Bernie Laffan spent most of his life in Wallan. He was a Patriarch of the motor trade and was known far and wide.
He opened a garage in 1926, with his brothers Owen and Leo, at the Inverlochy Hotel (his father's business), just south of Wallan.
At 15yrs he started an apprenticeship and began repairing cars in 1927 and 5 years later opened Laffan's Garage at Wallan. Bernie's 1924 Buick became the tow truck and he was renowned for rescuing many a stranded traveller broken down on the Hume Highway, which was little more than a track in those days. A second garage was opened at Kilmore.
Bernie was one of the first, if not the very first in the motor trade to open for business on Sundays. It was a standing joke that went on for 25 years. He was regularly prosecuted on a Sunday but avoided fines and eventually was left alone to continue providing petrol, and break down and accident call ins.
Laffan's Garage burnt down in the early 1950's, so Bernie got the Wallan fire brigade going and drove the tanker for many years. The Laffan Garage was up and running again in no time and back to business.
Even in his eighties you could still find him at the Garage every day watching repairs and talking to customers. Wallan lost one of their Legends when Bernie passed away. He was 85 years old.
Information and photos supplied by Carmel Laffan, Bernie's granddaughter. Thank you Carmel for allowing us to use them.
Laffan's Garage lives on in Wallan and is now owned and run by Bernie's grandson, Paul.