WILLIAM WALSH
Engineering firm built on humble beginnings
Self-made businessman and engineering pioneer
Born: October 3, 1917
Died: December 23, 2001
Bill Walsh was the founder of Toowoomba company Walsh Engineering, a business built on his own innovation in the field of engineering. He is acknowledged as a self-made man, working his way up from a humble background to leave an indelible mark on the community. Born in Boonah, William (Bill) was the youngest of six children born to Mary (nee Connelly) and Phillip Walsh. When Bill was aged four, the family moved to Kingsthorpe, their farm being the current Farmfest site. Bill attended school at Gowrie Mountain State School, and then Oakey, riding the 14 miles to and from school on horseback.
In 1940, Bill travelled to Innisfail to become an ambulance officer, and in 1942, he joined the RAAF, where he served for four years. Bill hated the war, and refused to let his children watch war movies when they were on television. Yet he was happy to share some fascinating stories with his family regarding his time in the Air Force. Bill became a Flight Engineer with the 38th Squadron in 1945, flying transport missions from Archerfield to Moratai in DC3s. He held this position until the time of his discharge in 1946, when he returned to Clifton to become a farmer. The family farm enjoyed a bumper corn crop in the year of Bill's return, and his brother Alec was in the process of designing and building a corn picker. Bill helped him complete the task, but he knew it could be improved. He built another machine for the following season, which was so successful it was used throughout the district. It was this revolutionary picker that became the platform for Bill's successful career in engineering, and the establishment of his first business in Toowoomba in 1949. In this same year, Bill married Margaret Brosnan of East Greenmount, with whom he had four children -- Kevin, Margaret, Maree, and Anne.
The business in Toowoomba expanded rapidly during the next 15 years, with the premises in Piper Street being enlarged, before another shed was built at the corner of Perth and Water streets in 1954. At this time, Bill entered into bulk handling of grain, taking the initiative in meeting this demand, and he also designed and built a dozer blade for crawler tractors. It was through such initiatives that Bill was eventually able to form Walsh Engineering in 1960, producing at this time more than $500,000 worth of equipment. The company moved into the Buckland Street site (now known as Great Western Manufacturing) at Harristown in 1966, continuing to expand into areas such as water treatment plants, silos, and bulldozers and blade ploughs under Bill's management. Bill was responsible for many familiar landmarks throughout Toowoomba, including the silos at Grainco on Anzac Avenue, the Toowoomba Hospital chimneys, the Defiance silos, and the Water street basketball stadium.
However, the achievement of which he was possibly most proud was the support he gave to young apprentices in the trade. Bill always had about 25 apprentices working for him at any one time, around six or seven per year. In 1978, Bill's services to apprentices were acknowledged with an award from the Queeensland Minister for Education.
Following retirement in 1980, Bill became increasingly active in community work. He particularly enjoyed his work with the RSL Girl in a Million Quest, the St Vincent De Paul Society, and maintained an involvement in training young people through the Skillshare program. Bill also took advantage of his years in retirement to learn the organ and saxophone, and to spend time with his family. Bill Walsh was 84 when he died in Toowoomba. He is survived by his four children, 12 grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.
Published in "The Chronicle", Toowoomba February 2nd, 2002.
CLAIRE WALKER
Service marked a busy life
Born: November 15, 1922
Died: February 1, 2002
One of Claire Walker's great passions in life was her fascinating ancestry. She spent much time researching her family's genealogy, and visiting sites of historical interest both in Australia and abroad. Born in the Dungowan region, Claire Daphne McIlveen was the youngest of three children to farmers Percy and Darkus (nee Roberts). Claire's ancestors migrated from Scotland to Ireland many hundreds of years ago, and in the 1840s some of the family migrated to Australia, landing at Port Macquarie.
During the years of the gold rush, members of the McIlveen clan travelled by pack horse to the Tamworth area; her greatgrandfather building the hotel at Nundle, but eventually losing it in a card game. Claire's grandmother owned a wine shop at Moonbi, and was often visited by Captain Thunderbolt the bushranger.
Claire's family moved to Inverell in 1932, where she completed her education. At the age of 14 she started work as a shop assistant in the large general store, earning the grand sum of 10 shillings and threepence a week during the years of the Great Depression. In 1942, Claire joined the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force, keen to do her bit for the war effort. Part of the motivation for this decision lay in the fact she had lost her only brother at a very young age, but also because she had a life-long penfriend who had joined the English WAAF. Claire served at Uranquinty, Melbourne, and Evans Head, where in 1944 she met Allan Walker, who was serving in the Air Force. The pair married in Inverell in 1945, and shared 57 years together.
Following the war, Claire and Allan moved to Sydney, where their two children David and Jill were born. A move to Warialda followed after five years, and the couple operated a mixed business, then a dry-cleaning business. It was here that Claire became involved in voluntary work such as the Hospital Auxiliary, the CWA, and the P and C Association. She also enjoyed playing tennis, golf and bowls.
In 1960, the family relocated to Brisbane, and Claire began her long involvement with the Air Force Association, their house becoming home to numerous overseas students. It was back to Warialda in 1970, where Allan ran a car dealership, then to Goondiwindi in 1981. It was at this time that Claire became involved in volunteer work at the Historical Society, sparking an interest in her own ancestry. Claire was instrumental in 1986 for organising a family reunion in Moonbi for the McIlveen/McClelland clans, which more than 1200 people attended including some from Ireland. She also travelled overseas in 1989 with Allan, to see firsthand some significant sites in her family history, including the remains of an ancestral home, Kirkcubright Castle in Scotland. In Ireland, Claire was honoured with a civic reception, being the first McIlveen to return in 132 years. Claire and Allan moved to Toowoomba in 1994, and Claire renewed her involvement with many old friends in the Air Force Association. She continued to pursue her interest in genealogy, and maintained a close relationship with her family. Claire died in Toowoomba aged 79. She is survived by her husband Allan, her two children, and two grandchildren.
