Leader of agency game lost

He was best known as a co-principal – with Cliff Harvey (who is still with us) - of the firm of Partridge and Harvey, which in its heyday was the leading auction marketer of pigs in NSW.

Born in Victoria, Ken embarked upon his agency career straight after leaving school at 14, when he joined the firm of Gippsland and Northern. 

The Second World War was then raging, and when he was old enough to enlist, Ken joined the navy, serving on HMAS Shropshire and later as part of the occupational forces in Japan.

Following demobilisation from the navy, he joined New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency in Sydney where he started as a clerk, and in due course an auctioneer, in the pig and dairy department.

From there he progressed to the fat (prime) stock department where he became head auctioneer, selling both sheep and cattle at Flemington (and later, Homebush), and at special sales across NSW.

In 1966 he left NZL and joined his fellow ex-employee, Cliff Harvey, in setting up the private agency of Partridge and Harvey, selling all species of livestock.

Within three years the firm was the leading pig auctioneer in NSW and also boasted a sound cattle business, as well as dealing in sheep and lambs.

Ken retired in 1990 and the business continued until 1999, when it was sold to Jones Berry of Maitland.

During his long agency career, Ken was a stalwart of the NSW Stock and Station Agents’ Association, serving as a zone representative and honorary treasurer for more than 20 years.

He was made a life member of the association in 1982, and in 2004 he was also awarded life membership of its successor, the Australian Livestock and Property Agents’ Association.

Ken’s wife, Phyllis, died in 2013.

He is survived by his three sons, Kevin, Ray and Malcolm, six grand-children and three great-grandchildren.

Ken's funeral service was held in the Palm Chapel of the Macquarie Park Crematorium, North Ryde, on August 9.