04/09/2026
This is the story of Don Somerville, who with and his brother Jack, operated Eclipse Dairy in Moe for many years......
The Somerville family owned a farm on Waterloo Road, where Don and his family lived and where the cows were milked. Jack initially lived in George Street and later in Cemetery Road, first in a cottage near “Somerlea” — the home later built by Don and Jack’s parents — and then at Somerlea, on the corner of George and Bennett Streets, which has since been demolished.
Land across the road from Somerlea, behind Bennett Street up to the Narracan Creek, was used to graze dry cows and the Clydesdale horses that many people still remember fondly. In the early days, milk was delivered by horse and cart and poured into customers’ billies. Later, the Moe Butter Factory began bottling and packaging their milk, while the Somervilles continued retailing and delivering it, first by horse and cart and eventually by truck.
In 1971, Jack and Don exchanged roles: Don took over deliveries, while Jack managed the Waterloo Road farm. From this point, the story turns its focus to Don.
This account draws on the recollections of Don’s son Wayne, along with a story written for Don in 1998 for his 70th birthday.
EARLY LIFE & FAMILY
Donald Kingsford Somerville was born at Trafalgar Hospital on 14 June 1928 to John Henry Somerville and Esther Mabel Somerville, née Gibson. He was the seventh of eight children.
The family farmed a rented property, “Meadow Lea”, east of Seven Mile Road at Trafalgar East. Times were tough, and everyone in the family worked hard. As a baby, Don was placed in a banana box against the wall of the milking shed while his parents and older siblings toiled away.
In the early 1930s, the family moved to “Glenairn”, north of the Main Drain at Trafalgar East. Don attended the Yulungah School (No. 3413) there, walking 5.6 kilometres each way.
In December 1934, about 20 centimetres of rain fell in two days, causing what became known as “the great flood”. Fortunately, the Somerville farm included higher ground, so the family was not affected as severely as others in the district. Floodwaters reached the bus depot site in Moore Street, Moe, as well as other parts of the town.
MOVING TO MOE & WARTIME YEARS
In 1938, the family moved to Moe, where Don’s parents purchased a dairy farm on Waterloo Road, and a dairy run based on Bennett Street, then on Moe’s fringe. Don attended Albert Street Primary School and later Yallourn Technical College, where he formed many lifelong friendships, including with Bill Collins, who would become well known as a horse racing caller and radio and television personality.
In 1939, the Second World War began. It was also the year of the Black Saturday fires. Don saw the Baw Baws ablaze, thick smoke over the district, and refugees from the fires being housed in Moe. That year, he also spent five weeks in Warragul Hospital with scarlet fever. After Russell Savage went to war, Don milked cows after school for the Savage family, whose farm was behind the Moe Racecourse.
The Somervilles dispensed milk from a two-wheeled cart at three pence a pint. Later, the milk was taken by ute to the Moe Butter Factory, where it was packaged before being delivered to customers. Don’s father was fondly remembered for his generosity and for giving “a little extra” for large or struggling families.
WORK, MARRIAGE & FAMILY
After the war, the district’s population grew, and so did the dairy. At 19, Don had to give up his night studies in engineering because of the growing demands of the dairy and his father’s sudden and unexpectedly passing when he was 55. He enjoyed football and played for the Moe Seconds. He also loved horses and began working as a penciller for bookmaker Henry Collins, father of Bill Collins.
Don purchased a brand-new 1948 FJ Holden sedan from Charlesworths in Trafalgar. One day at the races, three remarkable wins almost paid for the car, and Don decided that would be the end of his large bets.
Don’s parents moved from a cottage at 4 George Street into a new home next door, on the corner of Bennett Street, which they named “Somerlea”, corner of George Street and Bennett Street, Moe. The dairy was in Bennett Street and consisted of stables, cool room, cart shed and tack room.
In July1954, Don’s father died. Around this time, Don noticed June Foster, the eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs A. Foster of Eden Street, Moe, who worked at Wagner’s Butchers. Don and June married in February 1955. Their first son, Wayne, was born later that year, followed by Lorraine in 1958 and Warren in 1960. Unfortunately for Don, his mother died in November 1955.
