Chemist with a cure
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Lloyd Exton Hart
Born: June 23, 1922
Died: September 13, 2009
Lloyd Hart was always willing to do his part for the community.
From his arrival in Echuca in 1964, Lloyd was an integral part of many community organisations.
Born in Launceston, Lloyd moved to Melbourne as a toddler and grew up in South Yarra.
He began his working life as an apprentice pharmacist in Brighton, prior to the outbreak of World War II, but put his apprenticeship on hold to serve his country.
Lloyd initially served with the Army, before transferring to the Air Force to become a navigator, a role he enjoyed very much.
After the war, Lloyd resumed his apprenticeship, passing his final exams at the Victorian College of Pharmacy in March 1951. He was registered with the Pharmacy Board the same year.
Following his graduation, Lloyd was a relief pharmacist in many places throughout Victoria, NSW and South Australia, before managing pharmacies in Warrnambool and Wodonga.
In 1964, he moved to Echuca with his then wife Dawn, to manage a pharmacy.
However, in 1967, he gave up the job to open his own pharmacy on the corner of Hare and Percy streets. Lloyd took great pride in caring for his customers and was loved by them.
The pharmacy would open from after dinner between Monday and Friday, Saturday mornings and evenings and Sunday mornings, with the latter two times coinciding with the end of church services.
Lloyd sold the pharmacy in 1977 and moved to Bendigo, where he opened another pharmacy in Kangaroo Flat. However, the pharmacy in Echuca continued to trade as Hart's Pharmacy for many years.
Lloyd was elected uncontested to Echuca City Council in August 1972, serving as a councillor until his resignation in 1977.
Committed to being involved in the community, despite being diagnosed with emphysema in his 40s, he was also an active member of the Echuca Chamber of Commerce, of which he was president for several years. He was involved in the Echuca Regional Development Society, helping to promote tourism in Echuca.
He also helped establish the Rich River Festival.
In 1968, Lloyd joined the Echuca Football Club committee, of which he was a member for five years.
In 1969, he was elected vice-president and he became the president in 1972.
Lloyd was also keen to support charities and people who were less fortunate than others.
He was actively involved in the Red Cross in Echuca and organised doorknock appeals, as well as organising fashion parades for many local charities.
He was also very involved in local racing, organising and sponsoring the Fashions on the Field competitions at the Echuca racecourse.
In 1994, Lloyd retired to Buderim on the Sunshine Coast to be closer to family.
He is survived by his ex-wife Dawn and daughter Katrina.