Gisborne Gazette
serving the southern macedon ranges
Vale Eddie
MAY 2025
FREE
Edward Joseph Gardiner 25 January 1941 – 3 April 2025 A large crowd gathered at St Brigid’s Church and hall on 17 April to celebrate the life of a much-loved man and revered citizen of Gisborne, Eddie Gardiner. Among those present were representatives of many clubs and organisations as well as so many people whose lives had been touched by Eddie’s friendship and countless acts of kindness. Eddie was born in Woodend Hospital on 25 January 1941, the third son of Alec and Norrie. He joined young Alec and Peter as members of the fourth generation of Gardiners to bless Gisborne with their presence. On their father’s side they gained their Scottish heritage from their great-grandparents Sandy and Ann who arrived here in 1863 to establish a blacksmith’s business. Their mother Norrie O’Sullivan, a teacher, brought the Irish side of their heritage. Eddie attended Gisborne State School until Grade 4 and then St Brigid’s before, in 1954, following Alec and Peter to Assumption College in Kilmore. There he made good friends with Tom Atkins who was quoted as saying that Ed Gardiner was capable of being anything he wanted to be. Notwithstanding that, Eddie began his motor mechanic’s apprenticeship with his father on 11 February 1957, the same day that Peter, now a qualified mechanic, returned from Melbourne to work at the garage. Thus, ‘the boys’, as they were affectionately referred to, began a 56-year business association. Eddie had long courted Gisborne girl Lyn Black and they were married at St Brigid’s on 27 January 1964. Ron was born in 1965 and Teena in 1967 and their family grew over the years with eight grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren. Eddie’s great love for his family was always there to see. When their father Alec died in 1972, the boys, still in their early 30s, took on the onerous task of running a multi-faceted continued page 4
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