Jim died on January 24 at the age of 96. He is survived by his wife of 72 years Peg; their four children Suzanne McPhee, Helen Anderson, Ted McCabe and Donald McCabe; seven grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Jim was born in Nhill on October 7, 1922. He had two siblings – a younger sister, Molly, and his brother Ted who died in 1947.

His parents owned a sheep and cropping farm. He attended secondary school in Nhill until Year 10, and then got a job at a stock agent. Jim also played for played football, winning a premiership in 1949.

In 1938 he joined the militia. At the age of 17 in 1940 he tried to persuade his parents to let him join the Australian Army. Jim’s son Ted said his father actually did succeed.

“His papers said he was 20, but he was only 17 and nine months. After training at Puckapunyal, they sailed to the Middle East and he was involved in the Battle of El Alamein,” he said.

“He was later deployed in 1945 to the island of Labuan, where he stayed for several months after the Japanese surrender.”

After his discharge in 1946, Jim returned to Dimboola and worked as a stock agent. He met Peg (nee Eastick) and the pair married in 1947. Jim also joined the Dimboola branch of the Liberal Party.

The family moved to Birchip where Jim bought a newsagency and became involved in the Birchip Gun Club. In 1958 he purchased a butcher shop in Dimboola, then later bought the family farm at Glenlee from his father.

In 1964 Jim ran for the Victorian Legislative Assembly when he was elected as the Liberal Member for Lowan, holding the role until 1967.

Jim recontested in 1970 where he was successful and held the seat until 1979.

“He was always very community minded and was always involved in organisations, so I guess politics was just another step for him. I remember him travelling on the Overland to Melbourne on Tuesdays, often in his pajamas, and would return on Fridays,” Ted said.

Jim was Wimmera Legacy president, a life member of the Dimboola Bowling Club, and a devoted supporter of the Dimboola Football Netball Club.

“He was kind to everyone and loved by his family members; we all loved him dearly and he will be sadly missed,” Ted said.

Jim’s funeral will be at Dimboola Uniting Church on Friday, February 1 at 10.30am.