Vale Peter Kelly, we’ll miss your smile

That’s the sentiment echoing across Docklands after Peter Jon Kelly finally lost his long health battle on Friday, June 28 surrounded by his cherished ones – best friend and wife Lyn, daughter Liz, granddaughter Madi and son Brad who flew in from Vietnam.

Peter was born on July 4, 1946. His early years of work began at WR Grace where at the age of 20 he met the love of his life and best friend forever Lyn.

Peter showed an interest in small businesses from the very beginning, firstly with the Pascoe Vale Milk Bar and then the Brighton Newsagency and Post Office in the 1970s.

Moving forward three decades, Lyn and Peter decided to move to the newly created suburb of Docklands and were the first of three residents, along with Lyn’s father Len, to move into the Arkley building.

One of Dockland’s original developers – MAB – noticed a clearly missing element in Docklands and so, with Peter and Lyn, developed Club NewQuay – a service to local residents to provide grocery and staple items.

It was at this time that a local resident approached Peter and Lyn, who was interested in renting out their apartment while they were away. No-one could have foreseen what that simple request would become, but two decades later it survives as Docklands Private Collection of apartments – a truly family business built on reputation and service and also the inaugural winners of the Docklands Business Awards in 2020.

The success of Docklands Private Collection, along with Peter and Lyn’s enormous hearts, have seen several hundreds of thousands of dollars donated to various charities. PanCare – a charity devoted to pancreatic cancer, the Alannah and Madeline foundation and Fight MND have been the primary recipients of their incredible generosity.

It hasn’t all been success though. Along with Peter’s health struggles, the COVID years took an enormous toll on the business. I personally remember numerous days working with Peter to gain access to government grants and assistance schemes, in his words “not to keep the business afloat but to make sure our owners still get paid”. That was the type of man he was.

Along with his enormous heart he had an undying love for the Geelong Cats. In recent years he attended everything available to him.

As his son Brad said at Peter’s memorial service; “we all loved his smile because it was with his eyes.”

Peter Jon Kelly, you’ll be missed sorely by everyone who knew you. •