Aubrey Short 1925 - 2011
 Aubrey was born in Durban in 1925, matriculated at Hilton College when he was 16. His father made him wait until he was 18 before he joined 11 squadron in 1943 as a pilot flying Kittyhawks, Spitfires and Hurricanes.
On his return in 1946 he was too late to enrol in NUC so to pass the time he joined the family construction business where he spent 40 years ending up being CEO of four allied companies. At the age of 45 he was made President of Master Builders and remained an honorary member all his life. He was also President of the Industrial Builders and Components Manufacturers Association an Executive Member of BIFSA, Chairman of the Industries Recruitment and Training Fund, and a representative on the National Building Research Institute of CSIR as well as a member of the Industry’s National Development Fund.
He was an Aribitrator, a consultant to the Consumer Council and NHBRC. He was Chairman of NBS, L.C. Johnson Technical College, Vice-Chairman of Pinetown Technical College Council and founder of the Natal Training College.
In his private capacity Aubrey was a Round Tabler for 13 ½ years. He then joined the Rotary Club where he became President and served as District Governor and later led a GSE team to Norway. He has served on various Boards and Foundations dedicating a great deal of his time to assisting his fellow men.
His many accomplishments include:
- Past President - Natal Master Builders Association
- Honorary Member -Natal Master Builders and Allied Industries Association
- Past Member of the Executive of the S.A. Building Industries Federation
- Past Chairman of the S.A. Building Industries Recruitment and Training Fund
- Past President of the S.A. Industrialised Builders and Component Manufacturers Association
- Past Member of the National Building Research Institute of C.S.I.R.
- Past Member of the Building Industries National Development Fund
- Past Regional Director of Natal Building Society
- Past Chairman - L.C. Johnson Technical College
- Past Member of the Natal Training College
- Past Vice Chairman of Pinetown Technical College
- Associate Member of the S.A. Association of Arbitrators
- Consultant to the Consumer Council
- Past Chairman - Highway Aged Council – Pinetown
- Past Chairman - Pinehaven Society – Pinetown
- Member of: Morton Hall Board and of Doone Village Board
- Past Chairman - Durban Round Table No. 2
- Past Chairman - Rotary Club of Pinetown
- Past District Governor - District 9270 Rotary International
- Past Member of 1992 Council on Legislation - Rotary International
- Past Chairman - National War Memorial Health Foundation
- Past Chairman - Bellhaven Society
- Chairman - Rotary in Africa. Magazine for Southern Africa
He was married to Pam for 55 happy years and was a proud grandfather and great grandfather. His advice to his children if they wished to succeed, to practise the dictum “If it is to be, it is up to me” words that Aubrey lived by. He was laid to rest on 16 May 2011.
Marion McLauchlan |