Published in "The Chronicle", Toowoomba February 20th, 2002.
Father John WALLIS
By MERRYL MILLER
Father John Wallis, the founder of the Missionary Sisters of Service who have served in the Toowoomba diocese from 1964, died in Hobart on August 3. He was aged 91. Born in Yea, Victoria, on June 11, 1910, John Wallis and his five siblings were raised in a family home which valued reading and discussion of issues beyond the confines of the present. He was ordained as a priest for the Archdiocese of Hobart in 1932, but only after having been rejected for seminary training on health grounds by four bishops and one religious congregation. This experience left Father Wallis with a lifelong concern for the materially and spiritually needy, and taught him to exercise caution when making decisions which would impact upon peoples' lives. Seminary study took place in Victoria and New South Wales, and only six months after his ordination, he listened to a plea which would determine his life's work as a priest. "Why can't we have Sisters come here and instruct our children?" a mother from the countryside (Tasmania's Bruny Island) asked. "Out of sight, out of mind. No-one cares for us in the bush." These words were to trigger a historic event in the journey of the Catholic Church in Australia. In 1944, Father Wallis established a women's religious congregation, today called the Missionary Sisters of Service, who still minister in Tasmania, many other parts of Australia (including South-East Queensland), and Singapore. The Missionary Sisters of Service was given canonical standing by Rome in 1950. Father Wallis was pragmatic about his role in the establishment of the order, saying he simply saw something that needed to be done. His spiritual and personal philosophy however, of "availability, flexibility and freedom" was visionary for the 1940s, and has been inherited as a legacy by the women's religious congregation which owes him so much. In his 68 years as a priest, Father Wallis kept himself remarkably busy in his search for ways to give encouragement and offer support. He served as a priest in at least 10 different parishes, but in Tasmania especially, his influence was enormous. In 1964, he became the Vicar for Religious, a position he held until recently, was a diocesan consultor, and served on the senate of priests. He started Hobart's Catholic Book Centre, and was a founding member of the Catholic Development Fund (originally the Schools Provident Fund). Father Wallis was responsible for bringing the Dominican Order (Sisters) to Tasmania, and established the Glenorchy Parish. In 1992, he was honoured as a Member of the Division of the Order of Australia for his services to religion.
Albert Wesley Watters, known to most as "Bert", was born on May 4, 1906 at Numurkah, Victoria, the second youngest son in a farming family of seven children. His parents were staunch members of the original Wesleyan Methodist Church before it amalgamated with other groups to form the Methodist Church, which subsequently became part of the Uniting Church. In his late teens, Bert was dedicated to be a follower of Jesus Christ, and did his best to carry out that pledge all his life. He was educated at Wunghnu Primary School and at Shepparton High School. He and his brother Andrew took over the family farm, "Drumanure', east of Wunghnu, near Numurkah, from their parents when they retired, and worked it together until Andy married. Bert experienced the hard times of farming through the Great Depression. Enlisting for war service in 1940, he was called up in 1941 and served for five years in the Royal Australian Air Force in the ground transport section, being stationed in Melbourne, Townsville, Malallah, Darwin and finally at Kingaroy. He attained the rank of sergeant. While stationed at Kingaroy he travelled to Dalby, where he met Isabel Doubleday. Following his discharge in December 1945, he returned to Queensland and after some months of carpentering in the Dalby district purchased a brigalow scrub farm in the Kupunn area in 1947. Soon after this, Bert and Isabel were married in the Methodist Church at Wagga Wagga, NSW. They settled on the original farm, setting to work to clear the scrub. It was fully cleared for grain production and is still a renowned and well-maintained and productive property. The Watters were blessed through the years with three boys and a girl: Trevor, Colin, Marcia and Ken, who made Bert and Isabel proud grandparents six times over. While at Dalby Bert was very involved with the Methodist Church, both practically and financially, and he supported the establishment of the AACS Education Centre on the church property. He was also involved with the Kupunn School, taking great interest in the Parents' Association and sporting activities. One of the highlights of his life was a world trip he and Isabel made. After the boys took over the farm, they also did several caravan trips to various parts of Australia. They retired to Toowoomba in 1979. Bert was blessed with good health and enjoyed his years of retirement. He is survived by his wife of almost 46 years; Trevor and his wife, Marilyn, and their children, Shelley and Alan; Colin and his wife, Pam; Marcia, who married Col Davis, and their children, Helen, Brian and Kylie; and Ken and his wife, Wendy, and their child, Simon. Bert's sister Violet and brother Andrew are the surviving members of his generation. Following the funeral service at the Toowoomba Wesleyan Methodist Church, Bert Watters was interred at the Drayton and Toowoomba Lawn Cemetery.
Published in "The Chronicle", Toowoomba, 11 August 1993.
