Obituary
Bruce Lardner
Born: 20 March, 1947
Died: 23 May, 2010
BRUCE Lardner was a man who enjoyed the simple things in life, and took pride in what he did.
Whether at work, or at home, he enjoyed being around people, and people enjoyed being around him. He had great wit and wisdom, and was remembered by friends and family as a man with a big heart who had made many friends since moving to Healesville some 40 years ago.
Bruce was born in Caulfield and was the youngest of Clifford and Elizabeth Lardner’s four children including his brothers John and Bobby and sister Elaine.
He grew up in the Belgrave/Upwey area, went to Belgrave State School and, like most boys at the time, played local footy. Perhaps too like most boys, he wanted to be a fireman.
Having left school at 14 he worked in the local supermarket, Moran and Cato, and at Myer in Melbourne before joining the Metropolitan Fire Brigade.
Stationed at Eastern Hill Fire Brigade with his brother Bobby he spent eight years in the brigade, his career cut short by a knee injury.
He left the job however with a proud and enduring legacy. The brothers were great supporters of the Royal Children’s Hospital and one year raised more than $100,000 for the annual appeal.
Bruce was made a Life Governor of the hospital in recognition and was justifiably proud of the achievement.
In 1973 Bruce married Rose Jensen, a nurse at nearby St Vincent’s Hospital.
By the time daughter Kathryn came along in 1977 Bruce had left the brigade and worked as a self-employed tree-feller and roof tiler for a time before starting work at Healesville Sanctuary.
Bruce’s practical skills and friendly nature made him a natural for the role of senior groundsman. Growing vegetables for the animals was an extra.
He made many good and enduring friendships during his 18 years at the sanctuary.
In 1980, Stewart was born, and Bruce was once again a proud dad.
After leaving the sanctuary Bruce worked as a contract cleaner with Parks Victoria and at the Terminus Hotel.
In the mid-’80s Bruce was senior controller with the local SES and had a reputation as a master chainsaw operator.
Bruce had been on his own for 10 years after separating from Rose when romance blossomed again. His persistence paid off when Glenys Jones, who was working at Healesville RSL, eventually said ‘yes’ to a date.
It was the start of a wonderful relationship, which included a special place in the lives of Glenys’s children, Amanda, Carla and Sam.
In 2001 they moved into their new home, a great milestone for the house-proud Bruce. He established a ‘vegie’ patch and took great pride in keeping the lawns and everything else impeccably neat. Fishing down at Phillip Island, particularly the annual Christmas and Easter trips, playing pool with his mates and working in the garden were among the simple things which made life good.
Family and friends delivered moving tributes, which spoke of Bruce’s generous, thoughtful nature, quick wit and engaging sense of humour and of the companionship and affection they would all so greatly miss.
