Life of achievements

By Sarah Schwager
PROMINENT Cranbourne identity and former Citizen of the Year Les Kelly has died at the age of 87.
Les settled in Cranbourne in the early 1950s with his wife Kathleen and soon became involved with numerous local activities.
Their son Peter Kelly said his dad was not a person who talked about doing things, but someone who always got things done.
He was actively involved in the fire brigade, spending more than 35 years as a volunteer, and became a life member of the Cranbourne Fire Brigade in 1985.
He was also heavily involved with St Vincent de Paul and the Red Cross and became a Justice of the Peace in 1972.
In 1981 Les received the inaugural Shire of Cranbourne’s Citizen of the Year award for services to the Cranbourne community.
In 1982 he was made an honorary member of Cranbourne Rotary and was presented with the Paul Harris Fellowship.
In 1985 he was in the Queen’s Birthday honour list as a recipient of the OAM, Medal of the Order of Australia.
Peter said despite busying himself with community service, working with the Postmaster-General Department (PMG) and trying to build up his small farming property, Les was often coerced into playing cricket with the Cranbourne Cricket Club.
He played in the 1957-58 A Grade tied premiership against Cardinia, playing with other well-known local identities Ted Allen, Greg Clydesdale, Joe Cam, Joe Kelsall, Polly Waymouth, Charlie Morley and George Harvey.
“He was a very stubborn opening batsman who refused to give up his wicket without a fight,” Peter said.
He said his dad’s other great love was Australia, particularly the outback.
“Whenever possible, he would load up his four wheel drive and grab a mate and escape for a couple of months travelling to areas that even now would be considered to be remote.”
Although Les was heavily involved in his volunteer work, his family said he still found plenty of time for them and set a fantastic example that family was his number one priority.
His wife, Kathleen, and their four children, Robert, Helen, Denise and Peter, said they were extremely proud of all Les’s achievements but that his qualities as a man, husband, father and grandfather would be what would stay in their hearts.
Les died on Saturday.
His funeral was to be held at St Agatha’s Church in Cranbourne today (Thursday) at 11am.