Carl Waugh died on November 26 from a heart attack ~ without fuss, with his horses close at hand and his beloved partner of more than 18 years, Jan Peacock, nearby. He was born at Mosman, NSW, on January 28, 1924, He had a rocking horse when he was two and by the age of four he owned a pony. This was the start of a lifelong love of horses that never waned. He went to the Kings School, Parramatta. In his early teenage years he went to western Queensland as a jackeroo. His life as a stockman was interrupted by World War II when he put his age up and joined the 3rd Remounts Depot at Holsworthy. His unit broke in around 9000 horses for the war effort. Following the war Carl married and returned to the Julia Creek area as overseer on a number of stations. A move to Oxley Station (NSW) saw him in charge of 22 men. After so many years in the saddle during which he rode anything up to 130km every day Carl was now an expert stockman and decided to have a go at cattle and sheep dealing. In one year alone he put 36,000 cattle into NSW from north-west Queensland. Around 1960 he decided to try thoroughbred horse breeding. He had acquired the magnificent stallion Rush from George Ryder who started the Golden Slipper race. Although he had many stallions over the years it was Rush who established Carl in the thoroughbred industry. Carl and his family started Rushlands Stud. Later they moved to Bellfields Stud near Dalby. Whilst at Bellfields Carl became ill, was virtually confined to bed for a couple of years and his marriage broke down. It was during this time he decided to try to improve the standard of the selling facilities for yearling sales in Queensland. Backed by a number of other breeders he bought land from the Gold Coast Turf Club and built the sales centre which is still used by Magic Millions today. He had linked up with Jan Peacock who helped him with the running of the Golden Nugget Race and series. The Golden Nugget was the world's first incentive sale/race concept and although it was a good idea for the industry it did not return well. In 1985 he and Jan formulated the Magic Millions and set up the first sale in 1986 with the first race in 1987. Jan named the concept and Carl launched it on the phone. The last Magic Millions sale catalogue put together with Carl's influence averaged over $72,000. In 1995 Carl and Jan moved to Nathan Downs near Toowoomba where they continued to race horses and were leading owners for three years with approaching 100 winners. He reduced his numbers and at the time of his death was looking forward to watching the development of Nathan Citadel, his last colt from his last mare, Traffic Jam. He was also watching with interest the feats of the horse Insecure whose previous five generations he had bred. In 1992 Jan started writing Carl's memoirs and finally finished the book recently. He missed by one week seeing the book in its finished form. Just prior to his death, he commented that his proudest achievements were the Magic Millions and the book, From Rocking Horse to Rocking Chair. Carl is survived by his beloved companion and soul mate Jan, by Prue and Roger and their families and by his loving stepson, Darren.
Published in "The Chronicle", Toowoomba 22 December 1998
A lady of integrity, and high principles
Mrs Kathleen WHITE (nee Mahoney)
A strong link with the Darling Downs was broken recently with the passing of Kathleen Margaret White at the age of 87. A lady of high principles and integrity, she was born in Pittsworth in 1910, the fourth child of Patrick and Johanna Mahoney, of Irongate. Her father was born at Dalby and her mother at Tenterfield. Subsequently of Mt Tyson and Toowoomba, she died peacefully at Lourdes Home for the Aged, Toowoomba, on January 20, 1998. A thanksgiving mass was held on January 23 at St Patrick's Cathedral, where she married Kennedy James White in 1937. Interment followed the mass at Drayton and Toowoomba Cemetery, where she was buried beside her husband who died in 1956. Kathleen attended school at Irongate and at Pittsworth Convent before beginning work in Stanthorpe and later starting a nursing career during which she worked at St Vincent's and Baillie Henderson Hospitals, Toowoomba. After marriage, the couple lived at Mt Tyson where they were involved in a successful store, grain and fuel agency partnership, White and McNally. She was often called upon to be the honorary community nurse. Both were heavily involved with the community, particularly fund-raising for a Catholic Church. When her husband died, she was left with six children aged seven to 17 and moved to Toowoomba where she worked for many years in administration at St Vincent's Hospital. Kathleen is survived by daughters Denise (Quinn), Colette (Cooper) and Joan (Power), all of Toowoomba, and sons Barry, Kerry and Geoffrey, all of Brisbane. Her sixth child, Ross Joseph, died soon after birth. She was very proud of her children and of her 19 grandchildren and the same number of great grandchildren. Particularly, she was proud of the many achievements of her 44 descendants who include a dual Olympian, State and country representatives and a Vietnam War veteran. She is also survived by brothers Joe, Jack, Vince and Ivan, and sisters Dorothy (Sullivan) and Eileen (Durnford), another sister, Beth (Naumann), having passed on previously. Her husband's brothers, Clarence and Alan, and a sister, Eileen (McNally) have also passed on. Her thanksgiving mass was an impressive service attended by about 300 with five celebrants led by Fr Michael Cooney, and featuring Vickv Cocozza as organist with vocalists Mary Logan, who sang Hail Mary, Gentle Woman, and Bernard Wheaton, with several hymns and an emotional I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen, which was a special song for her and her late husband. A piper played outside the cathedral and at the graveside. The eulogy included an extract from a poem written by grandson Peter White: Hear these soothing tunes of the haunting, wailing bagpipes,
A heart-soothing ballad for an Irish girl with a soft heart,
Please don't weep your blue, lovely eyes, Kathleen,
It's only a poem from Peter.
Kathleen was described as giving no strings love tied up with tolerance and compassion, and as having a simple and sure faith. Her qualities were many and saintly. She endured many trials and tribulations, but also had many achievements and much happiness: She touched many lives. A quotation of verse from Frank McCourt's "Angela's Ashes" was also read:--
Love her as in childhood
Though feeble, old and grey,
For you'll never miss a mother's love
Till she's buried beneath the clay.
