A RELATIVELY late arrival at Poowong, in the latter part of the 1980s and early 1990s, Patricia Mary ‘Trish’ McCraw still managed to make her mark.

This was evidenced by the number of local people who turned out at her funeral on Wednesday, October 29, at Quinn Funerals Chapel in Colac, and afterwards at the Colac Cemetery.

Best known for the success she enjoyed showing cattle at the Royal Melbourne Show over the years, where she claimed numerous championship ribbons, and also locally, Trish was active in the community, in sport and in local affairs.

And it was around election time that she was most active publicly, contacting the local paper to make sure her party of choice, the Liberal Party, was getting a fair go, addressing the issues of the day, supporting the campaign and handing out ‘how to vote’ cards on election day.

It prompted a tribute from Monash MP Mary Aldred on Mrs McCraw’s passing, on Sunday, October 19.

“Trish McCraw was a champion of the Monash electorate and a dear friend of mine over two decades. Trish loved her family and her friends. She was deeply passionate about South Gippsland, particularly Poowong and Korumburra. Whether it was the CWA, the show society, the footy club or even a national movie premiere, Trish would be all in. Often starting with a familiar refrain of ‘Now, pet’, Trish would always have a story to tell, a funny joke or a caring word. While Trish was a daughter of Western Victoria, she contributed so much to our Gippsland region and there are many people she made a positive and lasting impact on. On behalf of the Monash electorate, Trish will be deeply missed.”

Trish McCraw was born Patricia Mary Dumesny, the fourth child of William and Gertrude Dumesny, originally of Nirranda in the western Victorian dairy farming district.

It was here, while showing Jersey cattle with her father that she developed an interest in breeding and showing dairy cattle that was to be so much a part of her life.

She was an excellent netballer, could play the bagpipes and was also a keen Hyland dancer, which was popular around the show circuit back in the day.

Trish married Bob Caldwell in 1959 and farmed at Camperdown where she welcomed three children; Charles, Murray and Trudy.

In 1988 she married Stuart McCraw, a friend from the show scene, initially moving to Yannathan and ultimately Poowong where she took a keen interest in dairy farming, the local football club, swimming pool and church, the speedway at Nyora, the A&P Society in Korumburra and several other community and sporting clubs.

A much-loved mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Trish McCraw had “a great life” according to her family and will be sadly missed.

Vale Trish McCraw.