General News
9 January, 2026
Centenarian dies
Former Crosshill dairy farmer Eric Dorries has died at the age of 102, in Pittsworth.
Born on 22nd February 1923 in Oakey on Cherry Street where the medical practice is now, Eric Dorries was the last of nine children born to John Christian (Christy) and Charlotte Dorries (nee Diflo), both of German ancestry.
As a child Eric attended the one teacher Crosshill School near Biddeston and was taught by a Mr Jones in the 1930s.
“If we took the road to school, it’d be three miles from the farm,” he recalled, speaking to the Champion in 2023.
“We used to go through the paddocks which was one and a half miles.”
The death of Eric’s mother when he was 16 meant that he could cook well, unlike many men of his era.
After the War’s end, Eric bought the family farm at Crosshill from his father Christy, and managed it for several decades.
A claim to fame was that Eric once had a tractor driving licence inspection conducted on his farm by policeman and rugby league footballer and coach Wayne Bennett, who was relieving in a brief stint at the Oakey station.
Members of the Dorries family are known for their longevity - a cousin Alf, who was recognised in the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame, lived to the same age.
Eric is survived by his wife Laurel, children Linda, Keith, John, and Valda along with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
