Tom McCullough reported that Doug's funeral on Friday November 21 at Box Hill was well represented by his Ex ANZ colleagues
Below is Tom's Eulogy to Doug
DOUGLAS CHARLES VOLLMERHAUSE (often known as DCV
* Doug was one of natures gentlemen,. He had high values and was a man of the utmost integrity. He was quiet but could also be quietly determined when he wanted or needed to be. He never gave up on anything he set out to do both in his working and in his private life.
* I first met Doug in November, 1963 when we did the assembly language programming course in Sydney and both joined Data Processing in February, 1964
* I have known him and Lyn for 51 years. Doug as both a work colleague and as a family friend. Our children have grown up together, attended the same schools, attended the same functions, parties etc. I have lost my best mate, a bit surprising for a Queenslander and a Victorian to get along so well for such a long period of time.
* A little about his work life.
o Doug started work in ANZ at Jandowie branch in Queensland in 1954
o He worked at Crows Nest and in Brisbane before being transferred to Melbourne in 1958
o Joined the TABS section of what was then Methods Department and was a key member of staff who worked on the initial punched card Payroll System
o Started In Data Processing Department in 1964 as an Analyst Programmer. This was in the days when the computer took up a complete floor at 177 Toorak Road, South Yarra and required a monumental air conditioning
environment and the computer itself had less power than is in todays mobile phone. He was one of the pioneers of Data Processing. He co designed and wrote the Banks first computer based Salary System. He rose through the ranks becoming a Senior Manager in DP. In the H6000 environment he worked on the MIS System.
o Doug moved into Inter-Bank committee work over the years from his detailed involvement and knowledge in systems matters and building common bank formats for transactions and interface systems. His depth of knowledge in these matters among other banks was without peer and he made many valuable contributions which stood the test of time over many years and many generations of computer technology.
o Doug then moved into more specific Payments Systems areas which allowed him to consolidate on his very broad systems knowledge and depth of contacts within ANZ and across the banking systems. His knowledge and practicality was legendary.
o He represented the Bank on the SWIFT Payments and Settlement system attending meetings as far away as Brussel in Belguim
o Throughout his management career, Doug endeavoured to foster the development of talented staff members and he can be credited with seeing many of his protégées achieve widespread success both within ANZ and in the wider business world beyond ANZ.
* His life outside work
o He loved his cricket. And was an accomplished wicket keeper who played into his late 40’s
before taking up umpiring in the Eastern Districts
* Am told he could have gone onto bigger things in umpiring if he had wanted to
o He was a good tennis player. Played pennant tennis for Grace Park for many years. He wasn’t a power hitter he was just a hard man to get a ball past, he just kept hitting them back. There are a few of us here today who can attest to this. He was a good man to play doubles with.
o His social squash skills left many aghast and at golf he rarely strayed to far from the middle of the course
o He was a Freemason for many years and served as Master of his lodge
o He was heavily into genealogy. He has done some fabulous things with his own family trees and it wouldn’t surprise me if he hadn’t updated it before he left us. He was organized.
o He was a great supporter of VICGUM and has been their treasurer for many years. He was made a Life Member in recognition of his contribution. He has been attributed with making a significant contribution to the financial management of this organization and the Financial System he has installed will hold them in good stead for many years.
o Until recently Doug and to a lesser extent Lyn had a quirky taste in cars. No Holdens or Fords for them. Rovers and Citroens were the go. Jeff Pitt remembers back in 1968, Doug picked him and others up at Essendon International Airport in his ROVER , which the plebs from Queensland could only dream about, for a magical drive through the BIG city of Melbourne and down St Kilda Boulevard, lit up with fairy lights to the esteemed Her Majestys Hotel at South Yarra.
* His personal and family life
o Was a wonderful husband to Lyn and father to Kate and Sarah, father in law to James and Rob and Grandfather to Lucy and Jack. He would do anything for them. He had tremendous love of and pride in his family. This was particularly brought home to those close to him during Kate’s illness and at the time of her death.
* In recent times he loved taking Lucy out for malted milks and enjoyed going to Jack’s swimming classes
* Was often seen out having lunch or coffee with his girls.
o As I said earlier I have known Doug for 51 years and Lyn for nearly as long. We were workmates, neighbors, family men and personal friends.
* We were neighbors in both Bulleen and Doncaster. We travelled to work together virtually every day. Juggling cars as to whose wife needed a car that day and then Lyn and Helen juggled that car and arrangements between them.
* Families grew together, attended kindergarten, primary schools and secondary schools. As the children grew up and were in secondary school we took them to school and dropped them off in Camberwell as we went to work. Boy were they often the first at school. In this Doug was the steady reliable back up man as if I was interstate he seemed always able to cover the school run. He did get white knuckles as we shook our way in the old Anglia down the Elgar Road hill most mornings or had to help when it would gasp to a halt occasionally.
* We all lived in a wonderful community environment and Doug and Lyn were key players in that neighborhood. Supporting the school fund raising and social activities as we danced our way to Neil Diamond into the wee hours of the morning. We had many dinner parties and BBQ’s in the neighborhood and He was there enjoying himself. He was a fairly quiet, steady, sober citizen until I found out he had a taste for Drambuie and his girls saw a side of Doug they hadn’t seen as they “helped” him home. A little wobbly to say the least and he was warned off going to “Mr McCullough’s” place wasn’t he Sarah.
* Since retirement we played a lot of golf together, at least once a week for 12 years at Box Hill Golf Club and more recently at Royal Camberwell. Doug hit them pretty straight, while mine wander a little. This week I lost more balls than ever because Doug had an uncanny knack of being able to find them.
* In the last few years Doug and Lyn joined the Bulleen/Templestowe Probus Club. Where they both endeared themselves to all and made many new friends. They revitalized the books that members borrowed and you could hear Doug advising people on the virtues of a particular book that Lyn would have given him to read. They joined in many activities at the club and I am sure he got a lot out of it as he did put a lot into it. It was only just over 4 weeks ago in October this year when we were all away at Anglesea for a Wreckreation week. That now seems a long time ago.
* When my wife passed away Doug and Lyn were both there for me and were wonderful, but Doug in his own quiet way was a pillar to me at that time. Not many know of the wisdom he imparted and him just being there was a great strength. I hope I can do the same for you and your family Lyn.
* Well what more can I say, the world has lost a wonderful person and will be worse off without him. A man of impeccable honesty and integrity and I have lost my best mate.
Tom McCullough
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