In 1963, Don and June purchased five hundred acres on Andersons Road, Yallourn North. After extensive clearing and the establishment of buildings, the property was compulsorily acquired by the SECV for an overburden dump that was never built.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
In 1966, Don was a founding member of Lions International in Moe where he served for forty years. He gave generously of his limited spare time in service to the club and the wider community. His favourite projects included fundraising barbecues held at the family’s Waterloo Road farm and children’s camps at his Yallourn North farm, where less fortunate city children could enjoy open space and learn about Moe and the surrounding district.
Don was known as a man of integrity: generous, respected and fondly remembered by those who knew him. He was awarded the Melvin Jones Fellowship, Lions’ highest form of recognition, honouring strong dedication to humanitarian service.
Don also served for 14 years on the Latrobe Valley Hospital Board, including a term as president, and was a board member of the Moe Community Health Centre.
DAIRY LIFE & HORSES
In 1971, Don and Jack swapped roles. Don and his family moved to the George Street home and dairy, leaving the Waterloo Road farm behind. They soon settled into the rhythm of dairy life, with Don and relief drivers delivering milk to homes, kindergartens, and businesses.
Throughout their dairying years, the family bred, trained their own horses, and built their own milk carts. Local blacksmith, Scotsman Jock Harlow made the ironwork, straps and framing, and Don’s father-in-law, Arthur Foster, completed the carpentry in the farm sheds. It was not uncommon to see a horse in training being driven around pulling a four-wheel cart driven by Mr Wally Horne, a horse whisperer of his day.
In 1986, the dairy was sold, bringing the Somervilles’ long working association with Clydesdale horses to an end. It was an emotional wrench for Don: no longer would the echo of shod hooves sound through Moe’s streets. The era had passed, and the dairy buildings, stables and sheds were dismantled, making the end feel final.
DON’S LATER YEARS & LEGACY
In 1979, Don visited the United Kingdom, where he pursued his love of horses, especially Welsh Mountain Ponies, by visiting renowned studs. He also travelled to County Cavan in Ireland, the home of his mother’s Gibson ancestors.
In 1980, Don’s first grandchild, Ross, was born, soon followed by Peter and Ryan. Douglas arrived in 1984, Brenton in 1985, and Angus in December 1992, completing a family of six grandsons.
When the Yallourn North farm was compulsorily acquired in 1982, Don bought a property in Tanjil South and before long, he and his son Wayne had transformed it into a model farm and later established a quality Hereford herd there.
In retirement, Don enjoyed farm life, often in the company of his grandsons. In 1992, he was awarded an Australia Day “Citizen of the Year” Award by the City of Moe City, a fitting recognition of his many years of community service.
In 1994, Don began facing health challenges but, with the support of family and friends, continued to enjoy a good quality of life. He enjoyed supporting his grandsons and their teams through junior football, often quoting the adage, “Quitters never win and winners never quit.” Don himself was no quitter; to his family and friends, he was a winner.
Don continued to sing in a choir and attend Lions meetings and functions. He moved from the house on the corner, built by his parents, to a new home next door overlooking the land where the dairy cows and grand old Clydesdale horses of Eclipse Dairy once grazed. Don died on 29 June 2011, aged 83, and is buried in Moe Cemetery.
MOE’S OTHER DAIRIES & MILKO’s
During these years, several other dairies also operated in Moe and Newborough. Mountain View Dairy was run by Mr Colin Ross in Stirling Street, while another dairy operated in Rubery Street under Mr John Dwyer. Mr Vorbach also ran a dairy in Newborough.
The exact number of milk deliverers who worked from carts over the decades is difficult to confirm, but several are especially remembered, including Stan Wilson, Brian Johnson, Terry Hutchinson, Lenny Gibson, Rosemary O’Shannon, John Bradbury, Mr van Bruegel, and the Findlay boys.
