It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Eric Collyer. Doncaster Templestowe Historical Society mourns his passing and celebrates his achievements.
Eric was a long term resident of Doncaster. He was one of the foundation members of the society when it began back in 1967 and over his continual years of membership, he enhanced the standing of the Society and was greatly respected by all those who came into contact with him. He was always ready to assist community and Society members with his knowledge on many subjects.
He was one of the original group of people who championed the relocation of Schramms Cottage from Doncaster Road and the rebuilding at the Schramms Cottage Museum Complex.
He served 7 years as President of the Society and in many other roles, and over the years published a number of books on the history of Doncaster and Templestowe. His contribution as a member of the Manningham City Council Heritage Advisory Committee over many years was greatly appreciated by Council and the other members.
Eric will live on in the memory of many and he will remain part of the Society’s history.
Photograph: Eric standing second from right with DTHS committee members (2022)
Source: Facebook - including tributes
Death Notice
The Mayor, Councillors and staff of Manningham Council mourn the death of Eric Collyer. Eric was a former President of the Doncaster Templestowe Historical Society and a valued member of the Manningham Community. Condolences to the Collyer family. Rest in Peace
Source: COLLYER, Eric Leonard | Death Notices | Melbourne | Herald Sun Jan2025
Death Notice - Vale, Eric Collyer
by Stella Yee, Editor - Manningham Life
Eric Collyer was a long-term resident of Doncaster. He was a founding member of the Doncaster Templestowe Historical Society, established in 1967, and played a pivotal role in its development over the years. Serving as President for seven years, as well as in various other capacities, Eric's leadership was instrumental in shaping the Society. Among his many contributions, he was an early champion of the relocation of Schramms Cottage from Doncaster Road and the rebuilding at the Schramms Cottage Museum Complex.
Eric also published several books on local history and dedicated his expertise to the Manningham City Council Heritage Advisory Committee, ensuring the preservation of the region’s rich heritage. His unwavering commitment to safeguarding the history of Doncaster and Templestowe has left a lasting impact on the community.
In addition to his significant historical contributions, Eric generously shared his grandmother’s apple cake recipe, which we published in the May/June 2023 issue (Issue 11). Written in his elegant handwriting, Eric mailed the recipe to us from Adelaide, where he had moved to be closer to his family. For those interested, we are pleased to share the recipe once more.
Funeral Service:
Beloved son of Lou and Selma Collyer (both dec.)
Loved brother of John, Paul, and Hugh (all dec.)
and brother-in-law of Edna (dec.) and Jan
'I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.' - Philippians 1:23
Loved uncle of Nic, Pauline, Anna, Robert, Emilie, and families
'In heavenly love abiding'
Family and friends are invited to attend Eric's Funeral Service on 24th January, 2025 at 10.30am in the Trinity Lutheran Church, 2 Grandview Drive, Pasadena.
The cortege will then proceed directly to Centennial Park Cemetery, Lutheran Lawn section, for the Committal, followed by refreshments in the adjacent Function Centre.
Eric's Funeral Service in the Church was streamed live, and is also available to view online courtesy of Berry Funerals :
Eric Collyer Eulogy - Sue Westhorp, Pastoral Associate at Box Hill Lutheran Church
(Delivered at the Funeral)
Many people have contributed to this eulogy including my parents, Alan and Coral, his nieces and nephews, extended family and close friends.
This says much about how many people’s lives Eric touched.
Eric Leonard Collyer was born on December 14th 1936 to parents Selma (Sally) and Lou Collyer. He was the third of four sons, along with brothers John, Paul and Hugh.
Eric was baptised at St John’s City Rd on January 17th 1937. His baptismal faith remained strong throughout his life, and his involvement in the church constantly nurtured his relationship with God.
The family worshipped at St John’s for a number of years before joining the newly formed St Paul’s congregation at Box Hill in 1950. This congregation worshipped at Shadmani, a large guest house in Box Hill, and Eric was confirmed there on December 21st 1952.
The St Paul’s church in Station St was constructed by builders who were members of the congregation and much of the early work on the church building was done voluntarily by members at Saturday working bees. Eric and his brother Paul both remembered digging trenches by hand. They were also present at the dedication of the church in 1954.
