Gary Thomas Rees

Gary Thomas Rees graced the world with his presence on Friday, December 20th, 1946, at Vaucluse Hospital in Brunswick. His mother, Georgina Francis Wainwright, was born in 1908, and hailed from England before arriving in Australia in 1910. His father, Morgan Thomas Rees, was born in Ballarat in 1906.

Growing up alongside his three sisters, Jan, Dianne, and Helen, Gary’s childhood residence stood at 58 Thistle Street in Brunswick. Their home was a modest two-bedroom Californian Bungalow, complete with a 2.5-metre square outhouse situated in the backyard. Remarkably, Gary occupied the outhouse alone from the tender age of 3, despite its unconventional features, such as a 200mm gap atop the side walls, covered only by fly wire. It wasn’t uncommon for him to wake up and find a dead huntsman spider in his bed. When questioned about his view from the window, Gary humorously shared, “What window?” Within the household, his sisters shared one bedroom, while his parents occupied the other. His maternal grandmother’s bedroom doubled as the family’s lounge room, a space where Gary fondly recalled her presence and, sadly, her eventual passing.
Gary’s childhood was filled with adventures that epitomized the joy of youthful exploration. As a young boy, he had a passion for collecting white mice, guinea pigs, and pigeons. His neighbours often grew frustrated with him because he would amass up to 50 pigeons at a time, leading to complaints about the mess they left behind on their rooftops. He enjoyed roaming the laneways, streets, and creeks, indulging in the mischievous pursuit of raiding the neighbour’s fruit trees, and eagerly anticipated Saturday afternoons spent at the Padua Picture Theatre. At the age of 12, his adventurous spirit led him to the Brunswick Tip, where an attempt to capture baby pigeons resulted in a memorable fall.

Dinnertime within his family followed a unique routine. The first sitting comprised Jan, Dianne, Gary, and Helen, who enjoyed their meal together, while their parents savoured a relaxing “happy hour” on the veranda. Following this, Gary’s parents had their dinner, during which time he and his sisters would gather around the radio to listen to shows like “Dad and Dave” and “Biggles.”
Among his most treasured possessions was his homemade billy cart, renowned as the fastest in the neighbourhood, along with a rocket ship gifted to him by the Wharfies during a Christmas Picnic, even though it failed to ignite as intended. Reflecting on his childhood, Gary fondly shared, “My family life, we were not rich, but had a good upbringing and a loving family environment”.

In his reflections, Gary vividly recalled his father returning home, escorted by the police, a consequence of him lifting goods from the government cool stores, where his father worked. Equally memorable was the image of his mother, badly injured from a mishap with the garden bed’s iron edging, while pursuing him with a strap.

Gary’s educational journey took him from North Brunswick State School to Brunswick Technical School, followed by studies at RMIT and later Hawthorn Teachers College. Along the way, he obtained his Plumbing license and Technical Teaching Certificate from Swinburne Hawthorn. In his early school years, Gary’s favourite subjects were art and sports, while later showing a keen interest in woodwork, sheet metal, clay modelling, and technical drawing. In reflecting on his time in school, Gary recalled, “After a pretty ordinary start in studies, the penny dropped, and I applied myself and am quite proud of what I ended up achieving”.

As a teenager, Gary found joy in camping with friends, engaging in pig and rabbit shooting, and cruising his car up and down Sydney Road. Although it should be said, that among the stories frequently shared about him, was the notion that he was lucky not to have killed someone on receiving his driver’s license. During his teenage years, Gary found himself involved in a few fist fights, which contributed to his reputation among his peers. However, as he transitioned into adulthood, particularly after marriage and having children, he found it increasingly challenging to maintain that reputation.

Gary dedicated 20 years of his life to playing football and being involved in Brunswick City Football Club, a commitment that brought him immense pride. Among his fondest football memories was winning the second Best and Fairest in the U18 Reserves at Brunswick City Football Club, an honour bestowed upon him by none other than John Coleman.

