Mr Durdin performed alongside his wife Joyce as The Durdins, enjoying a lengthy career in music that culminated in their induction into the Australian Country Music Hands of Fame at Tamworth in 2003, joining the likes of Slim Dusty, Smoky Dawson and Lee Kernaghan.
The Durdins married in 1951 and began their musical career a few years later. A BTV6 talent contest win helped spur their career on and the couple regularly traveled to Adelaide to appear on the Reg Lindsay Show.
They signed with influential country label Hadley Records in 1968, releasing a number of singles, including their biggest hit The Mini Skirt, which was co-written with Ken Smith. Based in Cobden at the time, their recording sessions were held in the cabaret room of the Epping Hotel in Melbourne’s north.
In the ‘70s they performed at Aboriginal missions across the Northern Territory and Western Australia, and also played in the US and New Zealand. They were still performing occasionally around the south-west.
Mr Durdin was also well known for his involvement and passion for local football, perhaps stemming from growing up in Footscray behind the Western Oval and playing junior football against Ted Whitten.
He played reserves in Cobden, and occasionally filled in as central umpire in the seniors.
After later moving to Warrnambool, he became involved with the Warrnambool and District Football Umpires Association (WDFUA), first as a central umpire until triple bypass surgery in 1994 restricted him to the goal square, before finishing his career as an interchange steward.
Mr Durdin had four children, 12 grand children, 17 great grandchildren, and in recent years welcomed two great great grandchildren.
Granddaughter Alana Kenzler said the family was fortunate they had been able to spend time with Mr Durdin recently at his daughter Rose’s 60th birthday party in Bundaberg.
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