IT WAS hats off and a minute’s silence at the Leongatha VLE Saleyards at Koonwarra on Wednesday, June 7 after the passing of legendary stock and station man Brian Rodwell last Sunday, June 4.
Former colleague Damien Minogue made the announcement of Mr Rodwell’s passing and another colleague, Simon Henderson, added some suitable remarks before the saleyards fell silent as a mark of respect to a man who worked for 74 years in the industry at all levels.
Friend and colleague David Phelan remembered Brian as being highly respected by all.
“He was effectively my boss when I started at the Australian Estates office in Yarram in 1977.
“We’d been organising to have a get-together over dinner before Christmas before we had to change the date of a property auction and we’re going ahead with it in the New Year before Brian had a fall and cracked his hip in the middle of February.
“He was starting to get on top of his rehab and was desperate to get back into it when he had a bit of a setback and died.
“It’s a big loss, but at 90 years of age, still doing what he loved, you’ve got to be able to celebrate that as a life well lived.
“He was a terrific fella, very well respected by all and he got on with everyone.
“The first president of ALPA, Dick Cameron was a great friend of Brian’s and had some nice things to say.
Tribute to Brian Rodwell from ALPA
It is with much sadness that we advise members present and past of the sudden passing of Mr Brian Rodwell at the age of 90 years. The Australian Livestock & Property Agents Association Ltd pays tribute to one of the most highly influential industry statesmen of all time whose career spanned an almighty 74 years. Brian Rodwell was a champion of the stock and station profession and he was the greatest purveyor of what makes a true leader always espousing integrity, self-awareness, courage, respect, empathy, and gratitude.
Brian joined Gippsland & Northern at the age of 16 as a trainee at their Newmarket branch then moved to Dandenong where he was a trainee auctioneer and livestock salesman. In 1957 Brian joined Australian Estates at Kyneton and commenced selling at Newmarket and country store sales. In 1964 Brian purchased King Sons & Ballantyne Pty Ltd with partner Colin Hill operating at Newmarket.
In 1970 the business was sold to Australian Estates and Brian was appointed Head Country Auctioneer, Manager Newmarket, Livestock Manager, Operations Manager and then Director of Australian Estates Agency Division.
Following the takeover of Australian Estates by D.S.M. in 1981, Brian left and started Rodwells & Co Pty Ltd which grew into a highly successful and formidable pastoral operation in livestock property and wool.
Following his retirement from Rodwells, Brian accepted a position with the Stock & Station Agents Association and on January 5, 2004 he opened the Melbourne office. A calling back into private agency in 2006 saw him join Everitt & Seeley followed by Alex Scott & Staff in 2009 before teaming up in 2015 with long-term friend David Phelan and Simon Henderson with whom he had worked in 1993 at Rodwells & Co and other firms where he continued his career as a rural property specialist at Phelan & Henderson.
Inaugural ALPA President, Life Member and distinguished stock and station agent Mr Dick Cameron provided the most sententious valedictory of Brian Rodwell.
“I have had no better friend than Brian. At a personal level he was not only a close friend, but he was a valued mentor and confidante. In fact, I had organised a visit with him in Melbourne this coming Saturday. Brian’s contribution to ALPA was enormous and possibly unknown or largely forgotten by many. When ALPA was nothing more than an idea (in fact, it didn’t even have a name), Brian threw himself behind the concept and he encouraged many others to do the same. His reputation and the power of his personality opened many doors which otherwise would have remained firmly closed. We travelled together across Southern Australia gathering support for a national agents organisation, visiting industry figures well known to him. I seriously doubt whether, without Brian’s endorsement of the concept, ALPA would have become a reality. If it had, it would certainly have taken much longer. Many took the view “If Brian Rodwell thinks this is a good idea, we should have a look at it”. Brian remained a passionate participant in the industry right to the very end. I owe him much and I will miss him.”
Mr David Phelan of Phelan & Henderson Yarram said “Brian was a highly respected industry leader on both sides of the spectrum. He was a passionate advocate for the livestock profession, a great advocate for private agents with an unstinting willingness to support smaller private agents. Over a 74-year career he had integrity second to none. You could take him to a property anywhere, be it 1million acres with thousands of cattle to a 10-acre farmlet with 3 cows and he would speak the same way to everyone”.
ALPA extends our deepest sympathy, thoughts and prayers to Brian’s wife Joan, son Simon, daughter-in-law Danielle grandchildren Chloe and Oscar and all friends and relatives.
