General News
4 April, 2025
Not your average Wally — Good things come in small parcels
A hard fought game of “big zing” — a marbles game, was being played out on the sandy banks of the Loddon after school. A determined Wally won the day.
I played for keeps he told me.
Wally Forbes certainly did as his achievements tell.
At a highly competitive level Wally performed at golf, tennis and bowls.
Starting in 1935 and finishing in 1955, Wally won the Maryborough Golf Club championship 17 times.
As the pundits say, he staked his claim as the club’s greatest player.
Rarely straying off the line on the golf course, and with nerves of steel, he faced the most difficult shots head on.
Wally was a member of the golf club for over 60 years.
He reached an outstanding handicap playing off two.
He represented Ballarat Pennant in Country Week for 10 years. Three of those years were as captain.
Although golf was his favourite, he also excelled at tennis and lawn bowls.
When the Maryborough Lawn Tennis tournament was played on mowed courts at Princes Park, Wally was playing singles against a Davis Cup squad member.
With no lone judges, several contentious calls went against Wally which he accepted without question.
On match point for Wally he called “out” thus he won the match.
His opponent protested vehemently, but to no avail.
As a tennis player, despite his diminutive build, his fantastic eye and dogged determination made him a difficult opponent to overcome.
He was a winner most of the time.
Lawn bowls was another sport that Wally excelled at.
He played at the Highland Society, Golf Club, Creswick and Talbot clubs.
He won a tournament at his first year of play. He won club championships at all clubs, including a division one pennant.
During his time he was club president of the Highland Society and was an active part of the Highland Gathering.
After his days at Eddington Rural School No 793 he attended the highly prestigious Scotch College.
He was an excellent student and competitive sportsman.
As was the custom, he returned home to be on the farm. On moving into Maryborough he and his beloved wife, Nancy (a lady from Avoca), raised two sons — Greg and Ian.
Both sons, like their father, attended Scotch College. They were also good students and active sportsmen in a variety of sports.
Wally formed a business partnership with Lindsay Willersdorf at the Flour Mill.
At its peak it was one of the city’s largest employers.
With the rationalisation of the milling industry it was bought by Tip Top and closed down.
He and Nancy continued to play active roles in the community.
Nancy in her own right was a stylish and imposing figure who participated in a variety of community-centred organisations.
After Wally’s passing when in his 90s, Nancy lived on to over 100.
Interestingly Judith Bull, a relative of Wally, also was inducted into the Goldfields Sports Association Hall of Fame.