When Graham was still at school, local farmers formed the Toolibin, Tincurrin and Harrismith (TTH) syndicate and purchased a bulldozer.

If the syndicate dozer was working within a five or six mile radius of the Parnell property on Parnell road at Tincurrin, Graham would ride his push bike to the machine after school and assist with the fuelling up, hand pumping from two 44 gallon drums.

This is where Graham first learnt to drive the machine and at age 18 his father bought their first bulldozer, a Caterpillar D4.

This was used to sink dams and clear their farmland as well as subsequent farms they purchased which were only half cleared.

Within five years the D4 was updated to a Caterpillar D6B.

Then in 1961 Graham went out contracting, as well as working the dozer at home.

A D7 Caterpillar was soon bought and then a D8.

In 1985 a new Komatsu 155 dozer was also purchased.

Graham and Olive left the farm in 1988 and moved into Dumbleyung, setting up their yard on Bartram Street.

Their new Komatsu 155AX was sold after 15 months and then a new model, the 275, was bought in 1995.

This machine was sold earlier in the year to Cardinal Contractors of Collie, who incidentally had bought the previous dozer as well.

Graham’s volunteer work has included pushing up the gravel for the Dumbleyung airstrip, digging the hole for the swimming pool and assisting with construction at the Kukerin pistol club.

Graham has sunk dams and cleared many acres, working as far inland as the Number 2 Rabbit Proof Fence, as far south as Albany and many places in between.

Graham and Olive have settled on the outskirts of Albany, but will still be involved with Dumbleyung until their shed and house are sold.