The eulogy concluded with: "Dad has taken you home again, Kathleen -- for the final time".
Published in "The Chronicle", Toowoomba 19th February 1998
ANNE WOOD (1907 - 2001)
When Anne Reymont met her future husband Les Wood in 1927, they both knew immediately that "this was it". What they didn't know at that point was the success that Les and their children would achieve, with Anne providing the support and encouragement necessary for such endeavours. Following several years of married life as a teacher's wife, Anne, like many women at this time, found herself suddenly doing it tough during the war years. With Les fighting the war in the Pacific, Anne raised their young children single-handedly. This experience stood Anne in good stead for Les' eventual entry in State Parliament as the Labour member for North Toowoomba. Politics is not an easy business, and Anne stood for no nonsense on her husband's behalf. She is still remembered for quietening some vocal, hostile opponents in the audience at a forum of Les' in the 1950s with a deft wielding of her umbrella - no mean feat for a tiny woman like Anne. Les was voted in a Leader of the Opposition in 1957, but died after only one year in the position. The harsh reality of a political life had taken its toll on Les, but this did not deter Anne in her support for two of her sons harbouring political aspirations. She was just as vigorous in her campaigning for both Peter and Bill to be successfully elected to State Parliament as she had ever been for Les, and both remain active in their political careers today. Anne reached the grand age of 94 - many years of unstinting devotion to her children, John, Peter, Bill, and Barbara, and an undying love for her husband Les. It is often said that behind every great man there is a great woman, and Anne Wood is testimony to the truth of this statement. She was the strength and support that enabled three men in her family to pursue and achieve success in a demanding environment, while facing her own personal challenges. More importantly perhaps, she epitomised the ideal of a dedicated, vibrant woman, for whose contributions in life her family and community can be grateful. - reprinted courtesy "The Chronicle", Toowoomba.
Vale to a son of the soil, and man of science
Barry Maxwell Wagland
6/7/1937 -- 3/1/2000
Barry Wagland loved his family and friends, the land, science, and food -- and he loved life. Barry was the younger son of Cyril and Ruby Wagland, born in Warwick on July 6, 1937, to an extended family of Darling Downs farmers. Barry was only nine months old when his father died, leaving his 23-year-old widow Ruby with two-year-old Ross, and baby Barry. They remained on the farm with the help of relatives. Ruby would always remember their time on the farm as one of her happiest, and it bred in both Barry and Ross an incurable love of the land. When World War II broke out they were forced to move into Toowoomba, and the boys also spent time with relatives on the Darling Downs. It was a childhood fondly remembered, and it was from a grounding in one-teacher country schools that Barry would later go on to win a scholarship to England and earn his PhD at Cambridge. In 1946 Ruby married George Adams and the family moved from Queensland to Sydney's Crows Nest. Barry attained his Leaving Certificate at the North Sydney Technical High School in 1953, and began full-time work as a technical assistant at the CSIRO McMaster Laboratory at Sydney University in January 1954. There he assisted in research work on diseases of sheep, and worked in the fields of reproductive physiology, biology, parasitology and immunology. From 1956 to 1958 Barry also did National Service. He continued working at CSIRO and enrolled in a Diploma of Applied Biology, which he attained in 1959. He went on to obtain a Bachelor of Science from Sydney Technical College, and qualified for a Master of Science in 1964. During this time he was introduced to Lynette Mary Newton, and after a courtship of some eight years they married in May 1966 at St Patrick's Church in Sydney. Later that year Batty was awarded a CSIRO scholarship to Cambridge University, and they spent three happy years there, during which time their daughter Elizabeth Mary was born. On their return to Australia Barry was appointed principal research officer at a new laboratory in Brisbane. The family settled in St Lucia and son Stuart John was born in June 1971. In 1978 Barry returned to the McMaster Laboratory at Sydney University, where he continued his research work until his retirement in November 1993. He published more than 40 research papers on parasitology, mechanisms on immunity to parasites and the development of a genetically engineered vaccine against the important gastrointestinal parasites of sheep, travelling the world to deliver conference papers. He was also a member of the Australian Society for Parasitology. Barry and Lynette divorced in September 1982. Barry was proud to watch both his children graduate with university degrees. On an overseas trip in 1997 Barry met Marilyn, and the two were married in Aspley at Easter 1998. Although retired, Barry's passion for science and the land never waned. After a determined fight against cancer, during which time he and Marilyn received a great deal of support from Karuna Hospice, Barry passed away on January 3. Printed in "The Chronicle", Toowoomba, January 2000
Eric's soccer goal record still
Eric WITHINGTON
