John Gaffney has never been one to sit idle and there are a multitude of achievements that bare witness to this.
Mr Gaffney was born on December 2, 1940, in Thornbury and as a young boy growing up in the post-war era, he built himself a trolley and collected items to repurpose to get his family through the tough times.
Later he became a career horse trainer, and a highlight was entering his pride and joy – Tripsacum into the 1985 Fosters Melbourne Cup race. The chestnut was ridden by Robbie Heffernan, and they finished third on the iconic 3200M Flemington course. Ironically, What a Nuisance finished first. The race ran for 3 minutes and 23 exciting seconds, and incidentally it was when iconic broadcaster, Bruce McAvaney’s called his first Melbourne Cup for Network 10.
Gaffney has trained over 100 winners who have raced on turfs across Victoria including Seymour, Kilmore, Dunolly, and Woodend, and the thoroughbred remains his favourite breed across 57 years.
Another racing highlight was when Mr Gaffney introduced Harness Racing to the Kilmore Racing Club in the 60’s, and four short years later, they held their first cup in 1964.
“I wanted to bring dogs too,” he said.
Chief Executive Ben Murphy awarded John a distinguished Service Award in 2017.
“John has always been a passionate and determined soul who has spent many hours volunteering and raising money for his passion projects,” he said.
Mr Gaffney married Lavinia Chidley from Regent on February 2, 1962, at St Gabriels Catholic Church in Reservoir, and together the sweethearts have raised five children, and are blessed with six grandchildren and one great, great grandchild.
“All our children went to Assumption College,” Lavinia said.
“Except our eldest daughter who didn’t want to be one of the first girls [when they became a co-ed school 1971]. She went to Seymour College.”
Karen was a standout netballer and ‘dad’ thoroughly enjoyed coaching and supporting across ten years, also a staunch supporter of equal opportunities for women.
Mr Gaffney successfully lobbied for an eventual change in the Victorian Racing Club (VRC) to include all genders across the racing industry.
Four short years ago, he retired from horse training, and Lavinia had retired from dress making in 1962 to become a full-time mother. At 84 and 82, respectively, the couple are enjoying their 5-acre property, sans horses.
In early March, John suffered a major health scare leading to hospitalisation and surgery, and since then he has resumed salvaging valuable resources with a vengeance; keen to contribute to local infrastructure projects or to help those in financial need.
Just last month John repurposed his stables, the concrete slabs he donated to a neighbour to keep his wood dry and earlier he shared the timber with Rotarian Peter Appleton to create a local Arboretum, and John is enthusiastic about the Analemmatic Sundial they erected in 2020.
Mr Gaffney’s past time also complements the State Governments direction for residents to sort their waste before binning it, and he hopes to fill up another shipping container with metals and e-waste salvaged from community groups, and households including aluminium pet food tins, and horseshoes.
“Horseshoes are valuable,” he said.
“If everyone brought a horse shoe that would nearly fund a project – the cricket club need new nets and club rooms. I could help them raise the money if all their members chipped in.
“I’ll help anyone I can. The local Vinnie’s also collect scrap [e-waste and metals] for me. Recycling isn’t what it used to be. Scrap metal traders have to have a special license now; because they have to prove the items are not stolen.”
The Southern Rotary Club of Mitchell are also ambassadors for a circular economy. Their recycle op shop in Kilmore accepts clothing and furniture donations and also used medical blister packs for the aluminium to be salvaged.
Rotarians Lisa Kyllo and Phil Clancy are proud to work alongside Mr Gaffney
“I’ve been working with John for years now,” Mr Clancy said.
“We bring him materials to work on. He is a community minded fellow, who gives tirelessly to the community through the money that he makes by recycling.”
Everyone is welcome to participate, call John or Lavinia Gaffney on 5781 0348 or call into The Rotary Recycle Op shop, located at 5-6/84-86 Sydney Road, Kilmore and open Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 3pm, and on Saturday 9.30am to 12.30pm to donate.
