Alan Smith was born at Kyabram Hospital on August 21, 1920, and died on August 29, 2021 — one week after he turned 101.
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As was his way, he managed to sneak in one last party before his long life ended.
Alan’s 101st birthday party was on Friday, August 27, probably clearing the way for him to watch Melbourne in its qualifying final on the Saturday, and Melbourne Football Club’s Facebook page lit up on Friday afternoon with more than 900 birthday messages sent from fans.
Alan passed away in his sleep at Menarock nursing home in the early hours of Sunday morning, just hours after his beloved Melbourne Demons won their way into a preliminary final, one step away from a shot at a first AFL premiership since 1964.
His daughter, Judy Collier, had been sitting with him all day, the room decorated with red and blue balloons, and everyone adorned in scarves.
“He became unconscious on Saturday morning and never woke up," Judy said.
“He didn’t get to see it, but I was hoping he was listening. The television was on in the background.”
Alan loved the Demons. One of his favourite stories was of his connection to dual Melbourne premiership captain and Team of the Century member Noel McMahen.
Judy tells the story best, and speaks adoringly of the man she had spent much of the past decade caring for.
“Dad played football and cricket for Nanneella back in the 1930s, when they had their own football and cricket team," Judy said.
“I have a feeling he did play for Rochester at some stage too."
Judy said her father used to speak glowingly to her and her brother Wayne on the subject of football, and particularly the Demons.
“He used to talk about Noel McMahen all the time," Judy said.
"Apparently Noel’s car broke down one day and Dad was in the pub on a Thursday, which was our shopping day, and we all came in from the farm.
“He asked if someone could give him a lift to Bendigo. Dad said yes."
Noel McMahen coached Rochester to four successive grand finals and back-to-back premierships in 1958-59.
The early years
Alan’s parents were English and part of the soldier settlement at Nanneella.
He was an only child, and only rarely told the story of his sister being stillborn in the back of a horse and buggy en route to hospital.
Alan’s extended family was in England.
“It wasn’t until the late 1970s that all his relatives came over to Australia and stayed with us at Moama for a week," Judy said.
“I am still talking to them on Facebook. They are in their 70s now.”
Alan’s mother died when he was 12.
Alan worked on the home front during World War II.
He first worked with his father on the dairy, and later ran the farm himself, until he retired to Moama in his late 60s.
“When the war broke out, he and some of the local farming lads had to run the farms," Judy said.
"The supplies from the farms were helping the war effort.
“He later told me that he had flat feet and he never passed the physical (to join the army).”
Alan and his wife, Hazel, were married in Rochester on February 22, 1942.
Judy said her mother and father were very much a team.
“She would say to Dad, ‘tell them a story, Al’," Judy said.
“Dad would start and next thing Mum would cut in and finish it. One of his favourite sayings was ‘over to you, Hazel’.”
Alan was a great storyteller, and Judy remembers one of his best being the story of the milking shed being struck by lightning.
“Dad was struck by lightning when his father was alive, and my brother and I were babies," Judy said.
“They were both in the cow shed when it was hit by lightning.
“It killed a couple of cows. Luckily he and his father were just knocked unconscious. A neighbour who had a car ran them to Rochester hospital.
“It hit the shed first and melted all the machinery — probably the only reason they survived. Dad was always very scared of lightning after that."
Judy also remembers her dad often speaking of his £20 win on the Melbourne Cup.
“I was born on Melbourne Cup Day in 1947," Judy said.
"Dad had a bet the morning I was born with a bookmaker standing on the corner at Rochester. He backed Jack Purtell and Hiraji and won 20 quid.
“He liked a bit of a punt on the horses. He watched the racing station every day on channel 68. Right up until he went into the home.”
Judy worked alongside her father on the dairy farm for five years prior to being married and moving to Shepparton.
Judy’s elder brother, Wayne, worked in the bank and left the area as a teenager; he died aged 55.
Ken McWinney, who now lives in Echuca, worked on the farm and lived in a building beside the house for more than a decade.
Alan was a big fan of celebrities and regularly shared the story of his meeting then Prime Minister Bob Hawke at an Australia Day celebration.
In 1932, as a 12-year-old, Alan was even shouted a ride with Sir Charles Kingsford Smith when he visited Echuca Aerodrome on his tour of Australia.
Alan was also there to see Don Bradman make a rare duck at the MCG on one of his annual pilgrimages to the Test cricket.
Alan frequently amazed his daughter, not least during the final nine years of his life.
“Dad had a massive heart attack as a 92-year-old," Judy said.
"He 'died' twice in the back of an ambulance. And the doctors gave him six months to live.
“He was having none of that. He wanted to live and would never talk about death.
“He would turn the TV off if any of those life insurance adverts came on."
She told of an exchange between a doctor and her father, soon after his heart attack, underlining his passion for life.
“The doctor said, ‘listen Mr Smith, your heart is in a bad way. The next heart attack will kill you'. She told him he had enjoyed a good life and walked out.
“He turned to me and said, ‘that’s nice, isn’t it?’”
Alan was not a drinker, and was famously known for having just one beer at his beloved Moama RSL Club.
His resilience was shown after he had a hip replaced in his 100th year of life.
“He had only just had his hip replaced, but he managed to stand up and give a speech,” Judy said.
She said her father had a better social life than she did for the last 10 years of his life.
“He used to go out more than I did," Judy said.
"It would be Sunday night to the RSL, then Wednesday and Friday.
“He loved the pokies. He won $10,000 a couple of years ago and won a car at the Rich River Golf Club in 1997.”
Alan’s wife died of a heart attack on August 31, 1998.
Alan saw five generations of his family, leaving behind not only his daughter, but six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
“He was a good bloke and a good father," Judy said.
“I’ve had him longer than most people have had their fathers.
“It’s still wasn’t enough. I’m an orphan now, as a 74-year-old.”
Alan lived at his Popplewell St home in Moama for the best part of 40 years.
He served as president of the Echuca Gem Club for many years, eventually selling his collection of gems to a nephew.
And he never lost his passion for Nanneella.
“He was on the heritage committee right up until recently, until going into the home," Judy said.
“Brian Collis would come and pick him up and take him to the meetings.
“He loved anything to do with Nanneella. Dad was the last one standing to give them all the information. He had a good memory of everything that went on at Nanneella.
“He was loved everywhere he went. He was a very gentle soul."
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