Granted Life Membership 2010
Bob & Jane Dalton Story
The Bob & Jane link with Barrie & the Beehag family goes back to about 1977 when Bob was working for Repco as a Rep, he called into Case Tractors to see if he could flog some stuff off. His first mistake was thinking this would be an easy sell, Baz asking many questions about the parts, & giving Bob the real run around, to the point Bob didn’t think he’d sell Baz anything. His second mistake, he came away with a good order, but worked damn hard to get it. Bob had started observing in Leon Sharp’s “Struggler”, so their paths continued to cross not only at work but also at play.
In 1978 Bob became a member of the MWSC & in 1979 Bob married Jane Webster. By the end of that year Samantha Jane had arrived. Jane at Baz’s urging had her initiation into Southern 80 as a time keeper/judge in 1980, with Samantha as a 3month baby in her pram “Don’t worry about her she’ll have lots of “Aunties” to dance attendance on her” says Baz, and of course she did.
In 1985 both Bob & Jane became directors of MWSC, putting in years of dedication to the club & towards the success of the Southern 80 race of today.
About the same time Jane started working for Baz & his son Craig at the Echuca Steam Laundry, she was always “conned” into working longer hours to cover for “the bosses” cos they were off doing water sports club stuff. Bob working across the road at Burbury Horne would often knock off work & get told – “Jane can’t go yet she’s still doing “jobs”, so Bob, if you get into the van & drop those sheets off at the Pevensey, Big River & Settlement Motels she should be finished by the time you get back”. Haha both conned. Although Bob says it did have its compensations – Baz & Craig would shout the drinks at knock off time.
1989 Jane stood down as a Director of MWSC & took on the position of Judges Co-ordinator of which she still does today, but still took on many numerous jobs that she was coerced into, (tasks that no one else had time to do & usually at the last minute) whether it be – sewing flags, providing sandwiches, filling scrutineering bags or cutting up rags to mark the river - with the normal Jane enthusiasm & diligence.
Bob on the other hand, stayed on as a Director until 91, among one of the many jobs assigned to Bob, was on the Thursday prior to the 80 each year Bob & a group of blokes, had to mark the snags on the river, with the rags that Jane had cut up. The esky would be packed ready for him & the guys to spend a few hours on the river. They had lots of fun whilst doing the job & sometimes even came upon some amazing sights. One in particular stands out in Bobs mind. Cruising along the river attending to the job at hand, when lunch time was approaching, “we’ll stop at Wills Bend & have lunch” was the call across the river to the other boat. As the boats quietly pulled into Wills sand bar, a group of supine sunbaking females sat up – forgetting that they were sunbaking topless. Amongst much embarrassment & scrambling for clothes, the ladies made a hasty retreat, but it made the guys day.
He got his bum in a number of boats over the years. After “Struggler”, he sat in Rosene II & tended watch over the Lochhead kids, Glen, Troy & Marcia with their father Ray doing the driving. Next was Tennesse Sue owned by Ian Lyons towing legend Andrew Donehue.
His last full time observing job was in the butterbox “River Rat” for Laurie Glass, towing Tony Glass & Colin Chipperfield. It just so happens that Bobs’ birthday always falls around Southern 80 weekend. In 1996, his birthday was on race day & River Rat was boat #50, was it just a mere coincidence that it was also Bobs’ 50th Birthday or were there some well placed gremlins in the draw hat???!!!
Since his retirement from observing Bob has spent every southern 80 & BB race on a river bank a couple of bends downstream from the finish line, with radio in hand alerting the judges of incoming boat numbers – sometimes even with a smart comment of “you can breathe easy now Mum here comes your kid.”
Bob has a love of Seacraft boats, & took to restoring one that took him several years to complete, “Jarrah” was his pride & joy for many years & took the family up & down the river for many hours of skiing enjoyment. Until one day Samantha decided she didn’t want to ski anymore, so Bob sold the boat to butter box enthusiast Clint Middleton. On the day Clint came to take delivery of the boat Samantha had a change of heart & told Clint “you can’t have it any more I’ve changed my mind, I really do like skiing” Clint replied with “I’ll take you for a ski any day you want one Samantha.” Bob & Jane were left consoling their daughter, & waving goodbye to Bobs’ labour of love Jarrah. This year Bob has acquired another seacraft project, so he can again spend many hours down in the shed “fiddling”, we await the rebirth of “Fleetwood”.
Bob, Jane and Samantha are as much of the Beehag Family and the MWSC club family as their own family. We appreciate their untiring support of both our races – the Beehag and the Southern 80. They are part of the foundations that exist for the great races that they are today. PS you are not allowed to retire any time soon!!!
Barrie Beehag Program 2009
