It is noted with great sadness the passing of Mr. Pierce John Grenfell, PHF.
Past President and Charter Member of the Rotary Club of Eaglehawk.
Pierce (or Mr. Grenfell to so many of us who grew up in Eaglehawk) was a Charter Member of the the Rotary Club of Eaglehawk, serving as the club's President in 1969/1970, a former Councillor and Mayor of the Borough of Eaglehawk, a returned serviceman, long standing business owner, trading as Grenfell's Butchers in both Eaglehawk's CBD and in California Gully. Pierce was renowned throughout the area for his involvement in the Eaglehawk Citizens Brass Band, his tireless work within the community and in his later years, for his daily walks around Lake Neangar. Pierce's 100th birthday last year was testament to how highly he was regarded with an endless stream of messages of congratulations from throughout the community.
We extend our sincere sympathy to Pierce's family and friends.
The following is an excerpt of an article by Brodie Everist that appeared in the Bendigo Advertiser earlier this week -
Pierce John Grenfell, a veteran, former councillor and well-known member of the Eaglehawk community, passed away at the age of 101 on April 3.
Mr Grenfell was known in the Borough for his long commitment to the Eaglehawk Citizen's Brass Band, his work as a local butcher and his love for the town.
Born in 1924, Mr Grenfell's family moved to California Gully in 1935.
Around this time he enrolled at the Bendigo High School and joined the local brass band.
He was engaged to his wife, Olga, in 1943 but they waited around two years to get married while Mr Grenfell was serving in the Australian Army.
They were married in 1945, both aged 21.
According to War Memorial records, Mr Grenfell served in the 7th Infantry Battalion, which was stationed in Bougainville Island in Papua New Guinea in 1945.
Mr Grenfell was part of a 30,000 strong Australian force fighting to reclaim the volcanic island between Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands from Japan.
He was there when the Japanese surrendered on August 15.
"I just hoped the Japs knew about it, we weren't very far away from them," Mr Grenfell said during a 2020 interview, referring to enemy soldiers dug in on the other side of the island.
"We had very little news or contact with the outside world."
While he was overseas, Olga remained in Bendigo working for local knitting mill Hanro.
Mr Grenfell worked as a butcher in Eaglehawk for 27 years. Starting in 1950, the business made daily local deliveries with a horse and cart, and kept the horses in a paddock where the Eaglehawk Supa IGA is now.
Mr Grenfell later worked for the Mayfair Ham and Bacon Company in Bendigo East.
He also served as an Eaglehawk councillor from 1955 to 1965, and served as mayor for the 1960-61 term.
The long-time cornettist played with the Eaglehawk Citizens' Brass Band for over eight decades - an achievement so rare the Victorian Bands League had an accolade specially produced for Mr Grenfell.
He marched with the band in every parade until 2019.
Highlights of his time with the band included centenary celebrations in the 1970s and helping build band rooms on Peg Leg Road.
In earlier days, band members played in the Eaglehawk town hall before community sessions or motion pictures, and in the Canterbury Park rotunda.
On his 100th birthday, the Bendigo Advertiser reported Mr Grenfell had received a steady stream of well-wishers, including a number of community groups.
At the time, the centenarian said he still enjoyed daily walks through the Borough. "I love Eaglehawk," he said.
Mr Grenfell is survived by four children, seven grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.
A service to celebrate Mr Grenfell's life will be held at the William Farmer Reflection Chapel, 12 Victoria St, Eaglehawk, on Saturday April 12 at 2 pm.