Lorne Victoria Australia

Lorne people with family names starting with W.

• Waite, Toni and John (2018)
• Walding, Ian and Christine (2017)
• Walding, Selina (2018)
• Walker, Katie (2016)
• Walsh, Phil (2016)
• Wheal Family
• Winch, Sam (2018)

Waite, Toni and John (2018)

Over 50 years ago Toni was camping at Anglesea with a group of girls at the same time as John and his mates were renting a house. The girls were invited to the house for a dinner party and that’s where Toni met John. They married, set up in Melbourne and had two children.

Toni originally from Queensland, finished her education in Melbourne. Although she harboured thoughts of being a nurse she instead studied occupational therapy, practising for three years at Kew Cottages and 20 years at Bayley House.  She also taught piano there and every year prepared her students for a concert where they acted and sang.

John was born and educated in Melbourne. Completing his law degree he began his career with Arthur Robinson and Co., remaining with them through their restructure and stayed until he retired.

Fifteen years ago following a brief spell doing some consultancy work he became a full time retiree.

The Waites are long time Lorne holiday makers.  John first came with family friends, aged 11, and stayed at The Lorne Hotel many times. Before Toni and John bought their own house 30 years ago, they rented houses, apartments and motel units.  When they are not away, “We or the family come down most weekends and regularly for holidays. We think of ourselves as temporary locals”.

A passion shared in winter is barramundi fishing in the Kimberley and Arnhem Land. They also have a place at 1770 (Qld) where they spent 15 weeks last year. They are travellers and every two years go to Europe. Toni takes Italian lessons weekly, for Italy is of special interest. “We took our ‘maiden’ voyage on a cruise ship in 2107. We probably won’t do another but at least we know what people are talking about now”.

The Waites very keen to support the community, eat regularly at local restaurants and are members of the Aquatic Club.

They are avid readers, enjoy gardening and time with their grandchildren. John still plays golf twice a week in Melbourne and surfs in Lorne. Toni loves the ballet.

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Walding, Ian and Christine (2017)

Christine’s parents with three 3 small daughters moved to Lorne in 1954. Christine attended the local kindergarten, the Lorne School to year 10 then High School in Geelong.

She worked part time at Mrs Carmichael’s Drapery Store and Ozone Milk Bar before a permanent job at the Lorne Fishermen’s Co-op. She recorded the fishermen’s daily catch and managed wages. After two years Christine moved to Melbourne and worked with Norma Tullo as a fabric buyer.  She returned to Lorne three years later and worked in the Arab and also at the original Rip Curl in Torquay. It was during this time she met up with Ian whom she had known since 1965.

Ian visited Lorne in 1962 as a “chaperone” for his sister and her fiancé staying at Kia-Ora Guest House.  “I saw them twice. Once when we arrived and again when we left. I went surfing.”

Born and educated in Edithvale, Ian worked as an electrician for W. Tolson & Co. His obsession for surfing, meant weekends were spent wherever there were waves”. In the early 60’s, my mates and I surfed and camped up and down the East Coast of Australia from Noosa in QLD to Victor Harbour in South Australia and every surfing spot in between “.

In 1968 Ian’s ‘board bumps’ resulted in him failing the medical for National Service. So he left for the UK where, for two and a half years lived and surfed in England, Morocco and California. To supplement his travels, he stuck labels on baked bean cans, was a chef and made surf boards in California.

It was when he returned that he met up again with Christine. They married in 1973 and moved to New Zealand for 12 months. Ian worked as an electrician. Back in Australia Ian worked stints in Weipa and Gladstone before moving from Melbourne to Aireys Inlet to set up his own Electrical Contracting business, Anglesea & Aireys Inlet Electrics.

“Pre Ash Wednesday, Aireys Inlet was a small community, so you became a member of just about every committee. I was Captain of the Aireys Inlet CFA for many years which involved rebuilding work after Ash Wednesday. I was also a trainer for the Lorne Football Club”.

In 1985 the family moved to Lorne and with Christine’s brother and his wife bought the original Fish and Chip shop and ran it for four years. They built a family home for their 3 children Selena, Shannon & Stephanie. When it came to downsizing they bought a smaller house and a motor home and travelled the east coast of Australia for 12 months.

In retirement, Ian still surfs, volunteers at the Info Centre and Historical Society, and is an avid photographer. Christine cooks the Seniors Wednesday lunches and loves doing anything associated with sewing, knitting, crocheting, needlework and craft.

“Oh, by the way” says Ian “can you let everyone know that I am NOT the “Waldo from Lorne” who writes jokes in the Herald Sun…my jokes are much funnier.”

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Walding, Salina (2018)

Selena is famous for cooking Thursday night dinners at The Lorne Football Club during the season.  Ask anyone about her barbecued ribs!  Her love of cooking led her to try her own catering business for a time but her current position as Events Coordinator at The Cumberland suits her better.

When Selena finished school in Lorne she decided to follow her dream and began study to become a teacher. She soon discovered that it wasn’t quite what she wanted and the excitement of travelling the world began to replace any thoughts of a teaching career. For the next five years that’s exactly what she did.  Her first stop was Hamilton Island where she worked for 12 months. Selena has lived in Canada, UK and Malaysia and has travelled extensively elsewhere. “But I’m sorry I didn’t get to Spain and Portugal.“

Her next move was to Ocean Grove, where she married and had her three boys. She landed the ideal job with Flight Centre and worked for them for ten years. How better to fulfil an ongoing passion for travel.  “The highlight of my travelling for business was a trip to South America and in particular, Machu Pichu.”

