September 12, 2017
A funeral service will be held on Friday for former Wondai Shire councillor and well-known Proston identity Gordon Buchanan.
Mr Buchanan, 92, died peacefully on September 8 at Castra aged care home in Murgon.
He is survived by his three daughters Sue, Linda and Meg, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
His wife Pam pre-deceased him in 2003.
Earlier this year, former Murgon Mayor Bill Roberts – also a resident at Castra – described Mr Buchanan as a “regional resident of consequence” and an “honorary historian of Wondai Shire”.
In 2007, Mr Buchanan – who served two terms on Council – was interviewed as part of a project to record the oral history of the shire.
The former grader driver started at Wondai Shire Council in 1950 and stayed for 40 years.
The Murgon Men’s Shed recorded the following tribute to Mr Buchanan in a newsletter earlier this year:
“Gordon’s first job was making a cut in the top of Speedwell Range. The pick marks are still visible. This was all done by hand. He also fenced each side of Trentham Lane right through to the Boyne River: 20 miles and seven grids (timber). Four barbed wire and one plain – pulled out and three mile of road to Stuart River from Proston. Main Roads estimated £95,000, he did the job for £93,000. No levels – just a string, 17 ft cutting – graphite cut. The job took 12 months with 56 employees, this was in 1962. All culverts were put in by hand. No Ready Mix trucks in those days. What a major feat. We take our hats off to you, Gordon.”
The Gordon Buchanan Lookout on the Wondai-Proston Road near Hivesville is named in honour of him.
Relatives and friends have been invited to attend Mr Buchanan’s funeral service which will held in the Proston Community Hall in Rodney Street, Proston, on Friday from 11:00am.
