The Late Bill Wallace
EULOGY — WORDS OF REMEMBRANCE
EULOGY — WORDS OF REMEMBRANCE
Bill Wallace (also known as William James/ Billy/ Billy the Kid/ Kid/ Billtong and Blinky Bill) was born at the Atherton Hospital on 30 September 1957, the third child and second son of Billy and Lennie Wallace.
He lived at Harvest Home near Cooktown until, in 1959, the Wallace family moved to Daintree. Here, he was looked after by Cissy Cobb, now Cissy Ross-Kelly. He was delighted when he was able to meet with Cissy again, just before he passed away. Once again Bill was held in the arms of Cissy.
For the next few years, Bill lived between Daintree and Crocodile Station, where the Wallace family had just built a new home, near the northern end of Butcher Hill. During this time, he accompanied his mother Lennie, and his sister Laura and brother Lee, as they exhibited their Brahman and Braford cattle around the northern show circuit, taking in the Cairns, Malanda, Atherton and Mossman shows. It was at this time that Bill began his lifelong love of cattle, especially Brahmans. He loved having a good yarn about his cattle and he’s football especially about he’s team the Bronco’s even would make jokes when the Bronco’s would kick butt.
Bill went to school in Mossman, Herberton and Abergowrie. When he left school he worked on cattle stations, including with his father Billy at Crocodile, and later at Springmount Station, when the Wallace family moved there in 1970.
In 1974, at the age of 17, Bill moved to Barragunda Station near Hughenden with his family. When Billy and Lennie moved to Newburgh in 1983, Bill took over the running of Barragunda. By this time, he had two large herds of good quality red and white Brahman cattle, and two thousand sheep. He often shared the mustering of Barragunda and Walkcege (near Richmond) with his father Billy and his older brother John.
During this time, he married Debbie Anderson, with whom he had three wonderful children: Dewayne, Christine and Samantha. Although he and Debbie separated in 1992, they remained good friends until his passing in 2018.
In the 1990s, Bill moved from Barragunda to Townsville, and married Laureen Spencer. Although their marriage ended in the late 1990s, Bill remained in touch with Laureen and her daughters Tressina, Jo, Nuana and Bonnie, and their families.
Bill then left Townsville, and, for nearly a decade, he lived at Newburgh with his brother Lee and Lee’s partner Michelle. He helped Lee and Michelle with their cattle, and also managed his own herd of Brahmans. He really loved the natural beauty of Newburgh, and very much enjoyed living there along side his cattle.
The next big change in Bill’s life was his meeting with Debbie Coleman in 2007. The last ten and a half years of his life were undoubtably his happiest but was also challenging as they certainly didn’t always agree. He moved his beloved Brahmans over from Newburgh. Some of them went to his sister Nancy’s farm near Malanda, and some to his and Debbie’s home at Walkamin, where they worked. He also worked at the Mareeba Sale yards where he made many good friends.
He loved the fact that his daughter Christine and her children lived close by at Tolga, and always looked forward to visits to, and visits from, Dewayne and Samantha and their families. He was also very fond of Debbie’s daughters Nikki and Kelly and their husbands and was especially delighted when Debbie’s grandchildren were born.
One other great source of joy to Bill in these last years was his frequent visits to Turalba, owned by his sister Laura and her partner Bill Reddie. He loved to see Laura and Bill’s Brahmans, and to go fishing for barramundi in his beloved Laura River. We would never see Bill without a fishing rod in his hands. He was often accompanied on these trips by the keen fishermen amongst his grandchildren and his great-nieces and nephews.
On 23 August 2017, Bill learned that he had cancer of the oesophagus. He put up a good fight against it, and bought himself enough time to say goodbye to his family and friends. Bill was deeply touched when his Facebook friend Jody Boyd flew up from Victoria to meet Bill for the first time in person, and they were able to talk about their common love of Brahman cattle. Bill was very grateful to his son Dewayne for having initiated this visit.
At 10pm on Saturday 16 June 2018, Bill left us. He left us too soon. He left many unfinished desires and plans which he deserved to finish.
But we will always give thanks to him for being such an important part of our lives. We will miss his humble dignity and thoughtfulness for other people. And his great sense of humour. The Brahman cattle industry has lost a great ambassador. His legacy will live on through his children, his grandchildren, and his beautiful Brahman cattle, with the help of his partner, Debbie Coleman.
Bill had a life filled with many adventures and stories to tell, but the one thing we will miss dearly is his bright happy smile that touched many hearts and we all will miss you very much.
Love from your family and friends.