In the 60s, his distinctive style was epitomized by his favourite outfit: a box Chester coat paired with Windsor check cuffed pants and Italian pointy-toe two-toned shoes – a truly memorable look.

Gary’s encounter with his true love, Karen Schimmelbusch, unfolded by chance. While driving with a friend who stopped to pick up his girlfriend walking alongside Karen, fate intervened as she hopped into the back seat, leading to their first kiss. Their engagement was a straightforward affair, with Karen expressing it was time to tie the knot, prompting the purchase of a ring and an engagement celebration at Karen’s family residence on Everett Street in Brunswick.
Their wedding on the 12th of September 1970, held at St. Thomas Church in Moonee Ponds, was followed by a reception at Ardmillan House. Gary fondly recalls “Karen looked stunning” on their special day, although it was slightly overshadowed by Carlton’s loss to Collingwood in the 2nd semi-final, only to triumph in the 1970 Grand Final a fortnight later.
Their honeymoon lasted five nights in New South Wales and one night in Canberra, marred only by car troubles that prompted an early return to Karen’s mother’s home. After spending four days with Karen’s mother, Mary, they embarked on the journey to their first brand-new spec home in Doncaster East, purchased for $17,600. It was here that they formed lasting friendships with their neighbours, the McLaggens and the Withingtons, friendships that endured throughout their lives.

Gary and Karen were blessed with three children: Lucas, born in May 1976 on his own mother’s birthday; Paul, in April 1978; and lastly Cara, in October 1981. Gary was incredibly proud of his children – their accomplishments, and the people they have grown up to be.

In 1980, Gary and Karen embarked on the journey of building their first home at 109-111 Gosford Crescent, Park Orchards. They were surrounded by supportive friends and neighbours such as the Biggs, the Brocks, the Slatterys, and the Haleys. Together, Gary and Karen poured their hearts into the construction process, personally handling every aspect except for the slab laying, brickwork, and pool installation – an ambitious project that took 34 years to complete. The dedication and hard work invested in every detail were remarkable. From the meticulously laid paving surrounding the house and pool to the towering bluestone walls, sourced through connections at Pentridge Prison, each element was carefully crafted and positioned by hand. Gary’s craftsmanship extended to the famous letterbox, constructed from over 2,000 bricks personally laid by himself. His passion for landscape gardening was evident in the artful placement of carefully selected rocks throughout the property, and along the lengthy driveway. Karen was a constant companion, supporting Gary every step of the way, affectionately referred to as his “lackie.”

Come 2015, Gary and Karen embarked on a sea change. Despite exploring various locations around the Bay, they ultimately chose to settle in Mount Martha, purchasing an even larger home than their previous one in Park Orchards, a decision driven by their desire to ensure ample space for their family to visit and stay comfortably.

Gary’s career spanned a diverse and rewarding path, commencing as an apprentice at Forest Hill Plumbing before advancing to a qualified plumber for another two years. He then transitioned to International Gas and Power Engineers, an American company overseeing Melbourne and Geelong’s conversion to natural gas, where he served as a Crew Foreman. In 1973, he embarked on a teaching journey, securing a student teaching position at Glenroy Technical School, instructing sheet metal to years 7-10 and graphic communication to years 9-10. Over the years, his teaching roles expanded, encompassing stints at Brighton Technical School for two years, Brunswick Tech School for six years, Swinburne TAFE for three years, and culminating in a tenure at Box Hill TAFE until his retirement in 2009, where he served as the Head of the Plumbing Department for the last decade. Even after retiring, Gary’s passion for education persisted, as he transitioned into a consulting role for Swinburne, assisting in the establishment of a new facility in Croydon. Throughout his career, Gary’s dedication and expertise earned him high regard in both the TAFE sector and the plumbing industry. Reflecting on his work, Gary remarked, “Regardless of the pay you received, the satisfaction of completing a job and standing back and saying to yourself what a good day’s work that was” remained unparalleled.

