William "Alan" Fairlie of Drouin South was remembered as a hard worker, successful greyhound trainer and highly regarded member of the community at his recent funeral.
Alan died on July 7 at Lyrebird Village, aged 96.
A funeral service was held at Nielsen Funeral Chapel on July 15. Celebrant Mike Jungwirth said Alan's long life was a "life very well lived."
Alan was born in 1929 at Ormond, to parents Walter and Eva.
With Walter called up to the armed forced and Eva required to support the war effort by working in a munitions factory, it was difficult to care for three young children. With the threat of war on Australia's doorstep, the government encouraged families to send their children to safer environs in rural towns.
The three children including Alan and his siblings Brian and Gwen were sent to family friends, the McMahon family, who owned a potato farm at Kinglake.
For Alan, it was a time that introduced him to a lifestyle he loved and embraced.
After finishing primary school at Kinglake, he was required to return to the city where he spent time living with his grandparents and his mum and siblings.
Alan missed country life and was determined to return to Kinglake. Leaving Melbourne High School at 16, he returned to Kinglake where he worked on the McMahon's potato farm.
At 18, Alan moved to Tasmania where he farmed for a couple of years before returning to Kinglake, leasing land to clear, chopping wood and growing potatoes.
His return to Kinglake was significant. While attending a Saturday night dance at Healesville, he met Alwyn Chandler.
Following a brief engagement, they were married on November 2, 1955 and were steadfast, life long partners for 62 years.
Alan and Alwyn had four children Walter, Peter, Robert and Catherine who attended Kinglake Primary School like their father.
Alan inherited a love of racehorses from his father who was an SP bookie and his pop. While purchasing a racehorse was never an option, a lucky quinella win led to the purchase of a handy greyhound and an opportunity to purse a greyhound training career.
In 1975, after more than 20 years on the land, Alan moved the family base to a small acre property at Drouin South, which became home for the Fairlies for the next 48 years.
His decision to launch into a greyhound training career was soon validated when "Listowel Sue" won one of the biggest races on the greyhound calendar, the prestigious Australian Cup in 1977.
The winners kept coming and Alan was the leading trainer in Gippsland for many years. He joined the Warragul Greyhound Club committee, where he is a life member.
Alan was a life-long supporter of the South Melbourne and Sydney Swans football club, carrying on the tradition set by his mum who was a die-hard supporter. He was four-years-old when South Melbourne won its 1933 premiership and he endured a 72-year drought before seeing another premiership win in 2005.
Alwyn died in 2017 and despite the void in his life, Alan continued his many pursuits and interests, including massage. At age 93, he re-applied for his greyhound trainer's licence, becoming the oldest person in Australia to hold a licence. He also played golf until he was 94.
Alan lived at his home property for as long as he could, spending his final few months at Lyrebird Village.
"Alan was universally known as a man of outstanding character, a highly-regarded member of the local community and of the clubs and organisations with which he was involved.
"His philosophy on life was remarkably uncomplicated. Focus on the things you like doing and do them well," Mike said.
Alan is survived by his four children, eight grandchildren and their families.
