Nicknames: Dazza, Turner, ‘o’ wise one, OD.
DOB:2/2/1941 – born in Colac.
Parents Names: Molly (Marry)- Mum
Les (Leslie)- Dad
Siblings:2 Brothers – Skeet (Terrence) – William (Bill)
GROWING UP
Daryl claimed it was very difficult growing up. They had no electricity, no radio, no TV and didn’t even know about TV’s. They had a tin bath and their toilet was outside. When they got a radio they could only get 1 station and to run the radio they had to take a 6-volt battery out of the truck and put it in the radio. He grew up on a farm in Kangaroo Ground, the property was owned by Alf Abrahams who was a solicitor from Burke Street in Melbourne. Growing up Daryl’s most hated chore was Milking the cows in the mud and taking wood up to the house for the stove and for heating. They had to go out in their spare time and hunt for their meat, although they were lucky because living on a dairy farm meant they produced all their milk, cream & butter.
Bread got delivered to their house 2 times a week, although, the delivery man got poisoned by his wife once day and died on his way to a delivery. It took Daryl & his family 6 miles to get is food and groceries. They only went into town once a week which was every Thursday because it was market day.
Daryl attended Barongarook primary school. The school had 6 grades in 1 room, 12 children in the whole school. 1 teacher within the whole school. The schools heating was just 1 big open fire.
After primary school he attended Colac High school. It would take 2 miles to get to the bus stop and then he would get a bus 6 miles to get to school. He went there until year 9. Daryl actually did his last exam for school at Eltham High School.
He left school when he was 15 and worked on his family’s dairy farm, cutting wood & growing potatoes but made no personal income. Daryl wanted to carry on with school but economy circumstances didn’t allow it so he had to leave.
When he was 16 he started boxing and enjoyed it. He wanted to continue with it and thought of it being a possible career, although he didn’t have any family support and it was a 6-mile bike ride to get there so he gave it up.
Daryl was driving around before he was 18 although he didn’t end up getting his licence until he was 19 because he didn’t need to.
The Korean war was during Daryl’s primary school years, he believed that this war was going to be the end of all conflict. The Vietnam war was also fought while Daryl was growing up, although he missed out on the ballet [sic.] system to attend that war. Daryl believed that ‘That war was the war that tore America apart and split the country.” Daryl is very thankful he never went to war and he believes the people that should be accountable and be involved in the war are the leaders because they are the ones that got the country involved, “why should the public suffer.”
When Daryl was in high school he made a snake statue in metal work classes when he was 14.
He’s best friend in high was David Balcombe for 3 years. Although it was difficult to remain friends when he left school because there was no electronics like mobile phones. They only way of contact was to ride bikes or walk miles in order to see them.
OLDER YEARS
In 1966 he managed a farm in Nillumbik (750 acres). One day Daryl went out to round up cattle and the horse lost his footing and crushed Daryl and broke some of his limbs. After this further education was offered to him because of the accident.
He took this offer and completed a 5 year course in real estate at Prahran collage where he achieved his full real estate license. He then went on to join a real estate company in Eltham.
Daryl had a beautiful Red kelpie which was his hunting dog, his name was Red.
FAMILY
Daryl had his first date with Florence who he then went on to marry when he was 19 and she was 18. He rode his bike 6 miles to get to her and he took her to the movies for their first date, which only cost 1 shilling. He met Florence at the market as her family had a stalls across from him and he always thought she was very friendly and they used to deliver wood to her family.
Daryl and Florence married in Colac, it was a small ceremony with just both families in a church. They had their honeymoon in Munt Gambier and Adelaide.
Daryl and Florence went on to have 2 Children, one boy Steve, who they had on the 1st of the 1st 1960 and one girl, Cindy, who was born on the 13th of the 12th 1962. They then went on to be grandparents, Cindy had 2 children Kathleen and Luke. Steve had 3 children, Kimberly, Jacqueline & Monique.
Daryl said he loved having a daughter and having a son was self-fulfilment.
Cindy attended Kangaroo Ground Primary School for 3 years. Steve attended Hurstbridge High school & Eltham High School.
CAREERS
Daryl has worked in real estate since 1977 and still works there now and then as he has his full license, Daryl is now 73 and semi-retired.
Daryl decided to work in real estate when he moved to Eltham and spoke to a real estate company who then offered him a job. Norm Baxter was his mentor and trained with the basics of real estate.
Daryl’s first auction was in Bryor Street in Eltham, owned by the education department. His most memorable moment was when Daryl dressed up as a police man and auctioned off Diamond Creek police station.
Real estate was a lot different back in the day, all the women did all the typing and took all the phone calls, but as time went on and computers and telephones came in the men had to learn how to use them. The girls that usually did all the work for the boys started to refuse to do all the typing for them.
HOBBIES & ACTIVITIES
Daryl loves photography, golf, table tennis, fishing & story writing.
GREATEST INFLUENCE
Daryl’s greatest influence in his life was his Mother & Father, “They taught me how to survive, to enjoy what we had, they also taught me respect and honesty.”
Story by Madi Hart and Molly Reinke.
Eltham High School