Eric Withington, who scored more goals in a single season than any other player in Toowoomba's soccer history, died on July 1 at his Geoffrey Street home. Eric's goals record of 72, which he established as a young player in the 1950s, still stands. It seems unlikely ever to be surpassed. Eric's funeral took place on Thursday, July 6, at the T.S. Burstow Chapel, Ruthven Street, and the Garden of Remembrance. He was 68, and died after a long period of poor health. Eric was born in Stoke-on-Trent, England, and migrated with his family to Australia as a young man. He was intensely proud of his goal-scoring feats. He is remembered by Toowoomba and district soccer followers and players of the 1950s and 60s as a fast and skilful striker, with a powerful shot in both feet. He also had the ability to outleap opposing defenders and head spectacular goals from lofted crosses from either wing. He was selected for Toowoomba representative teams on many occasions. Wanderers and Willowburn were among his club teams. Eric Withington also possessed a fine baritone voice and was well known as a singer, entertainer and compere on the Toowoomba club and hotel circuit of the late 1950s and 60s. His entertainment talents were inherited by his sons, Shane and Danny. Shane has achieved widespread fame as a TV personality, perhaps best known for his role in the longrunning series, A Country Practice. Danny established himself in the popular music and band industry, and is still engaged in that field at the Gold Coast. Eric's wife Dawn predeceased him by several years. Toowoomba soccer and the music and entertainment industry were strongly represented at Eric's funeral, where players of his era and musicians and vocalists mourned his passing and gave thanks for his life. Eight elderly soccer contemporaries of Eric's formed a guard of honour as his coffin proceeded from the chapel en route to the burial site. Printed in "The Chronicle", Toowoomba 18 July 2000
Horses love of Kathleen's life
Kathleen Mary WILLCOCKS
1907 - 2000
Kathleen Mary Willcocks was born at Walgett in NSW on May 2, 1907, the fourth child and second daughter of Robert and Fanny Moyse. Her young life was spent at Dunraven, a sheep station near Barcaldine in the Central West of Queensland. She boarded at Fairholme Presbyterian Ladies' College in Toowoomba where she excelled at sport but was always proud she won the prize for history. During the Depression she lived in Brisbane. She had to work at a time when this was not expected of girls from her background. She did so with style and dignity. Her outlet was horses. She was invited to become a member of the Town and Country Club. They rode at what is now Ballymore, the home of Queensland Rugby. She became one of Queensland's leading riders of her time, winning most of the major prizes for female riders at the 1936 Brisbane Exhibition on a borrowed horse. In 1937, she married Robert James Willcocks, who had pastoral interests near Longreach, at St Stephen's Church in Macquarie Street, Sydney. She had actually met him years before when he played cricket against teams put together by her father at Barcaldine. They set up home at Tor Street, Toowoomba where they brought up Kaye, Hazel, Robert and Charles. In Toowoomba, she pursued her interest in horses. She showed horses in competitions. She helped pioneer the dressage movement in Queensland. She judged throughout Queensland and New South Wales (including the Royal Sydney Easter Show and the Australian Dressage Championships in Sydney). She had long associations with the Downs Pony Club, the Toowoomba and Downs Equitation Group, the Queensland Equitation Association, and the Kurrajong Pony Club. She is remembered by generations of riders as a rider, instructor, judge and administrator. She owned and trained for the show ring and dressage many horses, the best of which in the post-war days were seconded for use by the Governor of Queensland. After the death of her husband in 1965, she managed Ballandean Station until its disposal. This she did with her characteristic energy and diligence, drawing on her innate understanding of livestock and the land. She established the memorial at the pioneers' graveyard at Ballandean Station to those buried there as well as to her husband who had done so much to improve that property. Her interests were not confined to the horse world. She drew much comfort and pleasure from "good" books, poetry, music and plays. She passed this on to her children. Her active involvement in the horse world came to an end when, at more than 80 years of age, she moved to Sydney to live at Trebartha Apartments in the St Luke's Hospital Complex. There she quickly revived old friendships and made new friends. In 1961, she wrote Toowoomba Prep's school song. The words of this song capture more effectively than anything else her ideals and values: "Of courage, and honour, on playing fields here Of gentleness, manliness and good clean sport, These things we hold in our heart most dear" She died on May 26 shortly after her 93rd birthday. Her funeral service was held at St Mark's Church, Darling Point, Sydney on May 30. She leaves two daughters, Kaye and Hazel, and two sons, Robert and Charles, all of whom live in New South Wales. Printed in "The Chronicle", Toowoomba 13 June 2000.
Harold Whitby
Harold Whitby, born in London in 1908, died recently at Karingal Nursing Home, Dalby. He came to Australia in the 1920s under the Big Brother scheme and spent his first years in the Columboola and Miles districts, where he did farming, ring-barking and contract fencing. In 1936 he married Violet Topp and settled in the Westcourt area. They had three children, two sons and a daughter. Mr Whitby served in the Army from early 1942 to late 1945 and saw action in Bougainville and New Guinea. After the war he farmed at Blanchview and spent a short period in Toowoomba before settling in 1954 at Jondaryan, where he became well known as a reliable work contractor. Because of fragile health, he spent the past 11 months at Karingal. Mr. Whitby is survived by his wife, son Sid of Toowoomba, Colin and his wife Joan of Jondaryan, and Art and Tina of Acland.
Printed in "The Chronicle", Toowoomba on 1st September 1993.