At the end of his leaving year at Box Hill High School Eric obtained a teaching bursary and went on to complete a Trained Primary Teachers Certificate at Burwood Teachers’ College. He taught at eight schools, including Longwarry (in Gippsland), Kerrimuir and Templestowe Heights and showed a natural aptitude for this vocation, as seen in this School Inspector’s report from 1959:
An enthusiastic teacher. Capable in class management. Painstaking in preparation. Has created an attractive classroom environment. Achieves pleasing standards of attainment.
He began at Kerrimuir in 1975 where he mainly taught grades 2, 4 and 5, and was on the School Council. After completing a music education course in Caulfield, Eric set up a music department, and the district inspector asked him to organise a district music festival over two or three days, which included contributions from primary and secondary schools. A committee was appointed and the festival ran for several years and included choirs and bands. After eight happy years at Kerrimuir, including a role as vice-principal, Eric was promoted to Templestowe Heights. He retired from teaching in 1993 having nurtured and educated several generations of children.
Eric’s natural ability as a teacher also contributed to the faith formation of several generations of young people at St Paul’s, where he taught confirmation classes and instilled the importance of scripture and devotional practices as part of the Christian life. Eric was an organist at St Paul’s for many years and also played for services at Ringwood, Greensborough and Doncaster. Eric also served as a choir member, Worship coordinator, Church Council member, and Bible Study leader. He beautified worship through his artistic gifts in floral and Harvest Thanksgiving displays.
These gifts were an extension of his love of and talents in gardening, which came to its fullest fruition maintaining the extensive fruit tree collection and wider gardens at the historic family home Friedensruh. Eric was fortunate to live for many years at Friedensruh with Paul, Edna, Nic and Pauline and enjoyed the reciprocal fellowship and care of Paul and Edna throughout their lives. Eric’s contribution to the celebration of Christmas included maintaining the art of the traditional family baking, the intricate table setting as well as his great passion: the Christmas trees for both the family home and various churches over the years, in each case decorated lovingly by hand each year for quite spectacular impact.
Alongside all of this he was an enthusiastic and faithful contributor to the community. He was a foundation member of the Doncaster Templestowe Historical Society where he served for 58 years in many different roles including 2 stints as President and pursued a lifetime project to relocate, restore and support the ongoing history of Schramms Cottage.
He was highly respected by the members who appreciated his great leadership qualities and wise counsel in decision making. He represented the Society on committees set up by the Manningham City Council where his contribution was recognised on his passing by a tribute in the Herald Sun. Eric’s community activities also included a significant stint as a Member of the Box Hill Cemetery Trust, from 1984 to 2022, where a plaque has been erected to recognise his service.
Eric also derived a huge amount of purpose from his work as the author and researcher of family histories.
The decision to leave Melbourne for Adelaide in 2022 was not taken lightly, but knowing Paul and Edna were relocating to Adelaide, Eric too decided to make a bold move. He bought with much pride his first ever owned home in Aberfoyle Park and with the support of Pauline undertook the significant task of maintaining the family heritage by the careful and thorough move from Friedensruh. He enjoyed being part of the Bethlehem, Flinders St Adelaide congregation, where he again contributed by assisting with confirmation classes and creating floral displays for workshop services. He was invited and became a member of his local Probus club enjoying the friendship and fellowship it provided and also enjoyed the company of extended family.
Eric’s brotherly bond with Paul was lived out in his support of Paul in his final months at Resthaven following Edna’s passing. Eric, along with nephew Nic, visited Paul daily to share a sherry, a piece of chocolate (or 2!) and a devotion.
Eric lived in his home at Aberfoyle Park for 2 years with much family support, where he continued to take great pride in his garden. He particularly recognised and appreciated the support provided by Nic and Jane who live nearby (having helped by finding a house for Eric in the area!) and were regular companions and care givers. Having beaten cancer earlier in his life, his declining health in the last few months and particularly after Christmas Day saw him hospitalised and pass away peacefully in medical care on 2 January 2025.
He is remembered fondly as a warm, encouraging, uncle, cousin, friend, teacher and mentor to many. Throughout his life he cared for his eldest brother John; he was a welcome and constant presence in the lives of Hugh’s family: Jan, Anna, Robert and Emilie and an attentive godparent to a number of us. We will miss his delighted response when answering the phone to his calls: “Is that you Sue?!”
A man of great but humble faith who passed on this faith to so many and who looked forward to meeting his Lord as he approached his final days. We thank God for the gift of his life and for the many ways in which God worked through him.
