Philip Kevin TEMPLETON [2344] ⁸²⁶

   Another name for Philip was PK TEMPLETON.

  General Notes:

Mallee farmer, 90, brings in last crop after 75 years of harvests
ABC Rural By Danielle Grindlay

<https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2016-12-14/chinkapook-grain-harvest-philip-templeton/8121252>

Updated 15 Dec 2016, 9:26am
Philip 'PK' Templeton, 90, and son, Tom Templeton, 57.
PHOTO: Philip 'PK' Templeton (R), 90, and his son, Tom Templeton, 57, are in the midst of their last harvest. (Supplied: Tom Templeton)

Philip 'PK' Templeton has not missed a harvest since 1941, but this year stands out for two key reasons- it is his best ever, and it also is his last.

Mr Templeton, 90, has manned the header for 75 successive years.

AUDIO: Philip Templeton reflects on 75 successive years in the header as he and son Tom harvest their last crop. (ABC News)
When this harvest is complete, in about mid-January, he and his 57-year-old son Tom will lease their Mallee, Victoria grain farm to someone else.

"In the past 30 years ... I wouldn't have driven the header for more than eight hours," Tom said.

"[People] would think he gets on just for a lunchtime run or a couple of hours, but he drives it from morning to night - I can't get in there."

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The pride at his father's passion is tainted, ever so slightly, by bitterness.

Tom's last harvest will be spent in the old 1974 blue truck, which lacks the air-conditioned comfort of his father's modern header.

"I measured it one day - it gets up to 57 degrees in that truck," Tom said.

"Stand out in the paddock, it might be 38 degrees and seem like it's fairly cool with a little bit of breeze."

Tom Templeton, 57
PHOTO: Tom Templeton drops a load of grain off in his "little blue Tonka toy". (Supplied: Tom Templeton)
Mr Templeton does not have much sympathy.

"I think he's getting a bit soft. The young fellas today wouldn't believe what we done," he said.

Mr Templeton's first harvest, at 15 years old, involved a five-foot stripper pulled by three horses.

"You wound it up over the stumps and put it down again and I never stopped winding all day," he said.

"Now you can do it in a few minutes, what you done in a day '97 and it was hot.

"They say 'Back in the good old times'. I say, they can stick the good old times."
Ninety years of drought, floods and everything in between

Mr Templeton's long farming career has been marked by drought, flood and everything in between.

In tough years he would seek off-farm labour work, including shearing, and sewing or hauling wheat bags.

He will not easily forget the worst of them.

"In the 1940s I was shearing out at Blue Hills and came home one weekend [to find] five foot of sand over the road," he said.

"There was a sheet of iron off an old house and it blew sand in and it filled the room up.

Philip 'PK' Templeton, 90
PHOTO: Mr Templeton has manned the header for 75 successive harvests. (Supplied: Tom Templeton)
"It was dry; nearly as dry as I get when I'm on that header."

This year, his last, is a different story.

"The best year ever. It didn't stop raining the whole year," he said.

Growers right across the Wimmera Mallee region are celebrating record winter and spring rainfall, but grain prices have hit an all-time low.

"I can remember selling wheat 30 years ago for a lot more than we're getting for it now," Mr Templeton said.

"I can remember selling wheat for $440 a tonne; not anymore."

Today an average tonne of wheat would be lucky to make $200.

Philip 'PK' Templeton, 90, (back row, second from left) and the Chinkapook football team.
PHOTO: Mr Templeton (back row, second from left) and the Chinkapook football team. The town of Chinkapook now has a total of 15 residents. (Supplied: Tom Templeton)
'The city of Chinkapook', then and now

When Mr Templeton is not working the farm he can be found tinkering in a shed behind his Chinkapook home.

Once a busy centre with a supermarket, bank, milk bar and multiple football teams, the town now hosts a total of 15 residents.

Philip 'PK' Templeton (second from left) with brothers Laurence (left) and Vincent, and father Tom Templeton
PHOTO: Mr Templeton (second from left) with brothers Laurence (left) and Vincent, and father Tom Templeton. Rabbit hunting paid for the family's first ever tractor. (Supplied: Jan Sydes)
The landscape transformation has been just as dramatic, after the likes of Mr Templeton's grandfather cleared it of trees to boost farming production.

A sign describes Chinkapook as 'The place of red earth', and clouds of dust are the only sign of life to be found.

Chinkapook sign
PHOTO: Chinkapook, the place of red earth. (Supplied: Tom Templeton)
It is difficult to tell which of the old houses are still occupied and which have been abandoned.

Mr Templeton calls it "the city of Chinkapook".

