General News
7 June, 2026
Farewell to the shire’s oldest resident
FAMILY and friends on Tuesday remembered the great life of centenarian Jack Harrison.
FAMILY and friends on Tuesday remembered the great life of centenarian Jack Harrison.
The Loddon’s oldest resident died last week aged 102.
His funeral was held at Pyramid Hill Golf Club where Jack had been a long-time member and former club champion.
Jack was 14 when he finished school to ride a horse from one end of the family’s Hopefield property to the other checking sheep.
School for Jack had been Loddon Vale State School, 5km north on the property, and a few months of studying by correspondence.
A century after being born at the Pyramid Hill Hospital in June 1924, Jack was still very much at home on Hopefield, near Durham Ox.
He had stories, tales, yarns and sayings of a life lived breeding sheep and cattle, indulging in his passion for sport and introducing family to his interests.
Never married, Jack was the eldest in the family of four boys and a girl. Nieces and nephews and the community have shared in Jack’s passions and generosity.
Jack’s reputation as a farmer continued a family tradition. As breeders of short-horn cattle, Hopefield enjoyed success at Sydney’s Royal Show; as sheep breeders Jack was part of the family that picked up ribbons at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show. Ahead of his 100th birthday Jack had proudly pointed to the wall of his dining room - certificates showing Hopefield had the highest price fleeces through Dalgety for five successive years.
He played cricket when Loddon Vale had its own side and then later with Macorna, once taking five wickets in a day.
Jack had said his love of sport and photography had taken him to Olympic Games in Mexico City and Munich and to Commonwealth Games.
Recognised as one of the oldest CFA members, Jack was awarded an 80-year medal ahead of his 100th birthday.
The Loddon Vale Fire Brigade pre-dates formation of the CFA by 18 years and Jack is recorded to have joined in 1942.
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