Stalwart killed in crash

By Callan Date
THE man described as the godfather of The Rotary Club of Endeavour Hills died last week after a car crash in Orbost.
Murray Guille, 79, and wife Nancy, 81, were killed last Wednesday week in a head-on collision between their vehicle and a utility on the Princes Highway about 20 kilometres east of the Gippsland town.
The Berwick residents were well known in both the City of Casey and City of Greater Dandenong where Mr Guille was considered a stalwart of the community.
Mr Guille played an integral role in helping establishing The Rotary Club of Endeavour Hills in 1985.
Along with his efforts as a Rotarian, Mr Guille helped found a Dandenong centre that employs disabled people to carry out woodwork, gardening, cleaning and packing jobs for local businesses.
He also compered Dandenong’s Carols by Candlelight for 21 years and was a accomplished footballer who captained the Dandenong VFA team.
Close friend and fellow Rotarian John Cooper said Mr Guille’s best attribute was his ability to listen.
“He had this amazing ability to listen to individuals,” he said.
“He was one of those people that would single you out and take the time to listen and he would be very interested in what you were saying.
“He would have been 90 per cent of the reason the club (Endeavour Hills Rotary) went ahead.
“Murray always had an interest in what was going on – whether it be membership, annual dinners and fundraisers.
Friend of Mr Guille and former Dandenong Chamber of Commerce president Bruce Patchell said Mr Guille would lead the Carols by Candlelight with aplomb.
“Murray had a great personality and he always had a broad smile for everybody and he was a good bloke,” Mr Patchell said. “And a gentleman at that.”
Major Collision Investigation Unit police are continuing their investigations into the crash.
The two occupants of the other car were taken to the Orbost Hospital with serious injuries.
Mr and Mrs Guille leave behind six children, 15 grand children and three great grand children.
The couple’s funeral will be held at Trinity Uniting Church, Dandenong, on Monday 10 December at 12.30pm.