It was where he was born, not in a hospital but on his parent's farm, and where he married his late wife Margaret.

It also was where they raised their seven children - "Don't be laughing, we had no television," Mr Templeton quips.

And where, once his body refuses to contain him, his spirit will remain.

"When I go up on the hill, I've got the plot next to Margaret," he said.

"I'm making my own coffin. I want to be able to see out, so I'm going to put a couple of windows in it."

Topics: agricultural-crops, agricultural-prices, wheat, grain, people, chinkapook-3546, mount-gambier-5290,


Herald Sun Newspaper Melbourne Death Notices 3 August 2018
TEMPLETON, Philip (PK)

Passed away peacefully at the St. John of God Hospital in Bendigo on August 1st 2019 aged 93 years.
---
Loving father of Colleen, father-in-law to Don. Grandpa to Carly and Tim, Ben and Amanda, Lucy and Callum, Tim and Claire. Great-grandfather to Ada and Raff, Hudson and Zoe, Peta and Eddie.
Dad, you have lived a remarkable life full of hard work, adventure and fun. We loved sharing this life with you and you will be so sadly missed. We will always remember you when we retell your jokes and raise a glass of red! Happily reunited with Mum.
---
Dad, thanks for all the fun times and happy memories. Our days at the farm were a great experience and a wonderful education for us all. They will be treasured forever. Thanks for instilling in us a love of sport, the outdoors and life. We will miss you so much. Enjoy your next adventures with Mum! 1 Loving Father of Maureen, Father- in-law of Philip. Treasured Grandpa of Damian and Kylie, Gerard and Louise Buggy.
---
Dearly loved father of Tom, father-in-law to Sue and loving grandfather to Bianca, Jacinta and Shane. Great Grandfather of Grace, Madison and Jayden. Dad we farmed, golfed, fished and had a few beers together. Well done PK.
---
Loving father of Leigh, father-in-law to Karen. Grandfather to Thomas, Nicholas and Jack. I am sure in heaven that you will always par the course, catch the biggest fish, always rest on the jack, drink the best red wine but not even heaven will help your tipping.
---
Dear Dad, we all learnt a lot by the way you loved and lived life. Give Mum a hug. Thanks. Your son Mark, daughter-in-law Nicole and grand-daughters Jessica and Chloe xxxx ---
Loving father of Jason, father-in-law to Samantha, Grandpa to Zach and Lily. Dad thank you for everything you have done for us. We have been blessed to have you in our lives. We will miss you dearly but we will cherish the wonderful memories in our hearts. Up there hand in hand with Mum. All our love.
---
Loving father to Rodney, father-in-law to Shelby and Grandpa to Ruby and Poppy. You have been a great dad and role model for us all. We cherish the times we spent at Chinky and when you visited Sydney. Loved having a punt with you and supporting the mighty Blues!! Give our love to Mum. You both were very special.
---
Philip thank you for the great times together. They were very special. Friends forever, Dianne xxx

Obituaries
Published in Herald Sun on 03/08/2019

Published in Herald Sun
Philip Kevin TEMPLETON
Date listed: 2/8/2019
TEMPLETON, Philip Kevin (PK)
Passed away peacefully at the St. John of God Hospital in Bendigo at 7 a.m. on August 1 aged 93 years.
Cherished son of the late Thomas Philip and Ellen Catherine Templeton.
Dearest brother of Vincent (dec), Louisa, Patty, Lawrence and their families.
To be reunited with his loving wife Margaret (dec).
Loving father of Colleen, Maureen, Thomas, Leigh, Mark, Jason, Rodney and their families.
Dad, you have run the last race,
Kicked the last goal,
Potted the last black,
Sunk the last birdie putt.
You have kissed the last jack,
Caught the last cod.
You have sowed the last seed,
Sprayed the last weed,
Shorn the last sheep,
Has any man ever had a fuller life than you?
Now it is time to take a well earned rest,
but before you go
Can you just tell us all one last joke?
Forever in our hearts!

Publication: Herald Sun 2/8/2019

Date listed: 2/8/2019
Date of Funeral: 09/08/2019

TEMPLETON, Philip
Requiem mass for the repose of the soul of Philip Kevin Templeton will be held at St Patrick's Catholic Church, Manangatang on Friday 9th August commencing at 1.00pm. The funeral will proceed to the Chinkapook Cemetery
swanhillfunerals.com.au 03 5032 ...
Publication: Herald Sun

Philip married Margaret Ellen CONSIDINE [2348] [MRIN: 690] in 1950. (Margaret Ellen CONSIDINE [2348] was born about 1930 and died on 24 Jun 2006 in Swan Hill, Victoria, Australia.)