Fond farewell for a Barmah bushie

The local boy who dabbled in city life but returned to the land of his first love.

He overcame a disabling childhood illness to live a robust outdoor life — horse riding, fishing and camping, and eventually running his own farm.

Mick Caldwell became well known to northern Victorians through his love of the bush and in particular for his attachment to and knowledge of the Barmah Forest.

Mick, husband to Helen and father of Jaye and Brad and their partners Rebecca and Kristan, died on January 1 and was interred at Nathalia Lawn Cemetery after a service at St Mary’s Catholic Church, Nathalia, on Monday, January 11.

Michael James Caldwell was born on September 3, 1951 at Neerim South to Herb and Bette (Elizabeth) Caldwell.

At 11 months of age, he was diagnosed with polio and would be in-and-out of hospital in the early years of his life. Polio recovery would include having a calliper strapped to his left leg daily as well as being restrained in his bed at night.

The family had regular housing shifts, including times at Cobden and Rushworth.

Eventually landing in Cohuna in the early 1960s, Mick learned to graft a quid selling rabbits that he trapped before he went off to school each day, and yabbies and small carp.

Horse riding became a massive part of his life, initially working as a drover on school holidays and riding around the rabbit traps twice daily.

He arrived in Nathalia with his family in 1966 at the age of 15.

His keen interest in horse riding and the Barmah Forest was enhanced when his father introduced him to then herdsman Tom Gallaway.

Tom took young Mick under his wing and over every inch of the forest on horseback and in the gig next to him while checking on the cattle.

By age 16, Mick had met the love of his life, Helen Crowe, who also attended Nathalia High School.

After finishing school Mick headed for the ‘Big Smoke’ to pursue his chosen career in accounting.

After marrying Helen on March 4, 1972, they first set up their life in Sunbury, where Jaye was born in 1977.

They decided they wanted to raise their family in the country, so they packed up and headed back to Nathalia and soon after Brad was born, in 1979.

Mick continued his work as a tax agent, until he decided the close confines of an office weren’t for him and a change in career was needed.

This is when he began his career in the Forestry Department. Mick’s first full-time job was as a crew member, undertaking bush maintenance roles including bush firefighting, weed spraying, bridge building/repairs and silviculture works.

Early on, Mick was given the role of trapping pigs in the bush, a job he thoroughly enjoyed.

In the early 1990s he completed an Advanced Diploma of Applied Science through Dookie College, while working full-time.

His knowledge of the Barmah Forest and local environment evolved over his 40-year work career, and 55-year love of the Barmah Forest.

The roles within his job he enjoyed included forestry and working with some of the timber cutters, the charcoal burner and beekeepers. He also enjoyed managing the cattle grazing in his role as herdsman and his work in floodwater management.

Throughout Mick’s career he received numerous accolades, most notably the medal of recognition for his services to emergency management, predominantly for his work in firefighting and flood management of Barmah Forest. Mick was also awarded a life membership of the Barmah Forest Cattlemen’s Association.

In 1993, Mick and Helen purchased their ‘forever home’, where he raised calves, ran his horses, pigs and a few lambs for the freezer and a range of poultry on his own place — which had been a lifelong goal.

Mick's many hobbies included camping, hunting, fishing, social tennis, breeding horses, beekeeping, growing fruit trees, racehorse ownership, polocross, home butchering, campdrafting and the Barmah Muster.

In 2007, cattle grazing ceased in Barmah Forest, which was devastating for Mick.

He had bred some nice horses by then that were originally planned for mustering, so friends encouraged him and Brad and some other mustering mates to take up campdrafting, which he thoroughly enjoyed.

In 2018, Mick officially retired from the department after 40 years of service, although he had utilised some long service over the previous few years to take a few holidays in the caravan with Helen and their dog Taz.