Memorial Service:
St Pauls Lutheran Church, 1201 Riversdale Road, Box Hill South
Wednesday 5th February, 2025 at 7.00pm
The service will be followed by tea, coffee and cake.
Phone (03) 9899 0623 Email: office@stpaulsboxhill.org.au https://www.stpaulsboxhill.org.au/
Manningham Project - Our Community Heritage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noQxYAyMtho
Video Automated Transcript:
I was born Eric Leonard Collier, born in 1936. I'm a fourth generation of the Teier family on my mother's side. My father came from an English background. My father married my mother, one of the Ties here at Doncaster in 1932. Grew up in Doncaster and later on in Boxill. My forebears came to Doncaster in 1853 and uh established one one of the first orchards in the Doncaster Templeto district. Well, my great-grandfather was a tailor by trade in Germany. knew little about fruit going but nevertheless planted the first fruit trees on his orchard. But it was his sons, his three sons who really in 80 years expanded the orchard and one of those sons Frederick Teley had the benefit of um horicultural training at the Burnley Horicultural College. So he and his younger brother Alfred who was my grandfather Ryan actually became leaders and also innovators in the fruit growing industry. Growing up in an orchard was was a wonderful experience. I have to say that I remember my walks to school. We went to Doncaster school. We had to walk there. Um, and I still remember if we passed a dam as we walked through the family orchard, we would pick up a pebble and skim it across the surface to watch the the ripples. Also going mushrooming, you know, there are plenty of mushrooms around in those days. It was hot in the summer. It's just wonderful to pick a peach off a tree, a ripe peach, and eat that. And we would walk across to the dam. Dams were built for the purpose of irrigating orchards, but we also use them as swimming pools. And so to cool off on a hot day, we got into our togs and had a swim in the dam and also went yabbying. We're catching yabbies in the dam. That was another experience I remember. Piece of meat dangled on a string and a sieve, you know, was a wonderful way to catch yabbies. I feel particularly blessed to still live in the family home that was established by my forebear 164 years ago. with all orchards. I think when the busy times of the year, of course, the busiest time was the harvest time and it was all hands on deck. The women even had to go out and pick fruit. That's what they could do. Pick fruit. My mother also packed fruit. I remember her packing fruit for her brother at ready for market. They would load up the wagons. These were big black wagons uh with fruit. And they would set off for the market at midnight by horse and wagon. They would get to the market about 3 3:30, unload their wagons, uh, ready for the first customers. My great-grandmother used to take take a load of fruit in the wagon to the market with her husband, right? And on such occasion, I think returning from the market, she had to stop off at a chemist shop because her youngest child, my grandfather, actually arrived in the world. That's a true story. the German English community assimilated so well and although they they came from different backgrounds. Um they just worked as one community. They helped each other they supported each other. In the case of the orchardists I think when they wanted to build a dam all the neighboring orchardists would come and help regardless of their nationality. My great uncle who I referred to that was Frederick Tulley built Doncaster's first dam on our orchard. I think I recall we had seven dams a total of seven and then of course they also um pioneered the cool storage of fruit you know fridge refrigeration had been discovered earlier but its application to exporting fruit to Europe and England which was a very lucrative market by way of ship that process had to be refined and it was the Doncaster fruit growers or a few of them working together that did had experimented with that and finally were able to work out uh a successful way of landing fruit in Europe in good condition. The Petty plow was named after the Petty family. That was a a plow designed by Herb and Frank Petty, initially pulled by a horse but later by tractors. But the beauty is that you could steer that plow in close to the butt of a tree to plow right up to the butt. Then you would steer it out and then you would come in again to the next tree and you would weave in and out like this. I've over the years collected a um a number of um orchard spray machines from around the district and I've restored those together with other orcharding implements. And I guess I would just like to see that in some way preserved for future generations as the only remaining example when we're no longer living there. Well, Freedenshire as it is today is the only remaining original complex of orchard buildings in Manningham. Now, it's in an excellent state of preservation today, complete with all of its outbuildings and its beautiful garden surrounding that. And of course, it overlooks Ruffy Lake Park, which was once the the family orchard. Gradually, you saw the land change from a rural community to an urban community. And um as one orchard after another was was bulldozed and roads were constructed and footpaths were put in and uh not too many of us left now that can remember those days. So what was a mighty empire and the biggest fruit growing in district in the state of Victoria has made a great contribution over the years to the fruit growing industry.
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