18/11/1928 – 03/07/2025
David began at Wesley College in 1942, where his brother Bruce (Peter) (OW1942) already attended, along with many of his cousins and previous Ross and McKenzie family members from the Mansfield and Euroa farming communities.
David enjoyed house sports and actively competed in the swimming and football teams. He was a strong student, especially in music and piano theory and performance came naturally. When Wesley was requisitioned by the Army, students were relocated to Scotch College. Two rival schools sharing a campus had disaster written all over it, but it worked out fine in the end. David took it all in his stride. He travelled long distances by train with a bag full of books and sports gear, studied hard, joined cadets, played sport, performed music and enjoyed his school life.
After finishing at Wesley, David obtained a job at Russell Manufacturing Company (Repco), commencing a long and successful 28-year career in metallurgy. While working full time, David studied for a Diploma of Secondary Metallurgy at RMIT.
After graduating, David spent the next ten years as a Quality Control consultant working for the Victorian chapter of the Australian Organisation for Quality Control and Department of Industry, Technology and Resources, providing Quality Control strategic and tactical services for Victorian companies. He had a very active professional career.
David met Shirley, his lifelong partner of 75 years, in 1948. David and Shirley married in the Wesley Chapel in 1952. They had two daughters – Judith Latta (Joy) (ElsternwickMLC1972) and Pamela Eden (Joy) (ElsternwickMLC1976).
On retirement, David became actively involved with various community groups and political campaigns to help make the local community and wider Victoria a better place to live. This activism included lobbying councillors and State politicians, planning and holding political campaigns, and setting up a local environmental group called The Friends of Abbott Street, which was responsible for replanting and maintaining vegetation on the foreshore between Jetty Road in Sandringham and the Sandringham Rotunda.
He was a hardworking, well-loved family man who achieved career success and had a deep connection with his Wesley friends - Keith Comben (OW1945) (dec), Kingsley Hull (OW1947) (dec) and Graeme Hindson (OW1945). They maintained a lifelong friendship and met regularly over the 80 years with their families.
David didn’t just talk about doing the right thing, he lived it. He had a dry wit, a sharp mind, and a warm heart. He could be both serious and humorous, depending on what the moment called for. He wasn’t someone who chased attention. He just got on with things, quietly, competently, with humility and kindness.
In the end, what made David so special was how he made people feel. He was dependable, thoughtful and loving. Whether it was in the workplace, in the community, or at home, David made those around him feel seen, valued and respected. He will be missed by all who knew him.
