Community & Business
27 March, 2024
Vale Garney Dillon
Oakey’s last-remaining World War II veteran Garney Dillon has died at the age of 103.
Garnet Charles Iver Dillon, better known as “Garney”, was born in Oakey on 24 February 1921 to farmers William Charles and Minnie Jane (nee Petersen) Dillon.
The eldest of three, Garney and his siblings, Cynthia and Clem, were the grandchildren of John Cutts Dillon, the famous jockey who rode the great racehorse, Archer to win the first two Melbourne Cups in 1861 and 1862.
Garney also had a fondness for horses but never racing or gambling - he enjoyed riding for pleasure and dressage.
The family moved to New South Wales when Garney was about three years old.
He had fond memories of living in the Murwillumbah area and he and other children being picked up in a horse and sulky and taken to school.
After yet another move to the Bunya Mountains area the family finally moved back to Oakey where Garney finished his schooling, aged 14.
Garney served in World War II spending time in Borneo from 13 March 1945 to 26 January 1946.
He returned home to Oakey in 1946 and started work at the Oakey Butter Factory.
Garney met his wife Ellie Voll when he made short cuts through the Voll farm on his way to work.
He and Ellie were married on 14 August 1948 and had one daughter, Lesley.
Garney also worked in the Oakey Co-op Store (where Langtons Electrical is now).
He then tried his hand as barman at the Western Line Hotel before finishing up at the Oakey Hardware Store then retiring. Throughout his life, he never owned a car.
Garney and Ellie began married life in a house built by Ellie’s father, Henry Voll.
Although looking some-what different now this house still stands opposite the Oakey Swimming Pool in Campbell Street.
After selling this house in 1979 they built their retirement home in Toowoomba Road next to the Kerrytown Shopping Centre where they lived very happily for 35 years.
Garney and Ellie moved into CWA House (now McLean Care) in 2015.
This became home very quickly as they already knew almost every resident and staff member.
Even their neighbour from Toowoomba Road moved in at a similar time.
Ellie passed away in 2018, having lived well over 100.
This was a sad time but being surrounded by people he knew made it easier for Garney.
He was a real character and was known around town.
He enjoyed a drink in his younger days and was good company - everyone liked him, a true people’s person.
His favourite topic of conversation was local history but he never liked talking about himself even though he lived from horse and sulky days up to the times of man walking on the moon.
Garney sadly passed away on Thursday, 29 February 2024 aged 103.
At his request he was laid to rest with a combined RSL Poppy Service and private service at Toowoomba Garden of Remembrance on Monday, 18 March 2024.