Eight years ago she moved back to Lorne. Her boys are third generation Austin/Waldings to attend the Lorne School. You don’t have to look far to find her on committees. She has been president of Lorne Kindergarten, in the Parent Club, on Lorne School Council, Master Plan committee and uniform committee to name a few. “I have a strong connection to the school here and am willing to offer support in any way I can.”

Family and friends are an important part of Selena’s busy life. During the football season you will see her running the canteen at weekends.

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Walker, Katie (2016)

Katie Walker, 2016

The mystery is now over about what’s happening in the new building beside The Pavilion on the foreshore –  HAH (Health and Hire) Lornebeach has opened and is operating. An initiative by Katie Walker and on his days off husband, Leon, with a mission is to sell and serve food they make themselves from local produce.  This includes their own organic chocolate made from scratch using cocao nibs and natural flavours.  The “Hire” part of the business offers bikes and surf boards for rent.

In 2001 Katie left the UK armed with a qualification in Events and Tourism. She travelled around Europe for seven years working in management positions, particularly at ski resorts, until in 2007 she decided to come to Australia.

Ten years ago she arrived in Lorne, set up camp at Allenvale and found employment at The Arab Café. Her parents had always had restaurants in which she can’t remember ever not helping. She was well equipped.

Her future in Lorne was determined one Easter Sunday when a friend took her to The Aquatic Club. Not only did she meet lots of new people but also Leon Walker, whom she would later marry.  Katie started her own Lorne events company, mainly managing weddings at local venues. In her spare time she played in a local basketball team.

Katie and Leon married and had two children. For some time they had been investigating business possibilities that they could do together so when the opportunity arose to create Health and Hire, they seized it. “ The business will keep evolving as we see what works.“  Right now they are opening every Wednesday night for an eat in or take away curry night. The last two have been fully booked.

During winter they are open seven days for breakfast and lunch, and serve it on tables Leon has made from wood originally out of Eddie Babbington’s old family mill. In summer they will open for dinner, no doubt with assistance from her parents who are coming from Spain to enjoy their grandchildren.

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Walsh, Phil (2016)

Phil, as current “controller” of the SES Lorne Unit and an active member of CFA since 2007, not to mention member and past treasurer of the Surf Club and member of the Aquatic Club …. and more, he is to say the least, fully occupied.  His background as a practising accountant has made him a particularly highly valued and sought after Lorne resident.

“I didn’t really want to be an accountant to be honest.  When I finished my matriculation in Melbourne, in November 1974, I had to get a job.  I took myself off to the big green Australian Government office in Spring Street, sat their exam and within a month was offered the choice of a position at the Tax Office or the Post Office.”  Phil chose the Tax Office.  It soon became obvious that to advance his career he needed a degree and proceeded to study accounting part time.  Thirteen years later he resigned and opened his own Melbourne Tax Agency in 1989.

In 1977, with the combined effort of a builder and his father, a retirement home in Lorne for his parents was completed.  Phil’s family has been coming to Lorne for holidays ever since. However, with the internet allowing his business to become mobile, he moved to live here permanently in 2006.

Phil’s hopes for his sons to take over his practice are not looking bright since both, as keen members of the Surf Club, became interested in first aid.  One is already a paramedic and the other studying to be.

Currently, Phil is enjoying a new dimension of community involvement – the Festival of Performing Arts.  He loves dealing with the people connected to the genre, the management aspect and all the new skills required to help produce the September event.

How true is the adage … if you want something done, ask a busy person?

CW

Winch, Sam (2018)

Oh how glad we all were to have petrol flowing again in Lorne. And aren’t we lucky to have Sam as manager of the smart revitalised Shell Petrol Station. Although she commutes daily from Inverleigh, she loves the daily drive through the Otways to Lorne. “It’s such a lovely place, it’s not hard to come to work”. Sam is enjoying getting to know the locals and appreciates their kind comments about the difference she has made. She also enjoys chatting to the tourists passing through.

Born, bred and educated in Geelong and somewhat vague about a career path leaving school, Sam started work with Rip Curl in Torquay. She moved to Queensland to another surf gear factory where she worked for three years. On her return she got a job with a textile company in Geelong working in various departments for the next five years while she and her husband built a house in Inverleigh. A family crisis saw her quit that job and become a full time mum for the next 12 months.

Sam took on school crossing lady duties and began a Saturday evening shift with Riordans Fuels. After two years her competence was rewarded by an appointment as 2 IC, followed a year later by a full time job in Geelong. When that location was sold she began working split shifts between Inverleigh and Lara until 18 months ago when she became inaugural Manager of Lorne Shell for Riordans Fuels.

“My boss warned me the Christmas period was a crazy time so that’s what I was expecting. Although I would have to say it wasn’t quite that bad, it was nuts. I went home every night exhausted’.

Sam has two teenage children, a dog, 3 cats and two rabbits. Her interest in the garden and walking is on hold at the moment but she does enjoy time with her children, movies and TV.

CW

Sources

• Lorne Historical Society Collections
• Surf Coast Times, Committee for Lorne Page, Community Profile by Cynthia Wynhoven.