Lawler, William Wallace (1937-2016)
.jpg)
William Wallace Lawler, known as 'Wal' studied at Upwey High School, before his enrolment as a boarder at Geelong College from 6 February 1947 to December 1955. He was a member of the 1st Football XVIIIs of 1954 and 1955, the Athletics Teams of 1952, 1953, 1954 and Team Captain in 1955 and a member of the Relay Team of 1952. In 1955 he became a School Prefect, Captain of Boats and rowed with the 1st VIII to win the Head of the River by half a length from Xavier College in the first of Albert Bell’s ‘golden years’.
Jim Fidge, a close friend of 'Wal', who had known him since their kindergarten days with Ruby Fraser in 1949, described him as an outstanding sportsman at College - in football a high marker, steady defender and ruck mainstay - in athletics a versatile practitioner of new jumping and hurdling techniques, winner of the Nigel Boyes Trophy for Field Games.
In 1956 'Wal' studied Commerce at Ormond College and Melbourne University later joining the Ford Motor Company firstly in Melbourne then Adelaide. He later returned to Geelong and a Toyota Car Dealership. 'Wal' remained active in the community with the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce, as a Newtown City Councillor, and as a President of the Geelong Chamber of Commerce. He was always loyal and supportive of the College and a former President of the Albert Bell Club.
His brothers, Don OGC 1945, Tom OGC 1946, Tony OGC 1954 and Rob OGC 1959; children, Sam OGC 1986, Rebecca OGC 1988, and Edward OGC 2002, were all educated at Geelong College.
'Wal' died at Grace McKellar Palliative Care Centre on 13 December 2016.
William Wallace Lawler, known as 'Wal' studied at Upwey High School, before his enrolment as a boarder at Geelong College from 6 February 1947 to December 1955. He was a member of the 1st Football XVIIIs of 1954 and 1955, the Athletics Teams of 1952, 1953, 1954 and Team Captain in 1955 and a member of the Relay Team of 1952. In 1955 he became a School Prefect, Captain of Boats and rowed with the 1st VIII to win the Head of the River by half a length from Xavier College in the first of Albert Bell’s ‘golden years’.Jim Fidge, a close friend of 'Wal', who had known him since their kindergarten days with Ruby Fraser in 1949, described him as an outstanding sportsman at College - in football a high marker, steady defender and ruck mainstay - in athletics a versatile practitioner of new jumping and hurdling techniques, winner of the Nigel Boyes Trophy for Field Games.
In 1956 'Wal' studied Commerce at Ormond College and Melbourne University later joining the Ford Motor Company firstly in Melbourne then Adelaide. He later returned to Geelong and a Toyota Car Dealership. 'Wal' remained active in the community with the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce, as a Newtown City Councillor, and as a President of the Geelong Chamber of Commerce. He was always loyal and supportive of the College and a former President of the Albert Bell Club.
His brothers, Don OGC 1945, Tom OGC 1946, Tony OGC 1954 and Rob OGC 1959; children, Sam OGC 1986, Rebecca OGC 1988, and Edward OGC 2002, were all educated at Geelong College.
'Wal' died at Grace McKellar Palliative Care Centre on 13 December 2016.