Vale Laurance Alan Cassell

LAURANCE Alan Cassell was born in Yea on January 8, 1934, to Myrtle and Allan Cassell. His sister Marion was born two years later.

Laurance developed mild polio during his first year of school, causing him to repeat the year.

A very good student, he received many achievement awards at both levels of schooling.

In 1950, he became an apprentice at his father’s garage, again receiving achievement awards.

Cassell’s Garage had been established in the 1920s, close to the Yea Shire Hall.

The business was one of the first RACV depots in Victoria through the 50s. They also had taxis and a tow truck.

Laurance worked most nights with lots of taxi trips required by those working on the Eildon Weir project and other trips up to the Murrindindi Timber Mill.

Back then, Yea had no ambulance and Laurance had many stories of various trips rushing injured people to Melbourne in the taxi unaccompanied, just him and the patient. This included a couple of gunshot injuries, appendicitis, and numerous other emergencies. On these trips Laurance would be met by a police escort on the outskirts of the city.

Laurance married Lesley Wright on November 23, 1957. His close friend, Donald Nash, was his best man and his sister the Matron of Honor.

Laurance formed a close bond with Rita and Alec Wright, his in-laws. Laurance and Lesley had three children, Leanne, Sharyn and Alan.

In 1972, Laurance and Lesley purchased R A Cassell Pty Ltd from the rest of the family. An accomplished mechanic, panel beater, spray painter and auto electrician, Laurance could turn his hand to most things.

He was a very capable businessman, selling many Chrysler vehicles through the 60s and 70s. His dealership stretched from Bundoora to Mansfield. In 1980 when Mitsubishi took over Chrysler in Australia, R A Cassell became a Mitsubishi dealership.

In 1982, after the sale of the business Laurance enjoyed farming with Lesley on their land at Killingworth. Going to cattle sales, slashing on the tractor, irrigating and many hours with the chainsaw cutting wood.

Laurance did miss his mechanical work and eventually set up a…..

by Laurance’s family

Image: Laurance Cassell on his 75th birthday.