Andy was a true 'man of the land'

ANDREW Graham Blowers, second son of George and Adah Blowers (nee Thompson) was born on March 18, 1934 in Maryborough Qld.

Andrew Graham Blowers (1934-2012). Picture: Contributed

ANDREW Graham Blowers, second son of George and Adah Blowers (nee Thompson) was born on March 18, 1934 in Maryborough Qld.

He attended the Munna Creek School with his older brother Mick and left at the age of 14 to work on the family dairy farm Munna Vale.

This property was part of an original selection by his great-grandfather, Andrew McWatters in 1886.

Andy loved sport and played tennis and cricket at a local level. He was considered to be a "fairly good" cricketer and regularly donned the creams on a Sunday. Above all he loved to dance and in 1951 he met and fell in love with Nancy Connors, second daughter of Jim and Engre Connors from Bauble.

Andrew Graham Blowers (1934-2012). Picture: Contributed

As well as dairy farming, Andy cut timber with his father George and brother Mick and worked in the cane industry, cutting and carting. The family farmed lucerne, pumpkins, potatoes, cotton and cane. In later years Andy still spoke of driving horses and "clod hopping" behind the plough - no boots in those days.

In 1953 Andy was called up for National Service. This was his first time away from home. However, as Nancy was at Teachers' College in Brisbane at the time, there was some compensation. Andy was chosen to be a Queen's Guard when the Royals visited Brisbane in 1954.

Andy and Nancy became engaged in June 1955 and were married on June 16, 1956. By this time Andy's parents had retired to Gympie and his brother Mick with his wife Audrey had begun life on the other family farm Munna Bank across the creek. Andy and Nancy took over Munna Vale and lived there all their lives.

Andy served on the Tiaro Shire Council for over 15 years and was partially responsible for the first bitumen surface on the Munna-Miva road.

In 1961 Andy and Nancy's only son Bernard John (Bernie) was born, followed by daughter Janice Margaret in 1963. Bernie was named after his uncle Bernard who was tragically killed in a car accident on February 28. 1959.

In 1972 Andy bought the iconic Mary River property Dickabram through the Dairy Amalgamation Scheme.

Dickabram was diversified into a cattle breeding/feedlot operation, along with grain growing and eventually became a cane farm. He bought the first travelling irrigator in the district, which thankfully did away with the shifting of irrigation pipes.

In 1979 Andy and Nancy, in partnership with their son Bernie, bought another Mary River property, Binbirrim. This property later became the home of Bernie and his family. Andy, Nancy and Bernie expanded their farming enterprise by growing sugar cane on both properties, while Andy and Nancy diversified their farming activities on Munna Vale by starting an angora goat stud.

Their angora goats and mohair won prizes at local shows and culminated in Champion Fleece on more than one occasion at the Royal Brisbane Exhibition.

Farming can be a hazardous occupation and Andy had his share of mishaps. In 1989, while mustering cattle, his horse slipped down a gully and rolled on him. He suffered a broken pelvis and was hospitalised for six weeks.

His son Bernie carried on with the farming business during his convalescence. In 2007, while preparing a header for harvest, he caught his hand in a V belt and lost his index finger. Bernie rendered first aid and once again took over the farm while Andy was recovering, and completed the soybean harvest.

The greatest tragedy occurred when Bernie, his beloved 49-year-old son, died suddenly in 2010. Andy lost his only son, his best friend and workmate. Perhaps they are again growing sugar cane, soy beans and cattle in a better place.