It is with great sadness that we say good-bye to Wal.
He was a valued and respected member of the Healesville Tennis Club for 33 years, having moved with his wife, Teresa, to Healesville in 1988.
Wal passed away peacefully at the Holmwood Aged Care facility on Friday 23rdt April, after a long and frustrating battle with cancer.
When the Blackmars migrated from England, he continued his trade as a toolmaker at the Vulcan factory in Bayswater. After moving to Healesville, both he and Teresa soon joined us at the Queens Park courts and played in a number of premiership teams in both the Upper Yarra and District Tennis Association and the more recently formed Eastern Region Tennis competition.
In recent years, Wal’s health restricted him to social hits, where he could still hold his own.
Wal was a good all-round sportsperson and was also a handy golfer. However, his real love was tennis. He was an excellent teammate whose laid-back, honest approach meant that he never argued with the opposition and was the perfect gentleman, both on and off the court.
We will all greatly miss Wal’s friendly and encouraging nature and extend our heartfelt condolences and support to Teresa.
