Local Stories and Interviews

Interview with the late Desmond McQueen at Plenty Valley FM (2002)

Desmond Clive McQueen aged 94, a long-time resident of Plenty passed away on Friday 4th July just after the final siren sounded for the Pies at the MCG. The following text about the McQueen family history and memories of early Plenty as told by Des McQueen to his granddaughter Alana and in an interview on Plenty Valley FM radio in 2002 with Ferston Bruce.

Des the oldest son of Innes and Ella McQueen was born in Yarto in the Mallee on a soldier settlement property on 19th October 1930. When they could not make a go of life on the land the family moved to Plenty.

Their first home in Plenty was in a shack on the property of Uncle Bill Connolly (married to Innes’s sister) Bill was known as the horse man of Plenty and lived on Yan Yean Rd just past the Plenty Store. From there they moved to a place down past the church for 12 months, then to a place next door to Mr & Mrs Jack Ross for two years and from there to the current McQueen property in Yan Yean Rd Plenty. They rented all these properties. The Mc Queens according to Des were very poor as was the case for many families at the time. The shack in Yan Yean Rd had tree stumps as the house stumps, the outside was tin and inside was lined with flattened kerosene tins. There was no power, and no running water. Bath water that had been used by the whole family was re-boiled and used to wash clothes. Kerosene lamps and candles were used for lighting Horses and push bikes were your transport but you mostly walked.

The McQueen children attended Plenty Primary School. On the first day Des went to school he remembers getting into trouble. During the day he was talking too much so he had to stay back after school. Des was worried about being late home so made a fuss and got a hiding. He also got one when he got home for getting into trouble at school. The policeman’s daughter at Diamond Creek was the schoolteacher at Plenty at one time. At 3 o’clock every day she got Bobby Beale to hitch her horse up to the cart for her, meaning he got out of 10 minutes early every day. Des was not happy about this so one day Des decided to stitch Bobby up. On this day after Bobby had completed his job Des went outside and unhitched the horse and put it on the other side of the fence, then hitched it back up. This placed the horse on one side of the fence and the cart on the other.  When the teacher came out, she gave Bobby a hiding.

Des attended Plenty State School until grade 8 after which you received your merit certificate and then went onto Collingwood Technical School. He rode his bike to Greensborough and then took the train to Collingwood.  Des was at school with Len Fitzgerald who later became Collingwood captain, he used to get Des into strife all the time. The strap was received regularly. Des left Collingwood on his 14th birthday in October as the family needed him to bring in an income. He got a job with a racing paper called The Guide for 5 or 6 years as a journalist. He had a couple of good bosses and got a good grounding. Once again, he had to ride to Greensborough, take the train and then walk to work. He earned 1 pound 10 shillings per week. It was a 48 hr /5.5day week. A train ticket cost 5 shillings and 10 pence per week. Des took sandwiches from home for lunch. He still managed to save.

The oval in Diamond Creek was popular for picnics as was Wattle Glen. People came out by train or in furniture trucks that had seats installed in the back.

Lifestyle was affected by wars; there were not many men around.

To be involved in or watch football you had to walk to Diamond Creek and cricket did not start in Plenty until Des was 18.

Des was involved from the start of the Plenty Cricket Club he was about 16 or 17 when it started. They used to play roughly where it is now, there was only one tennis court with a pitch next to it

There were two years of social games before they entered the competition.

1950 was the first year as official team and Des was the first captain They competed in the Eltham Cricket Competition. He remembers being in a 188 partnership with Geoff Heddle in a game against Diamond Creek – Des made 7 runs!

Dances were the main source of entertainment. Local dances were held at the Plenty Hall as well as in Yarrambat, Doreen, Diamond Creek and Kinglake. These occasions were the place to meet the girls. These venues were lit by kerosene lights.

Des met his future wife Sarah at a dance in Montmorency.

The day Des joined the police force he bought the five-acre Yan Yean Rd property with a house and a shed for 1000 chooks on it for 750 pounds

Des and Sarah were married in 1956 and lived with Sarah’s parents who were both Scottish. In 1957 they started to build their own home at the rear of the Yan Yean Rd property. They moved into their home in 1959 with little furniture and newspaper covering the windows.

Des and Sarah built extra chicken sheds and had a permit for 6600 chooks but had about 7000 most of the time. The property had a dam where the sawdust carpark is now. Des would pluck the chooks on a Sunday and they would also sell the plucked chooks and eggs on Sundays. Des would come home from work at 2 in the morning and feed the chooks. He paid people to come in and help. They had chooks for about 15-20 years. His three children used to help clean the eggs, but apparently hid the really disgusting ones.

He also became involved in the Diamond Valley Football league after he retired.

Des had a long and varied career in the Victorian Police Force. He retired in 1977.

In those days Des said, “There was some respect between the police and criminals. Criminals never attacked the police.” Des had a good career in the police force.

After finishing in the police force Des spent his time on his property on his tractor and worked a lot with horses. 

Des and Sarah bought into the Doreen milk bar after he retired and made a success of it. People used to line up out the door for their hot chickens.

Harness racing reemerged as a passion after the Milk Bar. Des got back into breeding and racing. He was Victorian secretary of the breeders for 12 years and President of Australian Harness Racing.

He was involved in running bingo to raise money for sporting clubs in the local area. Des was proactive in saving the Diamond Creek Football club at a time when it was facing closure. His sons Andrew and Gavin and grandson Jed played for the club.

Des was a larger-than-life character who was known for rolling up his sleeves and getting things done. He was a community and family focused man. The tribute paid to him by his grandchildren at his funeral said it all. RIP Des.