Former Goulburn Valley sports broadcaster and business identity Rod Kilgour, who recently passed away following a long illness, has been remembered for the great contribution he made to a vast number of organisations during his lifetime.
Rod had lived in Shepparton for 55 years, but was born in Numurkah in 1946 along with his twin brother, Don, to parents Len and Jean Kilgour.
Rod grew up in Katamatite where the Kilgour family ran a general store selling groceries, hardware, haberdashery and farm supplies.
He and his twin were inseparable during their lives.
They grew up relishing the free and easy life in the village of Katamatite where they could be involved in many activities.
Rod had a love for horses and enjoyed working at the local palomino pony stud.
He was educated at Katamatite Primary School and Numurkah High School.
After leaving school, Rod and Don enrolled in the Lee Murray Announcing College in Exhibition St, Melbourne, attending night lessons four nights per week. Both brothers worked at the Myer Emporium in Bourke St, Rod in sales in the dress material department.
On finishing at Lee Murray’s, Rod gained a position with Radio 3YB in Warrnambool as a general announcer and within a short time became the breakfast announcer.
He loved radio and enjoyed presenting his early morning country music program that he called “Cow Cockies Corner”. He also called the action at Hampden League football games.
Whilst at 3YB Rod met the woman who was to become his wife — Karen.
Almost three years later, Rod’s manager at 3YB was transferred to become manager of 3SR Shepparton and made arrangements for Rod to join him as the 3SR breakfast announcer. His brother Don was also employed as announcer at 3SR soon after.
Rod extended the country music session on 3SR and found it to be very popular with his listeners. He was pleased to get to know his favourite singer, Slim Dusty, and helped to promote local country singer Reg Poole.
The twins enjoyed working together on radio and on some days of the week there was a Kilgour on the air from 5am until 6pm.
Karen also moved to Shepparton when she was appointed as a teacher at Lemnos Primary School.
On weekends, Rod returned to his home town to play football for Katamatite. He also played cricket with Shepparton Youth Club and played basketball in the first years of the local association.
With his announcing experience, Rod was often called upon to compère many sporting and community events. With his interest in football, Rod was appointed as the publicity officer for the now defunct Tungamah Football League.
After three years at 3SR, Rod accepted a position as manager of Shepparton Office Supplies, which later became Norman Brothers Office Supplies.
After leaving radio, the television door opened for Rod and Don and they commenced presenting a television sports program on GMV6 (later WinTV) called Footy View during which the weekend’s football games would be previewed.
Rod and Don were the only twins working together in Australian television.
Following a season with the preview program, the GMV local television weeknight news service was extended from 15 to 30 minutes, and Rod and Don were called on to present eight minutes of sports news every Monday and Friday evening.
On Monday nights the weekend sports were reviewed and on Fridays they were previewed.
Rod would present one week and Don the next week while they filled in for each other during holidays or days off.
The GMV technical staff, never sure which twin was which, often put the wrong twin’s name on the screen. Rod and Don presented the sports news every week for 18 years on local television and never missed a night.
The twins became well known throughout the Goulburn Valley. Rod even wore his Katamatite football jumper on TV to announce his home town’s premiership win.
WinTV also televised four GVL grand finals from Deakin Reserve, with Rod and Don at the microphone enjoying the opportunity to bring GVL football to the television screen. Rod also broadcast GVL football on One FM and mentored that station’s football commentators.
Rod left Norman Brothers when he was offered a position with Witlox Office Machines. It was a time when photocopier and fax machine sales were booming. Rod and Karen later purchased the Witlox business, operating it as Rod Kilgour Office Machines.
They eventually moved the business to Wyndham St near the Shepparton Butter Factory where they remained until the business was sold in 2002.
Rod was able to renew his love of horses when the couple purchased a farming property at Kialla West and built a home and stables on it, breeding palomino and Clydesdale horses.
He loved showing the horses and was appointed publicity officer for the Clydesdale Society.
For 20 years he was the ring announcer for the Clydesdale judging at the Royal Melbourne Show.
He wrote the history of showing Clydesdales at the Royal Melbourne Show and his efforts were recognised when presented with the distinguished service award by the Clydesdale Society.
Rod restored several horse-drawn vehicles and had a replica grocer’s cart built similar to the cart used by Kilgour’s store in Katamatite in the 1930s.
He was also a committee member of the Shepparton Pony Club and president of the Shepparton Youth Club Cricket Club.
Rod supported Don as the compères of Shepparton’s ‘Carols in the gardens’, which they hosted every Christmas for 25 years.
He was a member of four football tribunals in the Goulburn Valley area, read the news on Vision Australia for 16 years and volunteered at local charity FoodShare each week.
Rod and Don also collaborated in writing two books: one about their boyhood hero Pat O’Kane, a champion tennis player from Katamatite, and another on the history of the Shepparton East Football Club. Rod also wrote the history of Shepparton netball.
In 2016, Rod and Karen sold their Kialla West property and moved into Kensington Gardens Shepparton.
Rod had a busy and enjoyable life, loving his family, enjoying his business life and being involved in local organisations. He leaves his wife, Karen, children Scott, Melanie, Joel and Chelsea and six grandchildren.
Rod will be well remembered by so many in the community who knew him throughout his life.