Lindsay Supple was an ordinary bloke who has left an extraordinary legacy.
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The man from the small Victorian Wimmera town of Paradise left a bequest from his estate of $300,000 has been donated to Ballarat's Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute (FECRI) to support life-saving cancer research.
Mr Supple died in 2019 in the same house he was born in 91 years earlier.
He provided bequests for cancer research, the St Arnaud Hospital, Paradise Hall, and Guide Dogs Victoria.
Mr Supple worked hard in many trades, including contract fencing, woodcutting, cutting wheat, burning charcoal, sheering, and driving trucks.
In World War II, Lindsay was called into the 'Manpower Army', and his first job was at Cope Cope silo carting wheat.
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He also went to Mildura fruit picking as part of the war effort. In 1960 he purchased the farm at Kanya and continued to shear sheep across the district.
Mr Supple was a character and man of his era, well connected and passionate for the Wimmera area. Lindsay loved his mates, a beer and a chat, with his family recalling many funny stories of fishing, shooting and trips to the footy in Wedderburn.
Lindsay was one of a kind - a true gentleman in every way.
- Neil Supple, Lindsay Neil Supple's nephew
He was a member of the Country Fire Brigade, past captain and Safety Officer at the St Arnaud Rifle Club, St Arnaud Golf Club and Landsborough Bowls Club.
Lindsay joined the St Arnaud's Lions Club and helped with wood cutting working bees until he was 90.
Mr Supple never married and wished to use the funds accumulated over his lifetime to give back to the community and important causes.
Developments in cancer research, treatment and care were close to his heart, with many near and dear family members and friends impacted.
Neil Supple, a nephew of Lindsay, said Lindsay was one of a kind - a true gentleman in every way.
"He had a great memory, sharp as a tack, great for local history," he said.
Professor George Kannourakis, institute director at FECRI, said Lindsay Supple's generous legacy to cancer research makes a real difference.
"We are very grateful," he said.
The donation goes to supporting researchers to continue to work on life-saving cancer research.
