written by Ian in 2003
Born - 6 pounds, 8 ounces in Adelaide on 19th August 1935. First son of June Ellen and Clifford Wesley Wiltshire.
Early Childhood - I lived at 30 Mawson St, Prospect Gardens in Adelaide until I was 8 years of age. The family then moved to Melbourne when my father was transferred to a new job with AMP. My main memories of that period were being a total little shit while getting into all sorts of mischief and later in life wondering how my parents put up with me without losing their temper or patience. The good memories involved family members - Mum and Dad, visits to Nanna and Pa Fairweather (mums parents - Dad’s had already passed away), visits to the beach at Glenelg to see Auntie Jean, Uncle Ron and cousin Jeanette and playing at Auntie Mae’s place a couple of streets from home with cousin Elizabeth. I can still remember considering myself to be a champion marbles player and constantly being late arriving home from school after stopping on the way for another game.
Schooling - I started school at Nailsworth Primary in Adelaide. After moving to Melbourne I went to East Kew Central for 6 years, then shifted to Carey Baptist Grammer School leaving at the age of 17 after completing the leaving certificate at year 11.
Scouting - This was an important and big part of my life. I joined the Cub pack at 15th Camberwell when 10, and progressed through all sections of the movement - Scouts, Seniors (now known as Venturers) and Rovers until 23 which was the age limit. I stopped with the Rover Crew as an assistant leader for 2 years before taking up a position of Assistant Scout Master with 23rd Camberwell (a new group started up by 15th Camberwell) and later became Senior Scout Leader with the same group for several years.
I worked for and earned the Queen Scout Award while in the Senior Scouts and this was presented to me by the Governor of Victoria on behalf of the Queen. I also earned the prestigious Wood Badge Award while helping as a Scout Leader.
After a break of a few years until our sons Neil and Scott joined the Scouting Movement, I again became involved; this time on the parents committee at 4th Blackburn, and held the position of Group Secretary for several years.
I have many special memories of my time in the Scouting movement – the involvement of my Dad in the Group Committee and later in the District, the building of the 15th Camberwell Scout Hall which opened in 1953 following all the fundraising at bottle and paper drives and fetes, the various competitions and especially those camping at Gilwell, the lifelong friend that I made with special mention of my Scout Master, Don Lithgow, and of course the Scouters conferences at Gilwell where I first met Pat.
Nicknames - Nicknamed “Squeaker” when in Cubs at the age of 10, then in addition was called “Fluffy” during the late 1970’s after running out of Brylcreme in the long hair era. Both nicknames have continued in perpetuity and it is very common for Pat and I to be referred to and even have letters addressed to Mr and Mrs Fluff.
Married - Met Pat at a Scout conference in 1962. Pat had migrated from England with her sister Iris some 8 months earlier and had joined the same Scout group as a Cub Instructor.
It was love at first sight and within a couple of weeks I had proposed marriage and been accepted. We became engaged on 16th November in 1962 and were married exactly one year later at the Methodist Church in Deepdene in Melbourne.
Children - We were blessed with 2 terrific sons, Neil David born on 3rd April 1966 and Scott Wesley born on 7th April 1968.
Work - I started work in January 1953 with the Commonwealth Oil Refineries (COR), which became BP Australia Ltd in the mid 1950’s when British Petroleum took up a controlling interest in the company from the Australian government.
I commenced as a junior trainee earning 7.15.0 (7 pounds 15 shillings, or $15.50) per week. Over the years I rose to a senior position in BP’s shipping section controlling the operation of several sea-going tankers, which also involved close contact with other oil companies and shipping agents. My job also involved negotiating the charter of other ships direct with other owners, shipbrokers and the BP Petroleum office in London.
For many years I was on call as a first aid attendant to handle any medical emergencies with staff members.
My job involved longer than normal working hours and frequently working from home while chartering ships via the telephone locally, interstate and overseas. It involved attending meetings interstate and visiting tankers with an infrequent trip on them. On occasions, I also visited our tankers while they were laid up undergoing dry docking and repairs, which took me to Fremantle, Newcastle, Brisbane and once to Singapore.
I was on of the few early people to have a mobile phone which was large and unreliable and at the time with limited accessories cost just on $6000.
I remained employed by COR, then BP for 37.5 years before retiring at the age of 55. I am still reminded of my working days by the ships clock on the wall at home with the inscription underneath “To Fluffy, Happy Retirement from all at BP Shipping England. August 1990”.
National Service - Conscripted into National Service in 1955 and spent 3 months training at Puckapunyal in Victoria with the 3rd Field Engineer Regiment and on completion spent a further 5 years part time in the Citizens Military Forces (CMF).
Camping/Caravanning - I was introduced to camping in the Scouts and quickly formed a love of the bush and traveling. After leaving Scouts most of the camping was in small hike tents, the favourite place being at Dargo with my very special friend Geoff Bayley who later was borrowing a larger tent from his family. In the later part of the 1960’s Pat decided she would join me camping even though she knew she wasn’t going to enjoy it. I purchased a huge tent and extra equipment and surprise surprise Pat thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
After Dargo the family started going to Swifts Creek each Easter and sometimes at Christmas and soon it became a popular gathering place each year for a lot of friends. Even after moving to Queensland in 1991 we continued to come back for Easter at Swifts Creek every year.
In 1980 we bought our first caravan and tripped around extensively, then in 1990 on retiring we bought a new car and caravan and headed off around Australia.
Country Music - During the 1980’s Pat and I attended a lot of day or weekend country music festivals in and around Melbourne. Later after retiring from BP we began attending the 10 day festival at Tamworth every year, and when line dancing was all the rage we took part in the Guiness book of records longest line competition and was part of the world record on a couple of occasions.
In the year 2000 we also started going to the annual 10 day festival at Mildura.
Cars - My first experience driving a car was when at 8 years of age I was sitting on my fathers knee in the family car while shifting home from Adelaide to Melbourne and my Dad dozed off leaving me in sole charge of the steering wheel.
I bought my first car, a 1952 soft top Morris Minor at the age of 18 with some financial assistance from my parents and almost immediately became interested and involved in car treasure hunts/rallies/economy runs/gymkhanas etc and managed to win quite a few trophies along the way including the annual club championship of the BP Automobile Club on numerous occasions.
Proudest moments - When our sons Neil and Scott were born.
Most Auspicious occasion – At my wedding.
Most embarrassing occasion – when I was an usher at Graeme MacNamara’s wedding, and I asked his future wife’s parents whether they were friends of the bride or groom.
Earliest recollection – sitting in the top of a tree with my cousin Elizabeth smoking a cigarette that I had pinched from my father.
Best memories – Of my parents, particularly of my father who died earlier than I believed was fair. It never ceases to amaze me how they raised such a ratbag without losing their patience.
Most awe inspiring occasion – working at the Balwyn post office in my early teens as a telegram boy and delivering one in person to Sir Robert Menzies.
Scariest occasion – Jumping out of a tiny Cessna at 8000 feet with an instructor on my 60th birthday.
Indoor activities – Square dancing, line dancing, bridge, ten pin bowling, judo, squash.
Outdoor activities – Golf, lawn bowls, skiing, shuffleboard, traveling, walking.
Favourite songs – Pat and I for a long time have regarded “You’re my best friend” as ‘our’ song. I have a lot of favourites, but a couple of more memorable ones are Amazing Grace and Mull of Kintyre.

Lived at 78 Springvale Rd Nunawading Vic until 1991