HENDERSON, Donald Gilbert (1930-2017).jpg)
Donald Henderson (2nd Football 1947).
Grazier, sportsman and Councillor, Donald Henderson was the third generation of a family of pastoralists who managed the pastoral properties 'Wolngi' and 'Oban' near Deniliquin, and who became Councillors of Cobargo Shire.
Born on 7 January 1930 at Llandyssil Private Hospital, the second of four children born to Donald Stanley Henderson (1898-1965) and his wife 'Bonnie', Donald was first educated through correspondence school before his enrolment as a boarder at Geelong College from 15 September 1938 to December 1947. At College in 1947, he became Captain of the 2nd Football XVIII and Captain of the 2nd Cricket XI. He was a sergeant in the Cadet Corps, a member of the Library Committees in 1946 and 1947 and a School Prefect. In 1942, he won the Robert Gillespie Prize.
Donald was first elected to Conargo Shire Council in 1971 and served as mayor for five one-year terms in the 1980s. As a councill, he was a strong supporter of the environment protecting trees and managing firebreaks to protect young vegetation. A dedicated tennis player, he played overseas in veterans' competitions and was President of the Deniliquin Tennis Club and a Life Member. He was still playing in the Deniliquin competition when in his eighties. As a footballer he played for North Deniliquin in the then Edward River League after leaving College, with the Deniliquin Rams in the Murray League in the 1950s and coached at Blighty (of which he became a Life Member) in the 1950s and 1960s. He was also a judge with the Deniliquin Racing Club for many years.
Donald died of medical complications following a fall on 4 August 2017, aged 87 years at Deniliquin Hospital.
His father attended Scotch College, Melbourne from 1912-1916. His brother, Alan Henderson, sons, John (OGC 1980) and Donald (OGC 1971) and grandson, Jack were also educated at Geelong College.
Sources: The Argus (Melb) 11 January 1930; The Age (Melb) 7 August 2017; Pastoral Times 8 August 2017 p3; Eulogy by Alan G Henderson 10 August 2017. OGC 1942.