Born: 28 May 1912
Died: 16 August 2010
BORN in 1912, childhood was a tough time for Douglas Brain, when due to unforeseen circumstances, he was placed in various orphanages and attended 13 different schools.
For the boy who was to become fondly known as ‘Titch’, life changed dramatically when at the age of 14, he met the Andrews family from Nar Nar Goon and became mates with their young son Cec. They took him into their care where he worked on the family’s farm.
He enrolled in the army when he turned 18 and during World War II, he served in Borneo, Palestine, New Guinea and the Middle East.
He fell in love and married Jean Stewart, who was from a family of 10, providing an instant extended family for Titch.
The couple’s first daughter Shirley was born while he was enlisted and after the war the couple’s three other children – Margaret, Jeffrey and Beverley were born.
They had settled at Iona and he worked for the Victorian Railways for 25 years – first with the gangs and then on cranes.
In March 1974, with the family grown up and when life should have been getting a little easier for the hard-working couple, Jean died suddenly from heart failure leaving Titch devastated.
In November the following year he met and married Margo Primrose and they spent 19 years together in Bunyip before she died.
Over the years Titch became famous for his endless supply of jokes and his quick wit.
He loved an ale or two, had a cheeky grin and always had a twinkle in his eyes.
He was loyal, kind and generous and his many friends were often on the receiving end of his magnificent vegetable crops.
Titch was devoted to his children, their partners and adored his 10 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren – the last, Mia, being born on his 98th birthday last May.
He spent the last three and a half years at Bunyip’s Hillview Aged Care where he was a loved friend to residents and the caring staff. He died peacefully at the hostel, surrounded by his loving family.
He was a passionate (and very one-eyed) supporter of Collingwood and would have loved ‘good old Collingwood forever’ being sung at the graveside as black and white balloons drifted skywards.