Life of devotion to his family
Percival Clyde WILSON
1921 - 1998
Percival Clyde Wilson was born at Glen Innes, NSW, on January 23, 1921 to Rosalie Elizabeth and Percival John Wilson, the fifth of l0 children. He spent his first 11 years on his parent's property at Bald Knob, 20 miles from Glen Innes on the Grafton Road. He started school there at a one-teacher school adjoining the property. In 1933, the family moved to Queensland to a property five miles south of Clifton. He continued his education at the Clifton Colliery State School. On leaving school, Percy helped on the family farm and did tractor and harvesting work for the neighbours. The family eventually moved to Toowoomba where Percy worked for the Southern Cross Foundry. He married Hilda Brown on January 29, 1944. They had four sons: Mervyn, Ron, Percy and Colin. Deciding on a change of work, Percy, Hilda and the boys went share farming in the Peranga district for some years. Leaving there, they returned to Toowoomba where Percy took up work at Seafoam Flour Mill, then as a mechanic at Western Transport. The family was dealt a huge blow in 1974 when Colin, the youngest son, was involved in an accident at work resulting in his death. Percy worked for a number of years for Gyral Farm Machinery as a machinist and stayed there until his retirement. His retirement was kept busy with repairing mowers and his hobby of making toys and dolls' houses. By now his sons all owned cars and the frequent call of "Hey Dad can you fix this?" kept him on the move. He enjoyed a good game of tennis and, in the later years, watching cricket. He loved music and played the button accordion for dances when he was 11 years old and could hardly see over the top of it. The piano, mouth organ and guitar helped him give much enjoyment to family occasions along with a good singing voice. For quite a few years, Percy was a volunteer worker, delivering food and clothing to the needy for the Golden Heart Welfare Club in Toowoomba. He made a great Santa as well. In February this year Percy was devastated when his little mate, Tiny (a silky terrier) died from a snake bite. Percy was a quiet, unassuming man and a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather with 13 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Percy will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by all. His funeral took place from the Scot's Uniting Church on April 6, 1998, followed by interment at the Garden of Remembrance. Percy is survived by his wife Hilda, and their three sons, Mervyn, Ron and Percy. Published in "The Chronicle", Toowoomba on 5th May 1998
Jessie White's death severs Chronicle link
JESSIE WHITE The founder of the Hunt and Smart Memorial Bursary, administered by The Chronicle, has died.
Born 99 years ago in Toowoomha, Jessica Isabella White was the granddaughter of the founder and first editor of The Chronicle, Darius Hunt. The bursary is offered to students who have applied to enroll in a full-time course of tertiary education. It was inaugurated in 1961 and instituted to perpetuate the names of Mrs White's grandparents. Mrs White was the fourth child and eldest daughter in a family of five children. Her parents, Edward and Emma Smart, operated a plumbing business in Ruthven Street in central Toowoomba. Early in her life the family moved from the centre of Toowoomba to a new house beyond the northern extent of the city, an area which is now suburban Rockville. Mrs White attended Harlaxton State School and The Glennie School. She owned a pony which she rode along Holberton Street to Glennie. On matriculation she won an open scholarship to the University of Queensland and went to Brisbane to enroll in the Arts Faculty. She participated in the sporting activities of the university - mostly rowing and hockey - winning a university "Blue" in hockey and being selected in the Australian Universities' women's team.
Mrs White graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and began study for a Master of Arts degree while working as a librarian and tutor at the women's college. The university then appointed her as the first full-time member of the new External Studies Department. She met and married Montgomery White, who was enrolled in the Science faculty, and they spent three years in England where Montgomery accepted a scholarship. During that time Mrs White baked cakes and sold them through a local cake shop.
The couple moved back to Brisbane with their first Child, David. They went on to have four more children, also opening a private kindergarten. Monty died in 1955 when their youngest child was only eight years old. The following year Mrs White returned to university study and became a secondary school teacher, retiring at 65. In her retirement she obtained her driver's licence and started a square-dancing club at Calamvale, south of Brisbane. Her funeral was held in Brisbane on February 14. Daughter Mrs Veryan Collyer said the Hunt and Smart Memorial Bursary would continue indefinitely. "Quite a lot of the recipients wrote to her (Mrs White) and thanked her." she said.
Published in "The Chronicle", Toowoomba 26 February, 2002.
'Snow' stood by RSL
Born: May 22, 1923
Died: May 8, 2002
Harold Wrigglesworth was an Englishman who fought for his country in one of the most famous battles of World War II, the D-day landing in France. When he settled in Australia after the war, he became heavily involved in the RSL organisation, and regarded himself as a true-blue Aussie. Born in Donnington, England, Harold ("Snow") Wrigglesworth was the second youngest of eight children to Edward and Mary. His childhood was full of fun and mischief, keeping himself busy working on his father's farm, going to school, and playing soccer. Snow was a talented soccer player, and there was nothing he enjoyed more later in his life than sitting up until all hours of the night watching matches with his grandsons.
Snow drove trucks for a living until war broke out in 1939. Life changed dramatically for many young men of this era, and Snow joined the Home Guard for two years before enlisting in the Royal Marines. With no idea where he would end up, Snow served in Wales, Scotland, France and Australia, and was part of the D-day landing in Normandy on June 6, 1944.
Stationed in Maryborough, Queensland, later in 1944, Snow met his future wife, Maureen McErlean, known as “Shorty”, who was in the Royal Australian Air Force. They married in Helidon after the war in 1946, and not long after, they returned to England to begin their life together. It only took two years for Snow and Maureen to realise that they wanted to come back to Australia, returning in 1948 to Helidon. Snow loved Australia, and never felt any desire to return to England, and after 50 years, officially became a citizen. Snow turned his hand to a variety of jobs throughout his life, including guard for the Air Force in Helidon, and quarry foreman at the Helidon quarries. It was his role within the Helidon RSL sub-branch, however, to which he was most dedicated, and he held the position of president in the branch for 16 years. He was an active member for more than 50 years, and frequently was listed on the honour board for his work running indoor bowls, dances, raffles, and bingo. His efforts contributed significantly to the beautiful monument and club room in Helidon, and he was awarded life membership of the branch. Snow was also an active member of the church community in Helidon, and enjoyed a close relationship with his family.
Snow Wrigglesworth was aged 78 when he died. He is survived by his wife Maureen, his children Michael, Brian, and Ann, eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Published in “The Chronicle”, Toowoomba, 5th August 2002.
