Looking out at the panoramic view of Port Pirie and the Spencer Gulf from his 100-acre property at Warnertown, Mr Coad knows he made the right decision to retire here.

The property is nestled at the foot of the ranges and is the fruition of a long-time dream of the Coads.

Mr Coad was born in Whyalla and went to Whyalla South Primary School and Whyalla High School before joining the National Bank.

He played football for West Whyalla and was coached by his uncle, the

legendary West Whyalla football coach, John McInerney, who is well-known in the Spencer Gulf football circles, having coached a record number of premierships for his club.

Talented footballer

A talented footballer, Mr Coad won a Whyalla Association Colt’s best-and- fairest medal and played several matches with North Adelaide Colts before going on to play in A grade.

When Mr Coad was 19 he moved to the National Grote Street branch in Adelaide for six months and then to Strathalbyn where he met his future wife Judy Plaisted.

His next move was to St Morris branch and a further move to Murray Bridge from 1969 to 1973 was where his two

children were born.

Between 1973 and 1982 Dennis worked at the Glenside and Port Adelaide branches while living at Happy Valley.

During this time he pursued his love of football and played in Stansbury, Murray Bridge and finally for the National Bank Team in the Amateur League where he took on a coaching role after retiring from the playing field. After many years of moving to different branches in different towns, Mr Coad decided it was time for a change.

“I thought after years of lending money to people I might borrow some instead and go into business,” he said

In 1982 Mr Coad left the banking business and moved with his wife and family to Stansbury where they bought a deli- takeaway.

Pirie business venture

His next business venture was a

caravan and outdoor centre which he bought in Port Pirie in 1985 and had until he sold it and retired in 2003.

Mr Coad said that Port Pirie residents were good honest people and had been good to him and his business.

He said that the key to a successful business is putting yourself in the customer’s shoes and understanding and appreciating their needs.

Mr Coad acknowledged that the

driving force behind his success in

business and in life was his wife Judy who has worked along side him for 21 years

Since moving to Port Pirie Mr Coad has been an active member of the community, joining the Port Pirie Rotary Club in 1989 and has served many hours helping with fundraising and community events.

Mr Coad, who is a past Rotary

president, is seen most weekends during the football season manning the entry gate at Memorial Oval.

Trip of lifetime

The highlight of his involvement with Rotary was his trip to Salt Lake City in 2007 when he and his wife attended the World Rotary Convention.

“It was an amazing experience and to take part in a world convention is a goal most Rotarians have”, he said.

Among the other highlights have been hosting the 10 exchange students that have come from all over the world, many of them still keeping in touch. Since retiring, Mr Coad now has time for some relaxation. He always looks forward to the yearly “‘men’s bush trip” with a special group of friends and has great pleasure in tending to the vegetable garden, the native fauna and a few beef cows on his hobby farm.

He has recently been an ambassador for the Port Pirie Pura Light Start State Masters Games and he volunteers his time as a Justice of the Peace weekly at the library.

Three days a week Mr Coad tends to the garden at the Port Pirie Regional Tourism and Art Centre.

The love of nature and freedom that the Coads have found on their retirement property are dreams and aspirations that they have passed onto their children.

Son Damien Coad has the freedom, in his chosen career as a deep-sea diving instructor, to travel around the world.

Daughter Tracy Smith who has a love of nature and animals lives on a farm at Wirrabara with her husband and three children.

Lifelong friends

Mr Coad said that he now appreciated the many moves he had made during his life because of the many lifelong friends he has made with whom he loves to catch up with from time to time.

He said that the great thing about living in Port Pirie was the wonderful circle of friends he has made and the many friends and business acquaintances that he meets while out and about in the city. They are always ready for a chat.

“My dear mother has just turned 90 and still lives in her own home so I am hoping that I have her genes and I am still pottering around my property and doing the volunteer work that gives me great fulfilment, for many years to come”, he said.