Historical information

SUMMARY - Ernest W (Bon) Barrie, 1909 – 1985 Profile

Melton Mechanics Institute

Member 1935 - 1982i

Trustee 1952 - 1982

Life Member 1968

Years of service – 47 years

He constructed and provided a public address system which was used at Melton and district halls and sports grounds for a wide variety of community events including school sports, gymkhanas, theatrical productions and processions.

Fire Brigade

Melton Fire Brigade (and predecessor Bush Fire Brigade)

Apparatus Officer, 1945 - 1953

Captain, 1951 - 1965

Mt Cotterill Fire Brigades’ Group

Elected Group Officer, on the formation of the Group, 1967.



As Group Communications Officer he operated the VL3 LY base radio station from home on a 24 hour basis for fire brigades of Melton, Rockbank, Sydenham, Diggers Rest, Toolern Vale, Truganina and Werribee.

With his brother Edgar, he built the first Melton Fire Truck. It was housed on the family property until a fire station was constructed in the Melton township.

Recipient of the Queens Medal, 1979

Recognised for 44 years of service on the Melton Fire Brigade Memorial Wall Plaque, dedicated May 2013

Melton State School, no 430

Committee – School Correspondent (secretarial and financial role) 34 years of Service

Provided his Amplifier Equipment for events and the annual district School Sports from 1939-1973.

Donated the House Athletic Shield


Melton and District Historical Society

1968 – 1985

President and foundation member

Willows Historical Park – supported the establishment of the park and contributed many volunteers hours in the construction and landscaping of the precinct

Member, Western Metropolitan Groups of Historical Societies, 1980s

Shire of Melton

Councillor South Riding, 1969-1971

Member of the Water Trust

Melton Uniting Church

Melton Uniting Church (and its predecessors the Methodist, Methodist-Presbyterian churches). A lifetime association which extended from childhood when he attended Sunday school until his death in 1985.

Member of the Presbyterian Board of Management for more than 25 years in which he held positions of Honorary Secretary and Treasurer, Board member of the Parish Council and Member of the Committee of Management. He was a Sunday school teacher 1933.

Community development

With Mr RC Butler met with Shire Council in 1937 to canvass residents to ascertain prospective Electric consumers in the district. Electricity was subsequently turned on at dusk on 20th December 1939.

Melton Progress Association, including Melton Musical, Elocutionary and Vocal Competitions, Vice President 1939 1940

Melton Development Association, 1960s

Volunteer Air Observers Corps (VAOC)ii

Carried out plane spotting at Shire Office and spotting tower in Melton and later from home until 1944/45.


Agriculture and farming

Progress and Better Farming Association, Melton. Honorary Secretary, 1935

Member, Agricultural Engineering Society Australia c1960-1985

A successful grower of wheat, oats and barley, he planted experiment plots and held Field Days on the “Darlingsford” property. He later diversified into other grains and sheep (wool and meat).

He took a enthusiastic interest in agricultural engineering and was keen to introduce innovative ideas that improved the productivity of farms and farming practices.

In the mid 1950 he conducted trials during harvest on the family property of the original mechanical hay fork built on a British Bedford truck by Bill Gillespie. This design was further refined in collaboration with the Gillespie brothers and resulted in the construction the hydraulically operated tractor mounted hay fork. The innovative design of the hay fork created interest from far and wide and was quickly taken up by farmers because it significantly reduced hand labouring of loading sheaves of hay with a pitch fork.

His father established chaff mills in Melton, Rockbank, Parwan, Diggers Rest in the first decade of 1900 and in 1915 went into partnership with JR Schutt to establish the Schutt & Barrie Pty. Ltd. Chaff Cutting and Flour Mill in West Footscray. When it ceased trading in 1968 the directors were: Ernest W Barrie and Thomas L Barrie, R, A, and M Schutt.

Awards


Queens Medal, 1979

Rotary Award for Community Service, 1980

Victoria 150th Anniversary Celebrations contributions, 1985

Physical description

Service held at Melton Uniting Church