Kevin Guthrie, eulogy, photos – wake, funeral, burial.
Eulogy by Des Guthrie.
Photos by Trieu Nguyen MSC
Funeral Mass, Our Lady of the Rosary, Kensington.
Our brother, Kevin Francis Guthrie, was born on 20th August 1936, in Temora, to Ned and Mary Guthrie. Kevin was fifth in line in a family of twelve children, so he became part of a very hectic household.
Home to the family was “Innisfail”, on the beautiful farming property of Pine Tree Falls, situated between Temora, Ariah Park and Coolamon. It was here that Kevin grew to love the farming life.
School life began at the one-teacher Bectric Primary School, after which Kevin began his secondary education at the Temora High School.
After achieving above average results in his final year, Kevin was happy to return to life on the farm, even though the Headmaster of Temora High made a special trip to Bectric, to entice Kevin to continue with his school studies, and obtain his Leaving Certificate.
But farming won the day.
Kevin’s expertise on the land not only included successful cropping, but also the raising of sheep, cattle and pigs. This in turn led to his pursuit of shearing as an occupation, and over the years he gained a reputation of being a class act – with clean and fast results. So much so, that even after Kevin joined the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, his parents were receiving phone calls from top breeders wanting him to shear their stud sheep – knowing no harm would come to them under his blade.
Life wasn’t all hard work though. Kevin was a talented sportsman, enjoying Aussie Rules and playing for both Ariah Park and Coolamon. Participation in this sport came to a sudden end, after he was sidelined with a badly broken jaw.
He played with, and represented, Temora in cricket, and enjoyed a social game of tennis for Bectric. Kevin’s well-known nickname of Yardley came about because of his left-handed batting style, which was not unlike that of the great English batsman, Norman Yardley.
As with most hard-working farmers and shearers, Kevin was always happy to end the week catching up with mates over a cold ale, or two, or three. Kevin’s social life also had a part to play during these years.
There was a memorable trip to Queensland in the off-season, when Kevin thought he might improve on his shearing prowess. He took five days to get there, which suggests he might have been having second thoughts. The fact that he no sooner arrived than he began his five day return journey home would support that. Also that he didn’t even get to shear a sheep! We weren’t sure what to blame – the heat, or homesickness.
Kevin’s love of the land complemented his ever-increasing love of his God and his faith. To the extent that he would drive 20 miles each way, into Temora for 7 a.m. daily mass, before starting his day’s work. Even though Dad found this a bit hard to take, knowing all the work in store for the day, I can’t help but wonder if Mum’s habit of casually leaving copies of the “Annals” and “Far East” magazines on his bed had anything to do with this, and eventually to his calling as a missionary brother.
Later in life, Kevin sent many prayers, devotions and leaflets to his family, inviting them to share in his great love for the Blessed Virgin Mary.
No doubt Kevin’s farming success and knowledge helped him when, as a missionary brother, he made great inroads into the improvement of farming methods in both Papua New Guinea and Fiji. Clearly his work in these developing nations left a legacy.
On news of Kevin’s passing, Father Tomati Sefo, m.s.c. sent a message of condolence recalling Kevin’s time in Fiji, and his kindness to the people there, and on visits to Australia, when Kevin would be a welcoming presence.
Kevin approached everything he did - from farming to the practise of his faith – with great care, grace and thoughtfulness.
We, his brothers and sisters , would like to thank you, his m.s.c. family, for your love and support to Kevin, and in particular, your care and concern for him these past months, and keeping in touch with us during his illness.
Thank you, and God bless you.
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Burial at St Mary's Towers, Douglas Park
