Christopher Philippe Nevins
1960-2025
BORN and bred from good local stock was how third generation businessman Chris Nevins was remembered when more than 800 people celebrated his life at a Requiem Mass last week.
His brother John delivered the eulogy and readings were given by cousins and fellow directors of FP Nevins and Co, Luke and James.
John said: “Chris went to the Inglewood Catholic Primary School, St Mary’s ... and in that time served as an altar Boy in this church.
“After primary school Chris went to Marist Brothers College in Bendigo and together with many other locals would catch the bus to and from Inglewood every school day.
“While a bright and capable student, Chris attended school because that was what you did, but school was not a priority for him. It was what you did before you entered the workforce. That was his objective. 
“When Chris completed Year 12 and stepped out into life where he was free to chose where he went and what he did he didn’t need to think about it. He didn’t want to leave Inglewood and working in the family business ... was what he wanted to do. He was 18.
“F P Nevins & Co was not just a job to Chris; it was a passion. He was committed and dedicated to his clients who he viewed as old friends and the people he worked with weren’t fellow workers they were part of his extended family. Being a stock and station agent is  not a 9 to 5, Monday to Friday job. It involves long hours and early starts, which on some market days could mean 2am in the sale yards and often weekend work yarding and drafting stock.
“Chris said he would work in the business until it was 100 years old. That milestone was achieved in April 2023, but Chris did not retire.”
He played tennis when younger with St Augustine’s Tennis Club  golf at Inglewood and was a strong supporter of the Inglewood and Kingower Cricket Clubs as the official scorer where he has a reputation as a meticulous observer and scorer.
“It was Inglewood Football and Netball Club where Chris was awarded life membership in 2007, that he had the longest and most committed personal focus. He played football for the Club as a junior and as a young man. He then went onto being a long term club volunteer but it was in his role as volunteer Gateman at the Inglewood Football Ground that Chris was probably best known in the community. For in the order of 38 years Chris was a permanent  fixture on the Gate with a welcoming smile for Club supporters and competitors to Inglewood home games,” John said.
“It was during his time playing football for Inglewood that he picked up his nick name; Boo Boo. Exactly how, has been lost in the mists of time, but his nickname is based on the cartoon character Yogi Bear’s side kick. A little, short, pot bellied bear called; you guessed it Boo Boo,” John said.
Chris, 65, was Bendigo Stock Agents Association president when he died suddenly earlier this month.
FP Nevins and Co staff and Inglewood Football Netball Club members formed a guard of honour for Chris as the cortege left St Mary’s church for the burial at Inglewood cemetery.