His tales were long-winded, often entertaining in a dry ‘dad-joke’ kind-of-way and always with purpose.

So too, is the story of the man himself.

Mr McClure died last weekend after a long illness, aged 68.

He was a politician, councillor and mayor – a fierce advocate for Bendigo and those living in our community.

But he was also a private family man, adored and respected by those he loved.

Husband to Elaine, father to Denita and Trent, a grandfather and brother, there was a side to Mr McClure reserved solely for his family. It was with them he shared many of his stories.

Mr McClure started his schooling at White Hills Primary School and it was there he made his first brick at the age of five.

Not satisfied a skit about the childhood nursery rhyme Humpty Dumpty was without a brick wall, he went home and created miniature bricks which were then baked in his mother’s wood oven.

It was the beginning of his love for construction and architecture and in later years, he would go on to become a founding director and general manager of Bendigo Brick.

Such was his love for construction, Mr McClure spent several years building the family home in Raglan Street, White Hills, and later a unit for his mother.

His family remembers a man who valued fairness, gave everyone a go, was passionate, never put himself above others and would never ask anyone to do something he wouldn’t do.

They remember a man who joined a small group to fight to save trams in Bendigo by pulling a tram onto its tracks and welding bars across to form a barricade. A man who  helped save the Shamrock Hotel from demolition and who, with Ray Foley, encouraged the Bendigo City Council to buy the Central Deborah Gold Mine, ensuring a piece of Bendigo’s history was preserved.

And they remember a man who read the news in a jacket, shirt, tie and footy shorts.

Mr McClure spent several years with BCV-8, where he showcased the region in a 10-minute segment, Looking Around, spent time as Strawberry Scarecrow’s sidekick on Cohn’s Cobbers, took on roles in production and advertising and read the news. Mr McClure also held many and varied roles across the city, including secretary of the Bendigo and District Tourist Association, director and chair of the Bendigo Trust, and served on the Bendigo Development.Committee.

He was a member of the White Hills Technical College Council, the Bendigo College of Advanced Education Council, the Shamrock Hotel Advisory Committee and a director of the Eaglehawk Co-Operative Housing Society.

Mr McClure published several books based on Bendigo’s history and acquired Bendigo Modern Press, before going on to establish the Bendigo Weekly  and Mildura Weekly newspapers.

He was a member of state parliament for the seat of Bendigo from 1973 until 1982, a Bendigo city councillor from 1969 until 1970 and from 1993 until 1994 and a Greater Bendigo city councillor from 1996 until 2004. Mr McClure served as mayor from 1999 until 2000.

As a passionate Bendigonian with a strong voice on many issues, Mr McClure never completely retired, but in his spare time he enjoyed tennis and squash and travelling extensively with Elaine.

He enjoyed time with his children and grandchildren, and on those occasions his tales always carried life lessons.

“He would make life lessons out of something whenever he could,’’ Trent recalls.

The greatest lesson they learnt from their father, Denita says, was to help others whenever they could.

“His commitment to everything he did was second to none.’’

A thanksgiving service will be held at the Bendigo Town Hall on Monday, March 23 at 2pm. The cortege will leave at the conclusion of the service for the White Hills Monumental Cemetery.

TRIBUTES FOR FORMER MAYOR