Brian Hancock is the subject of this month’s Lakes Entrance Family History Resource Centre’s history piece.
He is a member and past president of the group and has shown benevolence since an early age, working with many charities to better people’s lives including the Victorian Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders from Pentridge Prison.
It was the 1980s when there was little help for prisoners or their families.
“Prisoners were usually the breadwinners for their families, plus most visitors were elderly parents who travelled long distances,” Brian said.
“We organised a rest room so they could reset, have a cup of tea and then volunteers took them to the prison, which was not a nice place.”
He was also involved with Dame Phyllis Frost in helping change the behaviour of women in the Pentridge Women’s Section which gave the women a lift.
Brian has always maintained an interest and, after his mother’s death, took in prisoners who were unable to find accommodation after leaving prison.
Many remain firm friends.
Pentridge’s Father Brosnon was asked to describe hell and said, ‘Where there is no hope”.
“I say we all have the ability to take someone under our wing and give them hope. The reward is the best of life.”
In the 1970s Brian belonged to a small Lakes Entrance group raising funds for the Crippled Children of Lesotho through the Save The Children Fund.
“So many of today’s children demand so much, these children were grateful to get a new toothbrush, soap and face washer for Christmas,” Brian said.
Brian has been a mentor to children coming out of foster care.
“I realised these children have absolutely nothing. There are 65,000 children in Foster Care in Australia,” he said.
After his work in foster care Brian was made a trustee of the Lakes Entrance Pre-school and Infant Welfare Centre at the age of 21.
Brian’s other interest is collecting art, particularly the history of Lakes Entrance.
One such artist, Ronald Bull, who was born at Lake Tyers Station, was in a boys’ home then Pentridge for petty crime. Dame Edith Bolte opened an art exhibition in charcoal at the prison.
She saw one outstanding work and wanted to meet the artist and arranged water and oil paints for Ronald.
When Ronald left prison he was tutored by Hans Heysen and Earnest Buckmaster and in gratitude he presented Dame Edith with a painting titled On The Range. Brian acquired that painting last year from the Bolte Estate.
Brian has appeared on television twice, firstly as he was held up by police at Melbourne’s most violent demonstration. Invited to a function hosted by Sir John and Lady Kerr, it was the evening Sir John dismissed the prime minister.
“I got out of the taxi was filmed being grabbed by police who said run at an opportune moment,” Brian said.
The second was when he was featured on Australia’s Most Wanted.
“Having a nap, I woke up to see my face on the TV as clear as a bell. I was the funeral director conducting the funeral for a murdered couple, somehow I was featured. Many phone calls from Lakes Entrance people over that one,” Brian said.
The Hancock family has presented many trophies and Brian has kept this tradition going.
This year was 55 years since Brian first presented the Hancock Trophy at the Lakes Entrance Golf Club. He was also the foundation president of the Lakes Entrance Garden Club.
He is a keen collector of antiques, including vintage Christmas decorations having just purchased China decorations sold by Georges of Collins Street.
He is currently restoring one of the oldest houses on the Monaro, ‘Orana’, where he will be able to display his large collection of furniture and memorabilia.
Brian encourages all to check out the Lakes Entrance Family History Resource Centre where new members are warmly welcomed.
“There are people with skill to help research your family history and they have many files of early Lakes Entrance families,” he said.
