“The Wateva Project” is a fitting tribute
John and Gloria Castle’s book “The Wateva Project” was launched at their Murdie Rd, Warragul property on Friday night.
As many know, “wateva”’ is a word used by John (Jack/JC) in almost any and every setting, his answer to everything being simply “wateva.”
Three hundred 300 guests heard humorous and heart-felt speeches by business associate and friend John Stephenson and long-time friend Ernie Wallace. A touching poem was written and read by Kay Debnam.
“The Wateva Project” author Leo Billington said “earlier this year Jack asked me to write a book ready for celebrating 60 years in business”.
More than 100 contributors participated in piecing together the life, family, business and leisure pursuits of John and Gloria and their children Craig, Melissa and Trish. John wanted a book with “fun” stuff in it. Along with the words he wanted lots of pictures – which was achieved in the final product.
The 60-year history began in 1962. Leo said “just on midday of 28 November, 1962, Jack finished his form four Asian history exam at Warragul High School. Unable to withstand any more chalk and blackboard stuff, at the front concrete memorial gate posts, he shredded the text book and went home for lunch.”
The book states John then said “that afternoon, I rode my bike to a farm 10 kilometres from home and carted hay, earning one pound and eight shillings an hour. I got 15 out of 100 for that exam. I did not return to school. I was in business.”
John continued in agricultural contracting for many years using equipment owned by his father Allan, including his much-loved Farmall tractor.
John met Gloria in 1967 through Victorian Young Farmers and they married in 1968. John operated a fencing business until 1971 when they leased a farm on Old Sale Rd, Brandy Creek and began dairy farming.
As the dairy industry slumped in the late 1970s John and Gloria purchased a traxcavator to supplement their income and built farm dams and laneways and anything that required moving dirt. They continued to survive the ups and downs of the dairy industry until 1979 when they sold their dairy herd and moved onto a 37 acre property in Warragul, what is now known as Stoddarts Rd and surrounds.
Over the following years John and Gloria took on many businesses including a garden supplies operation, large scale civil construction projects, residential and commercial building and land and property developments. Many of these business pursuits became intertwined over the years.
The book is a tribute to John and Gloria as tenacious, hard-working, self-made people who love their family and the district they live in.
The stories told by contributors reinforced John and Gloria are considered positive people who don’t take no for an answer, which was a big part of why they’ve been successful over such a long period of time.