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Son of Harold HAMMOND and Hebe nee WOMERSLEY, 139 Banyan Street, Warrnambool, Vic.

In Profile...Wally Hammond – Church Warden Emeritus
On 30 May 2004, Wally Hammond was awarded the title of “Warden Emeritus”, the only such Warden in the Diocese. The title was bestowed in grateful appreciation for his extensive voluntary work and unselfish service for his Church at both Parish and Diocesan levels, and for his generous Christian contributions towards the work of the wider community.

On June 2011 Wally and his family were honoured by having the new building at Christ Church Warrnambool named “The Hammond Fellowship Centre” in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the Church and community since the Hammond's came to Warrnambool as pioneer settlers in 1844. Since then eight generations of the family have had connections with, or have been members of, Christ Church Warrnambool.
Wally’s grandparents had arrived at Port Phillip on 29th March 1841, bringing with them a Bible, a copy of Shakespeare (both leather bound) and a timber clock. Wally was thrilled to be able to officially open the Hammond Centre, and to speak with Archbishop Freier. He is delighted at how well designed and functional the new space is.
Wally was born at Warrnambool on 10th July 1921, and attended Warrnambool Primary School and Warrnambool High School.
Like so many of his generation, Wally has great memories of Sunday School outings. Every year a whole train was booked to take the Sunday School children to Port Fairy for a picnic. Wally left school at 14 to begin work, first for the railways, and then as a salesman. When War came he joined the army and served initially in Borneo with his brother Max. Following his return he remained in the army for a further six months, and then spent two years in the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital as he had contracted TB.

Prior to the war, his parish priest had been encouraging Wally to think about whether God was calling him to a priestly vocation, but after his illness, Wally thought that this was no longer possible. He also took the view that his illness prevented him from marrying, which was a great disappointment to him.
After the war, his father bought the general store at Panmure, and the family moved there. Wally helped in the shop until it was sold in 1966, and he then moved to Warrnambool. He worked as a part time salesman for Taylor’s Menswear store until 1973, when he decided to retire to care for his elderly mother and father, and to undertake community and charity work on a voluntary basis.
Wally assisted with the smooth running of St. Martin’s Church at Panmure from 1948 - 1966. He was a member of the Vestry, the Church representative on the Parish Central Council at Warrnambool, and the Parish Synod representative. He also willingly accepted responsibilities for the day to day maintenance of the Church property including sharing the task of mowing lawns, cleaning and preparing the Church for services.

From 1966, Wally has been a very active Parishioner at Christ Church, Warrnambool, where he has given dedicated service as a member of the Vestry, member of Parish Council, Rector’s Warden, People’s Warden, Parish Treasurer, and a Parish Nominator.

Wally has assisted with the retention and preservation of Church records, with the payment of accounts, banking, working bees, Parish fairs and other special functions.
In addition, he has helped in the transport of Parishioners to attend Church Services, Parish functions, and meetings. He has regularly visited sick and elderly Parishioners as well as assisting at the great majority of funerals conducted at Christ Church since 1966.

At the Diocesan level, Wally capably represented the Warrnambool Parish at Synod for more than 40 years. He was always prepared to forcefully and faithfully speak on behalf of the people of the Warrnambool Parish, as well as to put forward his own strong Christian viewpoints.

He comments that “The church is different now – people have much more to say now than when we were young. We did what we were told – what the priest said and what our parents said.” Throughout his lifetime, Wally has generously given of his time and talents to voluntarily assist numerous local organisations, including Toc H, the RSL, the Red Cross Society, and the CFA.

He has been a regular visitor to Lyndoch Home for the Aged, the former Brierly Hospital, Warrnambool Base Hospital and St John of God Healthcare. In recognition of his outstanding voluntary contributions to his community Wally has received two special awards. On 3rd November 1993, he was presented with a Citizenship Award, the highest honour the City can bestow upon any citizen, for his voluntary service within the Warrnambool community.

On 5th August 1998, he received the RSL “Anzac of the Year” Award from the then Governor of Victoria, Sir James Gobbo, in appreciation of his long and dedicated service to war veterans and war widows, and of his voluntary work within his local community.

Wally’s ever faithful commitment to his Church and to his Lord is central to all he has done. In a letter sent to his mother from a war zone overseas in April 1943, Wally wrote: “Today, Easter Sunday, my thoughts go back twelve months ago when I was home on final leave. This year, I received my Holy Communion before a very small altar which was in the form of a table, with a cross upon it. It was early in the morning, very quiet, in a big valley. The service was beautiful and makes one think for what it stands for.”
Wally’s outstanding life of service to God and to others, leaves people in no doubt what he stands for.