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Wally Cook
13 years ago

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Anne Kellick
13 years ago

As I left the church, with Gaudeamus Igitur playing, I came face to face with Tony Blake (past Principal of KCAE and VC of UTS) and other friends and said "What a fantasticl life - from a 16 student school in WA to a University - he has now graduated!". He, and they, smiled and agreed. I am still here, and Paddy and I have shared anecdotes of birds and barbeques this week in the corridors. What a great life we have had at Kuring-gai, to have known wonderful people, such as Wally.

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Anne Kellick
13 years ago

As I left the church, with Gaudeamus Igitur playing, I came face to face with Tony Blake (past Principal of KCAE and VC of UTS) and other friends and said "What a fantasticl life - from a 16 student school in WA to a University - he has now graduated!". He, and they, smiled and agreed. I am still here, and Paddy and I have shared anecdotes of birds and barbeques this week in the corridors. What a great life we have had at Kuring-gai, to have known wonderful people, such as Wally.

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Graham
13 years ago

Walley and I ran the View club of the Smith family every thursday or so we thought- this was of course not so.In reality we laughed and joked together and I listened to wally's stories of his life from leaving the family farm to work at broome pearl diving, building roads east of broome, driving cattle through the centre of Australia,shearing sheep all over Australia,meeting his love Mary Lou after a car accident and marrying her, becoming a wool classer, then working at the Kuring-gai campus and raising five children with Mary-Lou. (not necessary in that order) I consider myself very fortunate to have met such a unasuming,caring,knowledgeable and loveable man.Like everybody else I will miss him but I'll never forget him. Graham

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Gordon Winch
13 years ago

Wally Cook was the heart and soul of Kuring-gai Campus. His warm and gentle nature endeared him to everyone and the contribution he made to the organisation was second to none. I saw him almost every day, either to play tennis, practice golf on the oval or to share in some of the many functions he organised with his inimitable skill. I sat next to him at the Alumni luncheon at Pymble Golf Club on 27 July, little thinking that it would be the last time I would see him. At least I have that memory. Wally loved life and enjoyed every moment of it. It is our great loss that he is gone.

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Roy Clark
13 years ago

I have not been as shocked by the death of a Kuring-gai colleague as I have by the passing of Wally Cook. I guess I had always thought of Wally almost as a part of the fabric that was Kuring-gai. I guess I had come to expect that same smiling face and generous nature that personified Wally to be always present at Kuring-gai. If Wally did not start the staff barbeque system at Kuring-gai, then he was able to cement it into the fabric and make it part of the of what was the old Kuring-gai trradition. Certainly it was so at the old Kuring-gai until recent times. I shall miss Wally and I know many others will as well. Vale Wally Cook. Roy Clark

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Colin Yarham
13 years ago

A long-time friend. Always cheerful in outlook. Thorough in tasks undertaken. Nothing was a bother. His work for charity was endless. His care of environment and endangered bird species was legion.

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Alison Roper
13 years ago

So many...above all, the most loved member of staff at Kuring-gai C.A.E....loved by everyone who worked and studied there. No matter when or what I asked Wal for, to help with my lectures, he was there with such good grace and willingness and that big smile on his face. His tennis forehand slice was an art form. His weekend roast lunches for all and sundry were memorable. I remember one student brought along a 1965 red for the occasion!

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John Cornish
13 years ago

I was deeply saddened this morning to learn of the death of Wally. As a foundation member of the academic staff at Kuring-Gai College Of Advanced Education I warmly recall the tremendous contribution Wally gave to the soul of our new institution. He was the symbol of what many were trying to achieve in line with our proud heritage from the old Balmain Teachers’ College. Although not a member of the academic staff Wally devoted himself, as only Wally could do, to his job. He supported everybody, including both staff and students with his humble, caring enthusiasm. His dedication & willingness to oblige were simply infectious and his impact on others given these qualities contributed hugely to the spirit that was once part of the old Kuring-Gai CAE. In simple terms Wally was a person you not only warmed to but came to love, not just an integral part but as an essential part,of our academic environment. I cannot think of anybody who would surpass Wally in these respects. On the list of truly ‘Good Guys’ Wally would not only be on it but should be placed at the very top. John Cornish

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Gerry
13 years ago

Wally was one of the kindest persons I've ever known. One memory of him was his delight in playing tennis. He'd set up a net in the gym at Kuring-gai C.A.E. on Friday afternoons and have a game with some of the lecturers and students. If you wanted to earn a sneaky point you could hit a drop shot, because he had trouble coming forward! Vale Wally

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Peter Lister
13 years ago

I'm always reminded of Wally whenever I see and hear Plovers. There's a pair here at work with chicks right now; I recall Wally's backyard full of them. They call as frequently as Wally used to smile. Lovely bloke. Peter Lister, ex KCAE staff.

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