We were at Ascension Day Mass last night and my phone started vibrating. At the end of Mass I checked and could see mum had rang. We raced home and we both knew what it was.
Uncle Wal, who wasn’t my Uncle at all, had passed away.
Both of my grandfathers died when I was very young, so in the end Uncle Wal has been the closest thing to a grandfather that I have had. He and Aunty Shirl lived across the road from us – they were neighbours that became family.
I had my first day at school photos taken in front of their beautiful hibiscus plant. He put together my first tricycle, painted blue and white with a shiny bell, streamers flying off the handlebars and a little seat for Matthew to sit in at the back. It was an awesome bike.
I played restaurants at their house all the time – I’d use one of Aunty Shirl’s writing pads to run into Uncle Wal in the lounge room and ask what he would like for dinner. I’d scribble it down and then run back to Aunty Shirl. One steak with lots of fried onions. Always.
I would also play hairdressers where I would pretend to cut Uncle Wal’s hair – he used something like Brylcreem in his hair and I think that fascinated me!
Uncle Wal had the best vegetable garden ever. It is because of him that I have an undying love for baby tomatoes. In summer all of our salad bowls would be over flowing with tomatoes. I would eat them until I had a tummy ache. The same would happen with passion fruit.
Uncle Wal also made the BEST beetroot ever. I spent so many Sunday afternoons eating my favourite thing on earth – cheese, beetroot and vegemite on Sao biscuits at their kitchen bench and subsequently spilling beetroot all over my top and Aunty Shirl having to use Sard wonder soap and lots of cold water to get it all out.
I learnt how to make scones by watching Aunty Shirl make his scones every Sunday.
He was one of the few people who knew where Amarillo, Texas was (and was very excited by it) when I was living there, through his years and years of reading western fiction novels that Aunty Shirl would pick up for him from the book exchange.
When I had my first car accident, it was he and dad who went back to the house and rebuilt the fence that I ran through.. he also was the one that chased up a replacement Gemini bumper bar and parts to get the car fixed.
Uncle Wal was also one of the few remaining 50+ year Collingwood members. He was member 1037 – as in yes, the 1,037th member of our great club. When I was working at the newsagency on Saturday mornings, he and I would meet up at Thornbury station for the 1.10 football train and we would meet mum, dad and Matthew who were already in ‘our carriage’ and all go to Victoria Park together. He would always stand in the Social Club and take dad in as a guest after the game. He was friends with many of the 1958 Premiership team… when football was very different to what it was today.
The last few years have been extremely difficult and mum has been an angel on earth looking after him and Aunty Shirl. I was lucky to have been able to spend some time with him when I was back in September and how great it was that he got to see one last Pies Premiership.
Here is Uncle Wal and I dancing very late at night at my Debutante Ball –
We spent so many Father’s Day meals eating peking duck… or garlic prawns… or cantonese steak and talking about Collingwood and reminiscing about all of your adventures when you were younger… nigh nigh Uncle Wal *blows a big kiss* and thank you for always making us always feel so special and loved.