9 April 1957 to 27 February 2024

By IAN (BULL) LAMBELL

‘Willy’s dad Jack was an east Gulargambone country local, born on Weenya and raised on Tonderburine. Willy’s mother Elva was a nurse, originally from Sydney. During and after the war, Jack gained many rural skills to be a skilled stockman, loving his horse and dogs and hating machinery. Jack and Elva lived at Warrien until Willy was 5 and his sister Pam was 2, when they bought a small block on the edge of Gular. 

In 1970, Jack started a shearing contract business. Willy finished school in 1975, returning to work with his dad and attending Gil Tech to gain his wool classing ticket.

From working with his dad to moving gradually to his own contracting business and then seeing Mitchell step into his shoes, Willy’ passion for and knowledge of the wool industry is without question. 

In a 2021 recorded interview, Willy recalled starting out, as a shed hand and then training for a year to be a classer. His first classing job was in 1977 in the shed of Philip and John Spora, and he remembered how John gave him advice on different ways to deal with fleeces. Willy also spoke, in that interview, of the changing nature of the wool game; the narrow and wide combs, as well as the changes in regulations and shearing society. He talked of the physical demands of the job and stated quite clearly that 20 years was long enough for being a shearer. Willy also spoke at length about how the training of wool classers has been condensed into weeks and the impact which this has had. After running his own successful business for many years, in 2015 he joined Quality Wool and was a proud ambassador for the company until illness prevented him from continuing.

Community

Willy balanced his day job with his love of the Gulargambone community. He was always willing to give a hand. In summary:

• Willy joined the Gulargambone Show Society in 1977.

• After his dad passed in 1980, Willy became the barrier man for the local jockey club.

• In 1987, Willy was one of the charter members of the Gulargambone Lions Club.

• In 2000, he became a land manager for the Showground Trust.

Willy was still in each of those organisations up until his passing and each of those groups will certainly feel the loss of his companionship and work ethic both this year and beyond.

Willy and Cathy married in 1984. Their four kids were keen on sports, music and adventures from a young age. Taxidriver/coach became another skill which Willy refined over many years and certainly the Coonamble Junior Soccer competition would be where you would find him each Saturday morning for many, many years.

Willy’s enthusiasm for coaching kids and helping them learn new skills also extended to the show and junior judging circuit. He was an overjudge for wool comps throughout the region and many a Trangie Junior Judging Day or industry education event would not have been possible without him. I know that the ag kids at Gilgandra High School have benefitted from his knowledge and communication abilities for many years.

Willy loved horses, but was sadly allergic, so he turned to two wheels instead of 4 hooves. Riding with his mates, either informally or with brilliantly organised charity rides, brought him great satisfaction and a profound sense of peace. His riding companions will miss his presence on the road, but I have been told that his memory will travel with them long into the future.

Much has been said over the past few months about the enormity of his love for his kids and grandkids. At the end of last year, with news of his failing health, his community stepped into action to fulfil a wish, the wish for time - time for him to be with his kids and grandkids.

Community efforts at the ‘Wish for Willy’ event enabled Mitchell, Sam, Chloe and Fletcher to see their dad spend some much-needed quality time at ease, in the company of loved ones.

When he then went into hospital in January, Willy was visited by many friends and was able to share some precious minutes with those who treasured his companionship.

News of Willy’s passing has been keenly felt. On Saturday 2 March a large contingent of Gulargambone locals, and friends from further afield, gathered at Willy’s beloved Showground Racecourse to reminisce about his time in the wool industry, the many committees he was on and his love of bikes and long rides in the country. 

Sam bravely spoke on behalf of her siblings and we were all so honoured to be able to demonstrate to the kids how important their dad was to us.

Willy Redington showed us all the good that a man can be. He worked hard, cherished his friends, was proud of his community and was a warrior for his family.

We will miss him. I will miss him. And every person here today is better for having known him.’