Sept10 GRAHAM GORDON COURT
15th March 1947 – 8th July 2010
Graham was born the first son of Min and Gordon Court at Nanango Hospital. Min and Gordon owned the Courts Royal Hotel in Yarraman at that time with Gordon running the bar and Min keeping the customers in the dining room happy with her great cooking skills.
A second son, Greg, was born two years later with sisters Pamela and Kay-Marie following at 6 year and 14 year intervals after Graham. Unfortunately little brother Greg passed away aged 2 years, at which time the family moved to Brisbane.
Graham completed his Primary schooling at Virginia State School and his interests in swimming, football and scouts were nurtured, and, strangely his love of horses emerged from where? – We do not know. He constantly rode his horse home to the Court’s surburban house block from a paddock down on Nudgee Road and was always in trouble for coming home late, as he lost track of time, absorbed in his little bit of country life.
Moving on to Banyo High School for years 9 and 10 saw him shine in the subjects of Woodwork and Metalwork. So his future as a tradesman was formed, with an apprenticeship as a Fitter and Turner being completed at J J Connolly Glass and Aluminium at Eagle Farm – with Distinctions and Honours in every subject. Life was very hectic for this teenager as he squeezed in his Lifesaver duties at weekends at Kirra on the Gold Coast. Then there was surfing on his big mal surfboard with his mates, hotting up his EH Holden and dating Lorraine.
Graham and I married in 1968, both aged 21 years, and lived on acreage at Lawnton for the next 8 years , during which time our twins, Greg and Belinda, were born. Graham did extra study and became a Diesel Fitter with Blackwood Hodge, servicing earth moving gear all over Queensland and then he also took up the arduous sport of Endurance Riding as a member of the Murrumba Endurance Riding Club at Morayfield. He completed and gained his Tom Quilty 100 mile belt buckle at Wilbeforce near Sydney in 1977.
Our first house in Lawnton bordered onto Mick Mumford’s dairy farm and, with Graham’s love of horses firmly entrenched in our lives, Graham wanted more land and some cattle. This brought us to live at Mt Pleasant. We soon settled into life in the country while Graham still worked at Blackwood Hodge as a Field Service Rep – troubleshooting and advising how to fix the heavy equipment and selling what parts were required for the job.
Our third child, Peter, was born in 1980 and became Graham’s shadow – always with his Dad on the tractors/motorbikes etc. What a great place to raise kids. In 1983 we started dairying after buying Don and Noella Lees herd. Graham still found time to be very active in the community at Pony Club, the Rodeo, judging the horse events at the annual Show, time-keeping at Swimming Club, supporting our boys at the football club, helping maintain our local Mt Pleasant Hall, a Director on the Milk Board in Dayboro and many more. He loved the days when all the farmers gathered at the local pub of a Thursday night to discuss the weather, cattle and pineapple and milk prices and have a general discussion on the week’s events and, or course, have a beer or two as well. After dairying for 20 years we sold the herd, with much reluctance on Graham’s part, but necessary due to his ill health, and bought some beef cattle.
Graham loved every aspect of life in Dayboro, the community who looks after one another, our good neighbours who were happy to lend a hand in times of trouble and the farms that have been passed down from one generation to another, not only as viable farms, but now a way of life for the younger ones (our own included). There was always someone happy to go for a horse ride (including his favourite Trail Riding Club), and lastly, always a door open to go and have a chat and a cuppa on someone’s verandah – these things he valued highly.
Since retiring a few years ago we have done many trips away camping (more recently in the comfort of our caravan) and seen lots of beautiful places in Australia. The Outback was Graham’s favourite as he seemed to have an easy knack of conversation with these folk – and he enjoyed lots of fun times and drinks around the camp fire.
His funeral at the Henzell’s Chapel, and later at the Mt Pleasant Hall, reflected the man he was. It was humbling to have the support of so many people from Graham’s diverse background attend and a final tribute to have members of the Dayboro Trailriders on horseback escort his hearse from the property. The sight of a blue cattle dog trotting behind brought a smile to all our faces.