Cyril a champion of the Carnival
Born: September 30, 1937
Died: September 18, 2002
Cyril Westall will be remembered by Toowoomba people as the man who worked tirelessly for the Carnival of Flowers, or as he called it, "the Greatest Show on Earth". Born in Cabramatta, Cyril Douglas was the eldest of 11 children to Douglas and Madelaine Westall. His father served in the army during World War II, and was sent to Japan with his family after the war as a member of the occupation forces, where Cyril visited Hiroshima shortly after the detonation of the atomic bomb. Cyril was apprenticed to the Army at the age of 14, where after five years' training he was attached to RMC Workshops Duntroon. He later met Jan, a member of the Royal Australian Navy, and the pair married in 1959, Cyril carving a career in the Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.
Three children were born to Cyril and Jan, but Cyril was frequently away from his family with work. His eventual re-assignment to Army Air Corps allowed the family to reunite in Ipswich. In 1968, Cyril was posted to England to undertake his aviation Artificers course, completing necessary matriculation requirements in the process. On his return to Australia, Cyril became involved in the establishment of the Army Aviation Workshops in Oakey, rendering him ineligible, to his great displeasure, for service in Vietnam. Cyril's final posting was to Oakey, in a role which included a year in North Queensland and New Guinea, where he contracted viral myocarditis requiring evacuation to Brisbane.
At this time Cyril and Jan purchased a home in Toowoomba and two years later he took his discharge from the Army with the rank of Warrant Officer First Class. During the last months of his service, Toowoomba was hit by a hail-storm, and Cyril took it upon himself to mobilise Army resources at Oakey and Brisbane, and set up a command centre to co-ordinate required emergency repairs. In recognition of these efforts, Cyril's name was put forward for an Order of Australia, a nomination not allowed due to Army policy at the time.
He did, however, receive a commendation for his actions by the Chief of the General Staff, the highest peace-time commendation given by the service. On discharge, Cyril and Jan purchased the Arcade Delicatessen, the first of many business ventures over the years, and he also conducted off-the-job training programs and courses for the TAFE College. Cyril became increasingly involved with community endeavours, deriving perhaps the greatest pleasure from his work with the Carnival of Flowers from 1976. He was Chief Marshall of 12 floral parades, for which he was awarded life membership, and later was president of the Carnival Board. The pinnacle of his career with the Carnival was standing on the official dais in front of City Hall to officiate as president on parade day of the 50th Carnival. It was a fitting reward for a man who, together with a small board and a band of dedicated volunteers had succeeded in breathing life back into an event which had faced a doubtful future. Cyril was passionate about Toowoomba and used all his skills and contacts to promote both the city and the Carnival. He was able to secure sponsorship for the street carnival and the revamped flower show, and in the process became one of the great characters of Toowoomba. Cyril's health began to decline seven years ago as the result of the myocarditis contracted in New Guinea earlier. Heart transplants were not possible, and Cyril preferred to be treated with drugs to enable available hearts to go to who he regarded as younger and more worthy recipients. Cyril Westall died in Toowoomba aged 64 in the week preceding the Carnival of Flowers. Although he had been on the waiting list for a heart transplant, his health failed before he could become a recipient. Cyril's last big battle was to ensure community awareness and support for the Australian organ donor program, even discussing how his own body could be used following his death, and his family intend to continue that fight. Cyril is survived by his wife Jan, three children Daniel, Sue and Alison, and four grandchildren Jack, Emma, Keira and Aislinn. Published in "The Chronicle", Toowoomba 24th October, 2002.
IRIS WOLSKI
Cooking talent took Iris to top of show judging
Born:June24, 1919
Died: November 25, 2002
Iris Wolski was not a local woman, but her talent as both a cook and show judge affected many people across South East Queensland and Sydney. Born in Nudgee, Iris Elizabeth Mary Wolski was the eldest of six children to Frederick and Hilda Stephan. The family attended St Paul's Lutheran Church in Nudgee where Iris was baptised, and she retained a strong faith throughout her life.
Iris attended Hendra State School to her Scholarship year, then helped her parents at home with the milking and care of the younger children. She discovered an affinity for cooking at an early age, and pursued this talent along with sewing at the Brisbane Domestic High School. When Iris was 19, she moved with her family to Goomboorian, east of Gympie, where she continued to cook, sew and care for her young cousins. It was at Goomboorian that Iris met Keith Wolski, and in April 1944 the pair married at the Lutheran Church in Gympie.
The first four years of Iris and Keith's married life was spent on a pineapple farm an Amamoor, where their three eldest children, Claude, Errol and Desmond were born, before the family moved to Eumundi then Tuchekoi in 1951. Three more children, Noela, Glenn and Clifford, completed their family.
Iris first began entering her cooking in the Gympie Show 40 years ago, and achieved much success with her jams, jellies, preserves and cake decorating. Other shows from Maleny to Gympie beckoned, and she even competed in the Royal Brisbane Exhibition. Eventually Iris was asked to be a member of the South-East Queensland Exhibit team, for the Sydney Royal Easter show, a position she held for 16 years. Her judging talents were held in high regard across many parts of regional Queensland, Toowoomba included. She also enjoyed gardening and involvement in a number of community organisations such as the Zion Church Women's Guild, the Gympie Show Society, Cake Decorating Association, and Forester's Lodge.
Iris Wolski died at the Cooloola Community Private Hospital aged 83. She is survived by her six children and their partners, 15 grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Published in "The Chronicle", Toowoomba February 18th, 2003.
