When Roderick “Rod” Foord arrived in Colac in 1888, he quickly became one of the town’s most admired and energetic citizens. In only six short years, he left a mark so deep that, when news of his death spread through the district, “a feeling of the deepest gloom pervaded the town.”
Rod was born at Wahgunyah on the Murray River in 1848, the third of nine children of pioneers John Foord and Phoebe Chawner. At school he was known as a fine athlete and “a splendid marksman.” After finishing his education, he joined the Bank of Victoria with one of his brothers and steadily rose through the ranks. Before coming to Colac he managed branches at Beaufort, Penshurst, Shepparton and Elmore, earning affection and respect wherever he went.
While stationed at Penshurst, Rod married Mary Hutton of Belfast. Together they raised a growing family, though sorrow touched their lives early when one of their babies died in infancy. In Colac, Rod threw himself into community life. He served as treasurer of the Colac Council and joined committees for the lawn tennis club, regatta, turf club and gun club. Ever optimistic, he even joined in a search for gold and minerals at Barongarook and Irrewillipe.
Another heartbreaking loss came when his daughter Mary Runnymede Foord died aged two years. Today she rests beside her father in Colac Cemetery.
When Rod died in 1894, tributes flowed from across the district. He was remembered as genial, unassuming and kind — “the same to all, rich and poor alike, and always had a good word for everyone.”
Research by Carol Judkins and Merrill O’Donnell
Story by Merrill O’Donnell
Narrated by Tyson Graham

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