During Graham’s 17-year battle with cancer he never once complained, and faced each new challenge with a positive attitude and a “She’ll be right” reassurance for those around him. He was courageous and an inspiration to us all. He enjoyed many great times in his 63 years and it is those he would want us to focus on as we all move forward.
Lorraine Court.
Graham completed his Primary schooling at Virginia State School and his interests in swimming, football and scouts were nurtured, and, strangely his love of horses emerged from where? – We do not know. He constantly rode his horse home to the Court’s surburban house block from a paddock down on Nudgee Road and was always in trouble for coming home late, as he lost track of time, absorbed in his little bit of country life.
Moving on to Banyo High School for years 9 and 10 saw him shine in the subjects of Woodwork and Metalwork. So his future as a tradesman was formed, with an apprenticeship as a Fitter and Turner being completed at J J Connolly Glass and Aluminium at Eagle Farm – with Distinctions and Honours in every subject. Life was very hectic for this teenager as he squeezed in his Lifesaver duties at weekends at Kirra on the Gold Coast. Then there was surfing on his big mal surfboard with his mates, hotting up his EH Holden and dating Lorraine.
Graham and I married in 1968, both aged 21 years, and lived on acreage at Lawnton for the next 8 years , during which time our twins, Greg and Belinda, were born. Graham did extra study and became a Diesel Fitter with Blackwood Hodge, servicing earth moving gear all over Queensland and then he also took up the arduous sport of Endurance Riding as a member of the Murrumba Endurance Riding Club at Morayfield. He completed and gained his Tom Quilty 100 mile belt buckle at Wilbeforce near Sydney in 1977.
Our first house in Lawnton bordered onto Mick Mumford’s dairy farm and, with Graham’s love of horses firmly entrenched in our lives, Graham wanted more land and some cattle. This brought us to live at Mt Pleasant. We soon settled into life in the country while Graham still worked at Blackwood Hodge as a Field Service Rep – troubleshooting and advising how to fix the heavy equipment and selling what parts were required for the job.
Our third child, Peter, was born in 1980 and became Graham’s shadow – always with his Dad on the tractors/motorbikes etc. What a great place to raise kids. In 1983 we started dairying after buying Don and Noella Lees herd. Graham still found time to be very active in the community at Pony Club, the Rodeo, judging the horse events at the annual Show, time-keeping at Swimming Club, supporting our boys at the football club, helping maintain our local Mt Pleasant Hall, a Director on the Milk Board in Dayboro and many more. He loved the days when all the farmers gathered at the local pub of a Thursday night to discuss the weather, cattle and pineapple and milk prices and have a general discussion on the week’s events and, or course, have a beer or two as well. After dairying for 20 years we sold the herd, with much reluctance on Graham’s part, but necessary due to his ill health, and bought some beef cattle.
Graham loved every aspect of life in Dayboro, the community who looks after one another, our good neighbours who were happy to lend a hand in times of trouble and the farms that have been passed down from one generation to another, not only as viable farms, but now a way of life for the younger ones (our own included). There was always someone happy to go for a horse ride (including his favourite Trail Riding Club), and lastly, always a door open to go and have a chat and a cuppa on someone’s verandah – these things he valued highly.
Since retiring a few years ago we have done many trips away camping (more recently in the comfort of our caravan) and seen lots of beautiful places in Australia. The Outback was Graham’s favourite as he seemed to have an easy knack of conversation with these folk – and he enjoyed lots of fun times and drinks around the camp fire.
His funeral at the Henzell’s Chapel, and later at the Mt Pleasant Hall, reflected the man he was. It was humbling to have the support of so many people from Graham’s diverse background attend and a final tribute to have members of the Dayboro Trailriders on horseback escort his hearse from the property. The sight of a blue cattle dog trotting behind brought a smile to all our faces.
During Graham’s 17-year battle with cancer he never once complained, and faced each new challenge with a positive attitude and a “She’ll be right” reassurance for those around him. He was courageous and an inspiration to us all. He enjoyed many great times in his 63 years and it is those he would want us to focus on as we all move forward.
Lorraine Court.
