Life History

Other facts

Notes

• Worked in National Bank after leaving school, shortly afterwards moving into the flour mill.
  August 1890 Rowing Club formed.  Jim and George later won the Victorian Pairs title (Lake Wendouree 1902??).  The club went into recess during 1st World War and never resumed.
  1911 played in three football premiership teams: Tocumwal, Muckatah and Essendon (Ass.).  Brothers Les and Jim were both part of the Tocumwal and Muckatah teams.
  In the early days paddle steamers used the Murray River, and the traffic bridge which spanned the river between Cobram and Barooga had a central span which had to be raised to allow the steamers through.  A group of young men made up a roster, and any time of day or night  when the steamers blew their whistles the man on duty had to down tools, orget out of bed, hop on his bike, and pedal down to the bridge to raise and lower it.
  During a trip to Tasmania by sea during 1914 George met Pauline (bothwere very sea-sick), who was travelling with her parents after the breakdown of her first marriage.  After their marriage they moved into anew home "La Vista", close to the flour mill. Edme and John were bothborn at La Vista, Dr Kennedy snr being the doctor attending.  In 1945John's son David was delivered by Dr Kennedy (jnr??).
  Each year, right after Christmas and New Year in Cobram, Pauline and the two children would be driven to Albury where they would catch the train to Sydney to spend 5-6 weeks with the maternal grandparents.  The Gannons had by then moved to Rose Bay, firstly to a house on the corner of Hamilton and Carlisle Sts, then a few years later to a new home at the end of Conway Ave with a magnificent view of Sydney Harbour,looking straight down to the Harbour Bridge.  George would drive to Sydney for a couple of weeks at the end of January before driving everybody home.  This was a gala time for Edme and John, when George took them to beaches, picture shows and thoroughly spoiled them (much to Pauline's displeasure!).
  Late in the 1920s production capacity of the mill was insufficient tocope with increasing trade so a complementary plant was built.  A newbrick building of 3 stories was built to abut the old galvanised ironstructure.  Fire-proof doors were installed to isolate the new building.  New plant from Simons, England, was installed by Robert BodingtonPty Ltd of Melbourne.
  During times when production from Cobram was insufficient to meet demand the Wilson and Cavanagh flour mill at Yarrawonga provided the shortfall.  As the Yarrawonga mill did not have a large trade and only ranlimited hours, arrangements were made to supply Cobram customers after the fire from this mill. Within a few months a partnership was formed between George Grant and Thomas Houston (Rusty) Wilson.  Rusty stayed in Yarrawonga to buy wheat and run the mill, while George moved to Melbourne to concentrate on marketing, sales and financial management.  George and family purchased 5 Highton Grove Balwyn.
  Sturt monument unveiled by the Governor of Victoria (year??). George was to start the singing of the National Anthem and started somewhat higher than he had intended.
  President of the Cobram Golf Club (year??).