Wally put his heart and soul into life

Businessman and tireless community worker Wally Cox was farewelled at Tobin Brothers Chapel, Berwick, last month

By Jim Mynard
BUSINESSMAN and community worker Wally Cox was farewelled at Tobin Brothers Chapel, Berwick,on Friday 2 June.
In his retirement, Wally was best known in the Berwick Narre Warren North areas as a committed community worker, but in Dandenong he was a longserving and respected businessman and Rotarian.
He was devoted to his community, its causes and projects and took it upon himself to see issues through to resolution.
It could be said that he took things to heart and put his heart and soul into whatever he did.
Eulogists sang his praises with feeling.
He was a founding member and board member of Retravision, an active Rotarian for 47 years, and Narre Warren North Community Association secretary for nearly 20 years.
Wally became ill with cancer 17 years ago and was given two years to live, but he battled on for 17 years, helped by the love and care of his partner, Pat, and his family.
He left ongoing projects in the Dandenong area through his work in Rotary.
Wally saw the need for new art stands for the Dandenong Festival of Music and Art for Youth and arranged to have them made.
The facility is now a continuing source of income for the club.
He and Pat were active in the Rotary Youth Exchange and formed a close bond with Toda Rotarians in Japan.
A letter of condolence was sent from the Toda club on his death.
A community association minute on 14 October 2002 said the association recognised the exceptional service given by Wally Cox during the past 16 years, including seven years as president.
He was nominated for recognition in the City of Casey Volunteer Award Program.
His partner, Pat, in a moving farewell said: “About two weeks before Wally died, he asked what I would say about him when he was gone.
“I said I’m not going to say anything and he said he wanted me to say something so this is us.
“That day was 17 years ago when our world fell apart because we found you had cancer and only two years to live.
“You had your operation and soon asked the doctors if we could take our caravan to Darwin.
“The joy you found in our travelling.
“We saw so many wonderful sights.
“The wonder of pulling into the side of a red dusty road as if the world belonged to us alone.
“It was like a beautiful story you read in a book.
“Wally became sick in Darwin and once again there was an operation from which he was not expected to recover, but he did after many weeks.
“He then drove us slowly home to Melbourne and I thought he was the bravest of men.
“It did not matter where we went in the outback we seemed to meet someone who knew Wally.
“‘Oh, you’re Wally Cox. You and your brother Bob sold me a television and it still works.’
“Or, ‘I know you, you had that Retravision store in Dandenong. My Dad bought our washing machine from you and your brother.’
“But the funniest part of all was the day we pulled off the road in a camping spot with not another soul in sight.
“We decided to have a camp shower in the open air so with me in my pants and bra and Wally in his jocks in rolls a camping truck.
“The van pulled up, I rushed to cover up and a man’s head appeared to say ‘I know you, you’re Wally Cox.’
“There are so many things I could say about you, Wally.
“Wally was the bravest man I knew and he had a wonderful mother, father, brother and sister.
“It was wonderful to see the love and pride he had for Gaynor and Francine and his grandchildren, Haley, Jacob, Shariff and Sahra.
“His courage and integrity in the face of all the odds and his love of people were an example to all who knew him.
“Our love for each other never dimmed and I thank him for every precious moment we shared.”