A HORSHAM district farmer has been remembered for his passion for the wool industry and his great sense of humour.
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Austin Eagle, 86, died on Thursday last week after a lifetime of dedication to farming.
Mr Eagle was born on August 3, 1931, in Horsham.
He grew up on the family’s farm at Bungalally with his older brother Jack and attended the former Burnt Creek State School.
Mr Eagle’s daughter Di Webster said her father’s passion was farming and he left school when he was 14 to work on the farm.
“That was his life and he loved it,” she said. “He was a well-known farmer in the region and he did it well.”
Mr Eagle married Beavis Ballinger in 1955 and moved onto their own farm at Glenera North in Laharum Road, Bungalally.
They were married for 30 years and had three children, Dianne, Craig and Roslyn.
Mr Eagle’s passion was superfine wool merinos and he became a successful sheep and wool breeder, especially during the ‘70s and ‘80s.
During this time he won many awards, including the Australasian lambs wool championship eight times and major fleece awards in every capital city of Australia.
“Farming was his passion, his hobby and his spare time,” Mrs Webster said.
“He was still driving around the farm six months’ ago – he wasn’t working anymore, but he always had his finger in the pie.
“He was interested up until the very end and he would talk to my brother Craig about the farm constantly.
“He was always talking about sheep.”
Mr Eagle was also involved in community service groups.
He was a member of the Horsham Rotary Club for 43 years and was honored to receive the Paul Harris fellowship award from the club.
He was a member of the Horsham Agricultural Society for 47 years and was president in 1979 and 1980.
He attended the Horsham Show every year and he was also involved in the Horsham Historical Society.
Mrs Webster said overall, her father was a determined and strong man, who had a great life.
“He always wanted to stay at home – he never wanted to go into care,” she said.
“We was just a lovely person. He was easy to talk to and had a great sense of humour.
“He had an opinion on everything and he was a wealth of knowledge, especially about farming.”
Mr Eagle had four grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.
He was also an In My Paddock contributor for the Wimmera Mail-Times for many years.
He will be farewelled at a service on Friday.
