VIC'S FAMILY HISTORY
FAMILY HISTORY
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Looking at the photograph, right, one would think I had the makings of a good, or should I say , GREAT cricketer, .
like my father CLARENCE VICTOR GRIMMETT who played 37 Tests for Australia and was the first bowler in the world to obtain 200 test wickets.
Unfortunately this was not to be the case, although I did get many wickets in school cricket and scored quite a few runs, as a big hitter when it came time to bat. My best effort was in a match against Prince Alfred College, the one Ian Chappell attended. In one eight ball over I scored 35 runs which included five consecutive sixers.
I was born on 17/12/23 at Caulfield, Victoria, and was named Victor Clarence Grimmett, the same christian names as my father, only in reverse.I was only nine months old when my family moved to South Australia.
I attended Rostrevor College but was not the best of scholars, so when it was time to leave I was lucky enought to get a clerical position in the Engineering and Water Supply Department, in Victoria Square, Adelaide.
When I turned 18 I enlisted in the R.A.A.F., but before I was called up in September 1942, I had to spend six months in the Militia, serving with the 58thAA unit stationed at West Beach opposite Escort House, on land which was known as Matson's Stables, land which is now prime real estate.
After over three years in the RAAF I returned to the E&WS Dept, but soon found the red tape and waste of public money was something I could not agree with so looked for other things to do.
One was to be a radio announcer. After being auditioned by every radio station in Adelaide the nearest I got was a return audition with 5KA. I still have the letter telling me how pleased they were with my first try.
However one of my great loves was photography so I purchased a good camera, and soon was on my way to becoming a full time professional.
I was a professional photographer for 40 years, retiring in 1993. These days my
interests are Golf , working in my garden, playing with my computer and
of course Rotary of which I have been a member for 20 years.
I married Maureen O'Farrell in 1950 and became the father of a daughter, Helen and a son Brenton, both born on the same day of the year, 28th October 1954, 1957. Unfortunately my marriage broke up in 1975 and I was on my own until 1982 when I married Louie Booker, a widow.
My darling daughter who never married died on my birthday in 1990, and my dear wife died eight days short of our 10th wedding anniversary on 28 May 1992. My son has had a very successful career with Salmat Direct Marketing, having been the SouthAustralian and Queensland State manager, and then the manager of the company's Taipei office. He left the company in 2003 and is at present the owner of the Dingo Bar in Phnom Penh.
THE FAMILY PHOTO ALBUM. Top left to right, my mother ELIZABETH, father CLARRIE, taken before they both turned 21, and another photo of my father as most people knew him in later years. My wife LOUIE, and below, daughter HELEN and son BRENTON.
