Raconteur who traversed Australia as a cattleman
ENTREPRENEUR
4-8-1937 - 23-3-2013
Mervyn Griffin, who has died aged 75, once described himself as a rooster - "here one day and a feather duster the next". The quip was quintessential "Merv". He was a straight talker, a raconteur, an entertainer and a self-made man, one of our last high-country
cattlemen who could recite the works of Banjo Patterson by heart.
Griffin had forged his destiny before he reached his teens, when he decided the world was bigger than Rockhampton. Stowing away in a train's overhead luggage
compartment, he ended up
somewhere in outback Queensland, where he managed to convince a cocky that he should take him on as a cook, drover and cattleman at the tender age of 11.
By the time Griffin was 19 he had driven cattle all across Australia. He was a jack of all trades - a fencer, a high-country cattleman, rodeo rider, gold miner, butcher, bookmaker and bare-knuckle fist-fighter.
But he always claimed his greatest accomplishment was meeting the love of his life, Shirley. She was chalk to his cheese, north to his south. He often proudly told the story of when this young blonde "looker" entered his butcher shop to buy bones for her dog. Shirley tells a different story; she recalls the cheeky young butcher who used to stick his tongue out at her. As it happened, Shirley never had a dog, and they were married six months later.
Griffin took his family to Bendigo 40 years ago, in the days when there was only one traffic light in town. He and brother-in-law Barry Moon started a small empire, Midlands Truck Spares, which survives him today.
Griffin may not have had a
conventional education, but was a learned scholar graduating with high distinctions and first-class
honours from the university of hard knocks, and never faltered in
teaching others "The Book of Life According to Merv". Thanks to his tutelage there are few men who knew him who do now not know how to tie a Spanish windlass or shoot a particular billiard shot.
Many have also shared in his pearls of wisdom: "It's a case of mind over matter - I don't mind and you don't matter"; "When is the best time to buy property? When you have the money." Then, of course, the golden rule: "He who has the gold ... rules."
He was a larger-than-life
character, a respected member of the greater Bendigo community and a longstanding member of the Sandhurst Club. He was adored by his family and friends.
Griffin is survived by wife Shirley and daughters Joellen and Liza, sons-in-law Hamish and Philip, and five grandchildren, Lizzie, Eva Chloe, Penelope and Monty.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
Mervyn James Griffin (4 Aug 1937 – 23 Mar 2013) was a self‑made entrepreneur and high‑country cattleman who built a small business empire from hands‑on work. For everyday investors his story highlights the value of practical experience, entrepreneurship and building durable local businesses such as Midlands Truck Spares in Bendigo.
Griffin and his brother‑in‑law Barry Moon started Midlands Truck Spares in Bendigo. The article notes that Midlands Truck Spares 'survives him today,' indicating the business continued to operate at the time the piece was written.
Griffin’s plain‑spoken advice — for example, 'When is the best time to buy property? When you have the money' and 'He who has the gold... rules' — underlines practical investing basics: don’t over‑leverage, value liquidity, and recognise that having capital gives you options. Those simple rules are useful reminders for small‑business and property investors.
Griffin didn’t have a conventional education; the article describes him as a graduate of the 'university of hard knocks.' For investors, his life suggests hands‑on experience, self‑learning and industry knowledge can be powerful advantages alongside formal qualifications.
Griffin built Midlands Truck Spares with a family connection (his brother‑in‑law) and is survived by close family members. While the article doesn’t detail formal succession plans, it highlights a common reality: family ties often underpin small businesses, so everyday investors should consider succession and continuity when evaluating family‑run companies.
Griffin worked as a cattleman, fencer, rodeo rider, gold miner, butcher, bookmaker and more. That diversity shows resilience, practical skills and adaptability — traits investors can look for in entrepreneurs and management teams when assessing the long‑term prospects of small businesses.
While the article is an obituary rather than an investment guide, it implies a few evaluation points: look for founders with proven grit and industry knowledge, assess whether the business (like Midlands Truck Spares) has survived market cycles, and consider the role of family or local community support in a company’s durability.
Griffin’s life — leaving home young, trying many trades and building a business empire — illustrates calculated risk‑taking and learning by doing. For investors, that translates to balancing ambition with cash reserves, learning from hands‑on experience or close research, and valuing businesses led by practical, resilient operators.
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