Roy Edward Willis
24 April 1922 - 17 July 2015
Roy was born at the Rushton Private Hospital in Cecil Street, Toowoomba. He was the third son of Will and Hilary. Roy was the middle child between his older brothers, Ralph and Howard and younger sisters, Nancy and Ailsa.
Roy lived his early years at the Willis family property "Erinvale" at Meringandan (Queensland) where they farmed dairy and beef cattle. In 1927 Will and Hilary decided to relocate their family to a pineapple farm at Woombye on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, which they called "Ingleside".
In 1935, when Roy was only 13 years old and the Great Depression was at its peak, it was necessary for his parents to send him to work on a sheep station at Thallon (near St George in Western Queensland) to earn extra income for the family. In January 1937 Roy came back to Woombye to help on the farm. He went to Nambour Rural School three days a week to undertake a manual arts course. The knowledge he acquired greatly helped him for the rest of his life as a farmer.
On 30 June 1944, Roy married Mary Wakefield. In June the following year Roy and Mary were blessed by the arrival of their first son, Alan. Roy and Alan were to remain inseparable until Alan passed away in early 2015. After Alan's birth, Roy and Mary were blessed by the arrival of their eldest daughter. In 1950, Roy and Mary and their two children moved to a sugar cane farm at Mooball on the northern New South Wales Tweed Coast, which was to be their home for the rest of their lives. Roy's brother, Howard, accompanied them to work and live on the farm for the first six years. Also in 1950, Roy and Mary's second son was born. Over the ensuing years the family was blessed with the arrival of other sons and daughters.
The family's cane farm at Mooball was originally 100 acres. It was also very remote and the poor condition of the roads made it very difficult to reach by car. As well, the first few years at Mooball were very difficult financially for the family. Roy took on extra work labouring on the old Pacific Highway between Stokers Siding and Murwillumbah to be able to gain additional income. On top of that he worked the family farm with two horses and a plough on the weekends. He also cut cane for a few seasons. Eventually, all the effort paid off and cane farming became quite profitable. Roy was able to buy more land and in time the size of the family farm increased to over 300 acres.
Roy was born at the Rushton Private Hospital in Cecil Street, Toowoomba. He was the third son of Will and Hilary. Roy was the middle child between his older brothers, Ralph and Howard and younger sisters, Nancy and Ailsa.
Roy lived his early years at the Willis family property "Erinvale" at Meringandan (Queensland) where they farmed dairy and beef cattle. In 1927 Will and Hilary decided to relocate their family to a pineapple farm at Woombye on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, which they called "Ingleside".
In 1935, when Roy was only 13 years old and the Great Depression was at its peak, it was necessary for his parents to send him to work on a sheep station at Thallon (near St George in Western Queensland) to earn extra income for the family. In January 1937 Roy came back to Woombye to help on the farm. He went to Nambour Rural School three days a week to undertake a manual arts course. The knowledge he acquired greatly helped him for the rest of his life as a farmer.
On 30 June 1944, Roy married Mary Wakefield. In June the following year Roy and Mary were blessed by the arrival of their first son, Alan. Roy and Alan were to remain inseparable until Alan passed away in early 2015. After Alan's birth, Roy and Mary were blessed by the arrival of their eldest daughter. In 1950, Roy and Mary and their two children moved to a sugar cane farm at Mooball on the northern New South Wales Tweed Coast, which was to be their home for the rest of their lives. Roy's brother, Howard, accompanied them to work and live on the farm for the first six years. Also in 1950, Roy and Mary's second son was born. Over the ensuing years the family was blessed with the arrival of other sons and daughters.
The family's cane farm at Mooball was originally 100 acres. It was also very remote and the poor condition of the roads made it very difficult to reach by car. As well, the first few years at Mooball were very difficult financially for the family. Roy took on extra work labouring on the old Pacific Highway between Stokers Siding and Murwillumbah to be able to gain additional income. On top of that he worked the family farm with two horses and a plough on the weekends. He also cut cane for a few seasons. Eventually, all the effort paid off and cane farming became quite profitable. Roy was able to buy more land and in time the size of the family farm increased to over 300 acres.
In 1960, Roy and Mary purchased a lantana covered block of land at Marine Parade, Wategos Beach, Byron Bay. Subsequently, the block was cleared and in 1967, they built a holiday house on it which had panoramic views out to Julian Rocks and in the far distance, to Wollumbin (Mt Warning). Being situated just across the road from the beach meant that the house was within walking distance of the Byron Bay township,
swimming, fishing and the well-known Byron Bay Lighthouse. |
Due to Roy and Mary's generosity, the Wategos Beach holiday house was shared with and enjoyed by the family, other relatives and friends for many years until it was eventually sold in 2002.
