William George ‘Bill’ Bickerton
14/11/1929 – 07/03/2024
Nar Nar Goon has lost one of its much-loved residents with the recent passing of William Bickerton at the age of 94.
Known to all as Bill, he was a familiar figure in the local community and a great supporter of local groups and events.
Bill Bickerton was born on 14 November 1929 in Geelong to William and Mary Bickerton.
He grew up at Rowville where the family milked Jersey cows and operated the Al Ville Jersey stud.
After the family moved to Hampton Park, Bill established his Central Park stud breeding Southdown sheep.
It was with sheep that he became heavily involved with local agricultural shows and was most recognisable.
A stalwart of the showing movement, Bill was a Life Member of each of the Pakenham, Berwick, Bunyip and Dandenong agricultural societies.
He was a regular sight in the sheep shed and was well-known to generations of sheep breeders for his involvement and the interest he showed in their progress.
In a lifetime of volunteering and showing, he also served as superintendent of the sheep competition at Pakenham Show and president of Bunyip Show.
It was his influence that saw both his nephew-in-law and great nephew follow him as a committee member of the Pakenham, Berwick and Bunyip agricultural societies.
Berwick Show past president John Tyrrell said he and Bill became close friends at local shows spanning back to the 1980s and always remembered his friendly demeanour and infectious smile.
“He helped anyone,” he said.
“You couldn’t have met a better bloke.
“I’ve never seen him argue with anyone.”
Bill also quickly became a key figure in the Kooweerup Masonic Lodge, with lodge member David Bull describing him as a “true gentleman” and a “lovely, likeable fella” over their 45-year friendship.
“He never said a nasty word about anyone,” he said.
“He endeared himself to everyone.
“We had many laughs together.”
When he moved to Nar Nar Goon in the early 2000s, Bill adopted his new home town with zeal.
Although naturally a quiet character, he was eager to be involved in community groups including the Nar Nar Goon Progress Association, St John’s Anglican Church and as a volunteer for the Posh Op Shop on Main Street.
Bill was known for his generosity with his time and his willingness to stop and chat with people.
His openness and honesty quickly endeared him to those around him and he counted many people, across a range of ages, as friends.
The joy he derived from others’ successes was remarkable, and this made him an avid supporter of many.
More than 120 people attended Bill’s funeral at St John’s Anglican Church in Nar Nar Goon; so many that several chairs were needed outside to accommodate the crowd.
That stands as a telling measure of his impact and the affection in which he was held by a community he loved.
