There is an iconic image that has travelled around Australia showing SPC management and employees shoulder to shoulder, with the recognisable Shepparton Preserving Company name in the background.
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Taken at the height of the scramble to save the fruit canner when it was facing the possibility of ruin in 1990, Jeff Tracy is in the middle: casually dressed with crossed arms, boldly facing down the naysayers.
Jeff Tracy, centre, flanked by fellow directors John Corboy and Bill Zurcas and employees who supported SPC’s fight to survive.
Mourners who gathered on June 11 to mark his passing remembered him as the pragmatic leader and astute businessman with an uncommon amount of common sense, facing the overwhelming task of bringing the fruit processor back from the brink.
Many of his friends, though, also knew him as a devoted family man and community benefactor who assisted people in a host of generous ways.
Some would not have known of his humble early life, his prowess on the sporting field and his fascination with flying.
Jeffery James Tracy passed away on May 28 at the age of 82.
While he was dubbed “cyclone” (recalling the tropical cyclone that through Darwin), he also earned the respect of his employees, sufficiently to persuade them to take a pay cut to help save the company.
At the time he offered to join fruit grower John Corboy in an attempt to rescue the company, Mr Tracy had already established a successful business career.
In 1971 he accepted an offer from fuel distributor Total Australia Ltd to own and operate a fuel agency at the Total depot in New Dookie Rd, Shepparton.
The business rapidly expanded and by 1980 its turnover exceeded $50 million, with about 50 employees servicing 54 service stations and 14 depot installations. The business became the largest petroleum distributor in Australia.
His management philosophy during this period placed a heavy emphasis on developing a motivated team with an aggressive marketing approach associated with carefully developed and strict financial controls.
In 1981 Mr Tracy sold the business to Total Australia Ltd, but remained as managing director of the operating company.
After moving on from the fuel business, he accepted a position as general manager- petroleum with the Woodger Corporation, in Canberra.
Subsequent to his appointment as general manager, the Woodger Corporation acquired the Finemore transport group of companies and Mr Tracy was appointed as a director of that group.
A Mildura lad
Mr Tracy was born in Mildura in 1943 and educated at Mildura Central Primary School and Mildura High School.
As a fast bowler he played Country Week cricket and during his early football career at Mildura he was recruited to the VFL and played in Essendon’s under 19s and reserves.
His VFL career was cut short by a severe knee injury.
His working life started in 1961 with the C.B.A. Bank at Mildura, and after relieving work in various Melbourne branches transferred to the Swan Hill branch in 1964.
He left the branch in 1965 and accepted a position as a clerk with the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission at Nyah West.
In 1966 he accepted an offer to train as a sales representative with the Mobil Oil company.
While working in Warracknabeal, he relieved as area manager for the north-eastern region of Victoria and during this time he met the Mobil bulk fuel agent, Noel Ross, in Shepparton and subsequently moved to Shepparton to become sales manager of the Mobil agency.
In 1990 he became general manager of SPC and in May 1991 joined the SPC board as managing director.
Jeff Tracy attends a rally in support of SPC.
Model flying
Mr Tracy always had an interest in radio-controlled model aircraft and represented Australia in the Aerobatic World Championships in 1973 in Italy; 1975 in, Switzerland; and 1977 in the United States.
From 1975 to 1998 he competed regularly in the International Tournament of Champions at Las Vegas.
After the tumultuous time steering SPC back into profit, with the support of a new board and powered by a dedicated staff, Mr Tracy resigned and purchased the BMW and Toyota dealerships in Shepparton.
In 2006 he sold the Toyota dealership but retained the BMW franchise, which he continued to operate for another eight years with significant success, achieving multiple BMW Awards for operational excellence and sales performance.
In 2014 he sold the BMW franchise and entered retirement.
About 300 people attended the memorial service held at the Shepparton Golf Club, where he has enjoyed many a round and where he hosted many fundraising events for charity. His sons Matt, Dan and Phil and daughter Georgia gave tributes along with his brother John after the opening song from his favourite group, the Seekers: The Carnival is over.