Roy loved sport and played tennis as a young man growing up. When the family moved to Mooball he played Hockey for the local team. He always enjoyed supporting the local Hockey team and often bought raffle tickets to support them. Roy also loved fishing, which was another reason why he wanted to buy the block of land at Wategos Beach (being situated close to his favourite fishing spot, "the Chair"). He joined the local fishing club and loved the many excursions he went on. Roy attended the Straddie classic each year. He also travelled to Fraser Island for two weeks each year for a number of years with his brother Howard and a few other friends to do some beach fishing. Roy held the Australian record for many years for catching the biggest whiting. On visits to his youngest daughter and her husband and their family in New Zealand, Roy and his son-in-law would always try to spend some time fishing together. Whenever Howard and his family holidayed at the Wategos Beach house, Roy and Alan frequently visited and stayed with them. Roy and Howard would enjoy many hours together fishing the waters of Wategos Beach, Little Wategos Beach, Main Beach, Clarkes Beach, and Tallow Beach (including "Cosy Corner"). After the Wategos Beach holiday house was sold, Roy would often say that what he missed the most was being able to go fishing in the early hours of the morning with the beach all to himself.
Roy loved growing things, ever since he had been a young boy. At Mooball, he was constantly growing cucumbers, pumpkin and watermelon, and always had a variety of vegetables growing in his garden at the side of the family house and then, in later years, in a small garden out at the front. There were always lots of produce to give away or to make into pickles. At times Roy loaded up his vehicle with vegetables from the farm and took them down to Mooball to give away to all those he knew. He also frequently shared his vegetables with family members and friends.
Roy's generosity towards others was well known. His care, patience, devotion and love for his family and friends was evident in so many practical ways. He loved his family and all their children dearly. Roy was blessed to live a very good, long life, surrounded by the love and esteem of all who knew him.
Roy loved sport and played tennis as a young man growing up. When the family moved to Mooball he played Hockey for the local team. He always enjoyed supporting the local Hockey team and often bought raffle tickets to support them. Roy also loved fishing, which was another reason why he wanted to buy the block of land at Wategos Beach (being situated close to his favourite fishing spot, "the Chair"). He joined the local fishing club and loved the many excursions he went on. Roy attended the Straddie classic each year. He also travelled to Fraser Island for two weeks each year for a number of years with his brother Howard and a few other friends to do some beach fishing. Roy held the Australian record for many years for catching the biggest whiting. On visits to his youngest daughter and her husband and their family in New Zealand, Roy and his son-in-law would always try to spend some time fishing together. Whenever Howard and his family holidayed at the Wategos Beach house, Roy and Alan frequently visited and stayed with them. Roy and Howard would enjoy many hours together fishing the waters of Wategos Beach, Little Wategos Beach, Main Beach, Clarkes Beach, and Tallow Beach (including "Cosy Corner"). After the Wategos Beach holiday house was sold, Roy would often say that what he missed the most was being able to go fishing in the early hours of the morning with the beach all to himself.
Roy loved growing things, ever since he had been a young boy. At Mooball, he was constantly growing cucumbers, pumpkin and watermelon, and always had a variety of vegetables growing in his garden at the side of the family house and then, in later years, in a small garden out at the front. There were always lots of produce to give away or to make into pickles. At times Roy loaded up his vehicle with vegetables from the farm and took them down to Mooball to give away to all those he knew. He also frequently shared his vegetables with family members and friends.
Roy's generosity towards others was well known. His care, patience, devotion and love for his family and friends was evident in so many practical ways. He loved his family and all their children dearly. Roy was blessed to live a very good, long life, surrounded by the love and esteem of all who knew him.
Mary Womesly Wakefield
22 January 1926 - 21 February 2018
Born at Toowoomba to parents John and Elsie Wakefield, Mary was the eldest of eight children. They lived near Toowoomba before moving to Chinchilla where Mary did her schooling.
Mary was baptised as a Jehovah's Witness in 1942 and retained an ongoing lifelong commitment to her faith. Mary was well known for the generosity and hospitality she showed to others and for her practical and straightforward approach to life. As the matriarch of her family Mary is held in the highest regard, and with the greatest affection, by all who knew and loved her.
Born at Toowoomba to parents John and Elsie Wakefield, Mary was the eldest of eight children. They lived near Toowoomba before moving to Chinchilla where Mary did her schooling.
Mary was baptised as a Jehovah's Witness in 1942 and retained an ongoing lifelong commitment to her faith. Mary was well known for the generosity and hospitality she showed to others and for her practical and straightforward approach to life. As the matriarch of her family Mary is held in the highest regard, and with the greatest affection, by all who knew and loved her.
Roy and Mary
Roy and Mary were married at Red Hill in Brisbane on 30 June 1944. They lived on their cane farm at Mooball, New South Wales, after having moved there from Woombye, Queensland, in 1950. They had eight children. The eldest two children were born in Nambour while the others were born in Murwillumbah. Roy and Mary had 21 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren.
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