Former diplomat loved music and the arts
Born: August 28, 1928
Died: February 16, 2003
David Wadham enjoyed portraying himself as curmudgeonly, although for those who knew him or could read the twinkle in his eye, the truth was quite different. Known locally for his contributions to The Chronicle and involvement with the Toowoomba Chamber Music Society, he was a respected member of the diplomatic corps during his working life.
Born in Rochester, Kent, David was one of three children, growing up with an older sister and younger brother. His father served in the Royal Navy as a Chief Petty Officer for the period encompassing the two World Wars, while his mother was responsible for fostering in David an early love of literature. David was aged 11 when World War 1I broke out. The area he grew up in was used by the Germans to dump their unused bombs, so he lived a daily existence for several years of imminent death.
Migrating to Australia 52 years ago, David took a job with the ABC, before moving to Toowoomba in 1951 to become an announcer on 4GR. This job lasted a year, before he moved back to Brisbane for a period which would prove to be most significant meeting his wife-to-be Lesley. Just six weeks later the pair married, a union which spanned 50 years until his death. While in Brisbane David worked for radio station 4KQ, until becoming the organising secretary for Queensland of the Good Neighbour Council of Australia -- an organisation involved in helping migrants settle into their new country. He then became Brisbane City Council's first public relations officer, a position which he held for several years.
David's career involved many adventures, including a stint with the Department of Immigration in Canberra, when he worked overseas in Athens for four years, his brief including Turkey, Egypt, Israel and Lebanon. After transferring to Foreign Affairs, David became Australia's first consul in Honolulu, followed by postings to Mexico, Jordan and Nauru. This distinguished career culminated in an appointment as Australian High Commissioner in Cyprus until his retirement in 1988. Despite such a globe-trotting lifestyle, David was a willing participant in helping to raise four children Jill, Priscilla, Victoria and Jason. Toowoomba became home for David and Lesley following his retirement, and they enjoyed their strong involvement in community life. David was devoted to music, and worked hard for the Chamber Music Society, and was also employed by The Chronicle as a music and drama critic and book reviewer. David was also a foundation member of the Southern Queensland Theology Library and maintained an active involvement with his church and parish. In his spare time, David enjoyed crosswords and literature, taking special pleasure with a group of friends who regularly held a kind of talkfest replete with humour and drinks once a week. David Wadham died in Toowoomba aged 74. He is survived by his wife Lesley, his four children and seven grandchildren.
Published in “The Chronicle”, Toowoomba, March 14th, 2003.
A visionary on Tmba's stage
Born: November 20, 1912
Died: May 12, 2003
Carmel Wing (nee Warner) was a luminary in the golden age of Toowoomba's cultural heritage -- a renowned ballerina whose talent extended over many years to teaching others the art of dance.
Born in Toowoomba, Carmel Warner was the eldest of seven children to Robert and Susan. She was raised in Toowoomba and attended the East State School. By the age of 18 years, Carmel had earned the title of Toowoomba's Own Dancer, having trained under prominent teacher Kathleen Hamilton and internationally respected performer Edith Barry. At one stage she spent every day for a full year in intensive training to learn stagecraft, covering all aspects of soloist dance and choreography. In 1930, Carmel was involved in two prestigious performances -- A Midsummer Night's Dream at Government House, and Nautical Fair at the Exhibition Grounds, before featuring as a soloist in The Aeroplane Ballet -- in a tribute to Charles Kingsford-Smith and Charles Ulm. The Aeroplane Ballet was staged at the Toowoomba City Hall, and the artists were invited to have a photograph taken with the aviators that their performance honoured. They posed in front of the Southern Cross at the Toowoomba Aerodrome. The 1920s and 1930s were a golden age for entertainment in Toowoomba, forming an important part of the local cultural heritage. Carmel was one of a number of performers in a variety of arts who helped to establish Toowoomba's reputation as a city with a rich kaleidoscope of artistic talent and appreciation of the traditions of music, dance and theatre. The pooling of such diverse local talents enabled such performances as the Philharmonic production of White Horse Inn to be staged, with Carmel responsible for the choreography.
Carmel opened a dancing academy at Mimosa in Thomas Street, which eventually relocated to the Brooklyn Dancing Studio in Wylie Street following her marriage to John Wing. The dancing school expanded to Gatton, Grantham, Pittsworth, Allora, Warwick, Oakey and Acland, with Carmel and John as ballroom dancers training debutantes for the ball seasons, Carmel's talent as a teacher also helped many of her students claim prizes at local eisteddfods.
In recognition of her Scottish lineage, Carmel also trained students in Scottish Highland dancing, doing a circuit of highland gatherings each year with her husband to Warwick, Stanthorpe, Tenterfield and Glenn Innes. She produced several national champions in this genre of dance. Carmel's contributions to the arts continued into the 1950s and 1960s with the advent of television, and she was proud to see some of her students appear on the early black-and-white screens. When retirement beckoned, Carmel and John moved to the Gold Coast, enjoying singing, dancing and the theatre until they were both into their 80s. Carmel celebrated her 90th birthday last year, before dying at the Gold Coast last month. Carmel Wing is survived by two daughters Carmel Joan and Janice, five grand-daughters, and two great- great granddaughters. Her family registered a star in the Southern Cross constellation as "Ballerina Carmel" in recognition of her longevity and achievements.
Published in “The Chronicle,” Toowoomba, June 14th, 2003.
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