Dubbed “Wedge,” Gary acquired this name after casually addressing a friend with the same name during a private moment. To his surprise, when among a larger group, that very friend began using the nickname for him, and it quickly caught on, eventually becoming the preferred name by which his oldest friends addressed him.

Gary’s cherished pastimes included immersing himself in the daily pages of the Herald Sun, tuning in to 3AW whenever possible, whether in the car, at home through the intercom system during the 1980s, or with a trusty portable transistor radio while working around the property. The radio faithfully served as his morning alarm at 6 am, with 3AW a constant presence throughout the day.

Intrigued by politics, Gary enjoyed spirited discussions and maintained a fascination with the Underworld Gangland wars and all things gangster-related, avidly following Sly of the Underworld on 3AW and the TV series The Sopranos. Lake Eppalock in the 70s and 80s provided opportunities for water-skiing with both sides of the family, as well as Brunswick Family friends. As an unwavering Carlton Football Club supporter, Gary affectionately referred to them as his “Blue Baggers.” He relished AFL football and boxing matches on TV, always eager to purchase Main Event fights on Foxtel for family and friends to enjoy together.

Gary’s active lifestyle included swimming six days a week at Aquarena in Doncaster for over two decades, followed by six years at PARC in Frankston and a brief stint at YAWA in Rosebud. He found camaraderie on the tennis court with his Park Orchards mates, Bob Lyford, Barry Thompson, and Doug Taylor, collectively known as the Spartans.

He took pride in watching his sons and son-in-law play local football in their senior years, cheering on all three children as they took to the basketball court. In later years, he found joy in watching his grandchildren participate in sports.

He had a keen appreciation for freebies, whether it involved accompanying Karen on a trip to Costco to savour the array of free food samples at the end of the aisles, or visiting Myer to indulge in a complimentary spray of aftershave. Additionally, Gary held a deep passion for V8 Ford cars, particularly evident in his 2017 purchase of a Red Ford Convertible Mustang, which he joyously cruised around the streets of Mount Martha in.

With a fondness for rhyming slang, Gary often engaged in lively conversations with the extended Rees Family, while enjoying pizza with the lot, accompanied by extra chilli and garlic. And he always said, “If you were comfortable as a man, you could wear pink”. However, he harboured a dislike for people that weren’t fair dinkum, as well as for being called “Gazza” by acquaintances before they earned the title of friend.

In life, we all experience setbacks, and for Gary, this took place in 2001, when he fell from a ladder, resulting in a severe break in his lower leg. Despite the physical challenges he encountered in his recovery, he remained resilient and determined to resume his activities in Park Orchards and Mount Martha. He continued to push himself, gradually reintegrating swimming into his routine and persevering through the obstacles he faced. Over time, he underwent a series of challenging medical procedures, and yet throughout these trials, he approached each with a mindset of preparedness, always considering the worst-case scenario, ensuring he was ready to face whatever came his way.

When it came to Gary’s greatest source of joy, nothing surpassed the moments shared with his beloved family – his wife, children, grandchildren: Amelia, Thomas, Annie, Summer, Xavier, Oscar, Scarlett, and Alfie, along with Jessica, Lucas’s wife, and Simon, Cara’s husband. Journeys to Bali and America as a family held a special place in their hearts, cherished moments that created lasting memories. Equally treasured were Gary and Karen’s extensive travels together, including explorations of Western Europe in 2011, the Middle East in 2012, a memorable voyage around Australia aboard The Queen Mary 2 in 2013, as well as trips to America in 1994, 1996, and 2016, a visit to China in 2019, and more than 15 trips to Bali over the course of their time together.

Not to be excluded, Gary’s lifelong companions included Lex (sadly now deceased) and Adrienne Pemberton, Ken and Gail Milroy, Geoff and Terry Milroy, Dot Wong and Manny Cauchi, as well as Peter and Veronica (now deceased) Crooks, all holding a very special place in his heart.

Let me finish by sharing how he would like to be remembered – “As a basic person, that like others, has made big mistakes, but has learnt from them and tried to do the best for his family, whom he loves very much”.