By Charlene Macaulay
Doug Mullett doesn’t do retirement by halves. The former teacher is president of the Werribee Lions, has just written a book and is actively involved in a number of community groups. He chats with Charlene Macaulay.
The family moved here in 1952 – dad was in the RAAF. I grew up in Laverton, when it was still under Werribee, went to Laverton Primary School 2847, which no longer exists. Then went to Werribee High and had to finish secondary school at Footscray because they didn’t have the science area that I was after.
What happened after you finished high school?
I went to uni and studied science and then went teaching – because I didn’t finish the degree the first time. I was 18 and teaching … within four weeks, the physics teacher had resigned and the boss asked me if I would take the year 12 physics class … I said: “No, I can’t, because there are girls in there that are the same age as me!” I started teaching in 1969 and retired in 2007.
You’re a keen motorcyclist. When did you begin to ride?
When I retired, I decided that I’d like to go touring Australia after I toured overseas. Once I went up to Tibboburra … and when I was coming back to Melbourne, I went to avoid a puddle in the road and then next minute I had [crashed] and no idea of where I was, who I was, what I was doing there. A family coming by stopped, made me sit down and gave me some hot, black tea with sugar and gave me something to eat. They called up their friends, who took my motorbike and me into the station, where I was triaged over the phone and the Royal Flying Doctors Service said they’d pick me up from Tibboburra. I found out afterwards I had four broken ribs on my left.
After that, I thought I’d do some fundraising for the Royal Flying Doctors Service, so I arranged to do a trip from Cairns to Perth by bike. Came out of Yulara and I came off [my bike]. The bike flew about 20 metres away, I flew about 35 metres through the air and landed on my back and knew I was hurting, so wasn’t willing to move. I had a punctured lung, eight breaks in six ribs and a totally shattered shoulder blade.
And you still ride your motorbike?
I picked up my new bike a week after I got off blood thinners.
You’re a keen photographer. Has that been a lifelong hobby?
When I was young, I was interested in it, but I couldn’t afford very much. When I started working I finally had some money, so I bought an SR Pentax … and I started doing photography as a real interest. Then someone wanted me to do their wedding and the next minute I started getting calls to do other people’s weddings. What annoyed me was that I could earn more money out of doing photos for one of these weddings than I was getting in a fortnight teaching.
You’re the current president of the Werribee Lions Club. How did you get involved?
I’ve been in Lions since 1992. I joined at Warracknabeal and then I went to Lismore and then transferred into Lions here. I was also president in 2003. I’ve got a new novel coming out, Methinks You Doth Protest Too Much, and the proceeds of the first 100 copies are going to a Lions club in Nepal to help restore people’s eyesight.
You’re also a blood donor.
This week will be my 350th donation down at the blood bank here. I started in the late ’70s when I was working at Werribee High and one of the teachers shamed me into doing it.
Where’s your favourite Wyndham location for a meal?
The RSL – that’s the only one that I go to!
