Eric Hill

Story

Eric Russell Hill was born 8.10.1899 at Gibraltar, eldest son of Sgt. Montague Hill, an electrician in the British Army, and Eliza Fanny Hill (nee Newson).

When he was 4 1/2, the family returned to England living initially in Plymouth and then London.

His father migrated to Australia in 1911 and his wife, Fanny and children Eric, Vince, Wenonah and Muriel followed on the S.S.Port Lincoln, a converted cargo ship. After a rough trip they arrived in Melbourne on 12.09.1912, just before Eric\’s 13th birthday.

Eric\’s father became Engineer-in-Charge of the Beulah electricity supply and Eric attended the Beulah State School. At age 14, he left school after becoming ‘dux’ and gaining his Merit Certificate. He then worked at the local powerhouse, assisting in running the suction gas engine, fuelled by mallee roots. In the evenings he studied electrical engineering from text books. Following six months at the Ararat electricity supply, he moved with the family to the Melbourne suburb of Moonee Ponds. Eric gained employment with the A.G.E. company selling and sometimes installing electrical fittings and appliances.

About 1918, the family moved to a dairy farm at Millgrove. After two years, following a bushfire, the family moved to Dandenong where his father became Engineer-in-Charge of the local electricity supply. However, Eric tried more farm work in Victoria\’s Goulburn Valley, where the farmer could see his potential and urged him to return to the electrical trade. Eric moved back to the family and then joined the company working in the powerhouse and as a linesman.

In 1922, the State Electricity Commission of Victoria took over the Dandenong electricity supply, appointed Eric\’s father as Officer-in-Charge and closed the powerhouse. Eric continued as a linesman and then as a meter inspector.

At the Dandenong Methodist Church, he met Doris Cadle. They married in 1925 and they had only just moved into their new home, when he was promoted by the S.E.C. to the position of OfficerÐin-Charge of the Belgrave District. He had no staff and no means of transport. Things improved when he gained a staff member and was supplied with an ‘Indian’ motorcycle and sidecar. Eric and Doris\’ first child Marie was born in 1926 while they lived in Belgrave.

In 1927, Eric\’s father resigned and the S.E.C. offered the position to Eric so the family moved back to Dandenong. The new position was a significant upgrade from 300 consumers to a staff of 6 and 1500 consumers. Eric continued as Officer-in-Charge of the Dandenong District, which had become the largest in the state with 60 staff and 30,000 consumers, until he retired in May 1962. His role over this period changed. Initially, as well as being manager and supervising line work, he was also a salesman. One such duty would be to demonstrate a new-fangled electric washing machine to a skeptical housewife who had a week\’s supply of dirty clothes ready. At night, when storms brought down power lines, the telephone calls from affected dairy farmers and others came to his home. Eric had to organize the repairs, and at times attended himself, leaving Doris to take any further calls. As the district grew his duties became purely administrative.

Meanwhile the family had grown to six children, Marie, Russell, Bryan, Gordon, Lorna and Barbara and in 1938 a new and larger home was built. Eric was very involved with community matters, particularly those associated with the Dandenong Methodist Church including Church trustee and Sunday School Superintendent.

During World War II, he was a member of the Volunteer Defence Corps. Debating and adjudicating was a long time interest. About 1960, just prior to retirement, Eric nominated for, and was elected to the Dandenong City Council. In August 1965 he was elected Mayor, but two weeks later, his much loved wife Doris suffered a severe stroke and was confined to hospital. Because of this, Eric intended to resign as mayor but daughter, Mrs. Marie Campbell offered to act as Mayoress in her mother\’s place, enabling Eric to continue as Mayor. Doris died in October 1966. She had been a wonderful wife and had also been involved in many community matters.

On an overseas tour, Eric met Ruth Rhode of Queensland. They found they had similar interests, love grew and with family support, they married in August 1967. Back in Dandenong, Eric continued his life with Council, Church and community matters, but in 1970 he suffered a coronary occlusion and he resigned from these activities.

Eric and Ruth moved first to Rosebud, then later to Warragul which better suited their lifestyle. There they enjoyed several peaceful years until a heart attack on 14th August 1982 ended Eric Russell Hill\’s life.

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