Vic and Valmai Walker have been honoured for their contribution to the Bayles community at the township’s centenary celebrations.
Their four children unveiled a memorial plaque “for their selfless dedication to voluntary service in the Bayles Community 1961-2021“.
Vic and Valmai moved permanently to Bayles in 1961 as newlyweds when Vic took over the service station after completing his apprenticeship there.
They were huge community supporters- as a mechanic Vic was instrumental in setting the first fire truck and devised the system that was eventually superseded by CFA-owned trucks.
He kept the brigade vehicles in good order.
Valmai was brigade treasurer for many years and was in the group of women who set up the brigade catering team to get refreshments to fire fighters during turn-outs.
Vic was one of the group of locals who decided in 1970 to transform the dilapidated station site into the Bayles Fauna Park.
Valmai joined groups as her children grew. She was amongst the parents pushing for a preschool in Bayles and when it was set up she took her turn on the committee.
She also joined sports groups and always helped with the paperwork. She was also involved in the Lang Lang Show as a steward from the age of 16 and they recently have honoured her memory.
They were both involved in Scouts for many many years due to their children’s involvement.
Vic passed away many years ago, but Valmai continued her community service, passing away in November last year.
By then she was living in Kooweerup but was still on the Bayles Hall Committee, was vice president of Lang Lang Garden Club and heavily involved in the Kooweerup Historical Society.
Valmai knew that Jane Coupe was starting to think about a Bayles Centenary and would have been very handy on the committee, Jane said.
