Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Vivian George Weller, known as Viv, was born 14 Jun 1922 at Gympie, the 4th 0f 5 children of Ted & Meg Weller. Viv attended Wooroolin State School, pupil No 638. The Weller family lived in a big Qlder home on the Main St of Wooroolin next to the Memorial Hall and the Bakery Shop was just down the street past Daltons Store. Viv’s father also owned 2 portions, 144v & 146v. The second one he purchased from Dad’s Aunt Laura after the death of her husband, James Jones, the Butcher in 1921.
On page 27 of the Wooroolin School Centenary booklet June Elwood (nee Woltmann) wrote: “When I started school my cousin Viv Weller bought me to school. (Their Mums were sisters) He would come over on his bike, which had no brakes, and double me up the hill and then home. We would run home through the paddock (opposite the school) for lunch. We did not know what walking was. We had a track worn through the paddock until we got a bike each, then we would ride home. If the bike had a puncture then we didn’t ride. We had to fix our own punctures”. I also love the story about “Cock-fighting” and that Viv Weller shared the honour with Colin MacDonald of being the best. The sport was called cockfighting which was somewhat of a misnomer. A big boy would be the “horse” and a smaller boy the rider – ‘Piggy Back’ The contest was the rider’s endeavour to pull his opponent from his horse. Viv’s horse was Ron Jessen.
Viv, just 1 month short of 20 years of age, enlisted in the Australian Army on 4 May 1942 at Kingaroy giving his father as Next of Kin. His elder brother Edwin, known as Ted, was taken as POW in Singapore 3 months prior. Viv gave his occupation as Junior Shop Assistant. I guess he was working at his Dads Bakery!
Viv’s army file is probably the most thought-provoking of all the 70 people on the Wooroolin WW11 honour Board. He trained throughout Qld before embarking to New Guinea in Jul 1943. Just 3 months prior to that he had been charged with an AWOL offence and fined £5 plus forfeit of 15days pay! Viv was sent back to Cairns in Jan 1944 then back to Madang in Aug 1944 before going back to Townsville in Oct 1944. Looks like whilst on leave he contacted Malaria and was in Gympie Hospital when charged with yet another AWOL offence which was suspended. After spending more time in Brisbane Military Hospital to recover Viv was sent to Bougainville arriving there in Apr 1945
Viv was given 21 months detention in during his time in Bougainville for having disobeyed a direct order from a superior. The sentence was suspended in Nov 1945. Would be great to find out why he did this. His sons remember him telling stories about his hijinks with Corporal Grigg and Private Gilchrist. It seems Corporal Griggs was many times demoted back to Private for some misdemeanour but the story goes he was promoted every time they went overseas/into battle!
Whilst Viv was in New Guinea the Atomic Bombs were dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (Aug 1945). In Apr 1946 Viv was shipped to Fauro Island, then Rabaul and finally Sydney and was discharged on 19 Jun 1946 at Redbank.
Viv returned home and worked on the family farm, taking it over after the death of his father in 1952. He marched in the first Anzac Day parade at Wooroolin in 1948 and the photo shows him standing in front of my Dad.
Viv married Jean Towne in 1951 at Kingaroy and my Dad, Laurie Jones was part of the wedding party (Best Man I believe). The wedding party included Viv’s siblings Ted and Coral, Jeans siblings Harley and Merle and friend Thelma O’Neill. Dad & Viv were best friends and I am sure there would be some good tales to tell but unfortunately if we learnt any I don’t remember them. Viv and Jean lived in the original Weller home in the Main St of Wooroolin. They eventually had it pulled down/removed and built a new home sometime in the late 1950’s where their youngest son still lives today.
Viv died in 1978 aged 56 years and is buried at Taabinga Cemetery. His wile jean died just 2 months ago and is also buried at Taabinga Cemetery.
Lest We Forget