft in Ballarat but on her return to Colac began work at a local store.

That didn’t last long before she decided a change in pace was appropriate. With a wicked smile she told me how she began a program of working summers at The Cumberland for Lillian Beaurepaire  and spending winters in Queensland on holidays with relatives – well that is until she met Len in Lorne. They married in 1960 and set up in town and produced five daughters who have given her 14 grandchildren.

The Fultons have always had room for boarders.  “ I loved them all “. In the past, many a telephonist, banker and night post worker have been fortunate to be accommodated in their home. Meryl is still in touch with some of them.

Apart from a being completely devoted to her children and grandchildren, her sewing skills provide lots of pleasure. She makes pyjamas for many of them and exquisite patchwork quilts. Oh and over the balcony she points out bee hives from which she will collect honey later in the day.

Meryl loves travel but I’m inclined to say it’s the adventure that appeals more. From the time her last daughter left university when they spent a month in UK together, she has been with other daughters and grand daughters to South Africa, France, Ireland, Canada and Alaska, South America and the Galapagos, Norfolk Island and New Zealand. She currently has her eyes set on Scandinavia.

“Sometimes I think about what if I had become a nurse but then I wouldn’t have had the life I have had and I have no regrets.”

CW

Sources

• Lorne Historical Society Collections
• Surf Coast Times, Committee for Lorne Page, Community Profile by Cynthia Wynhoven.