The small town who will remember Ron Walker for a different reason

The isolated town of Walwa will always remember prominent Victorian and entrepreneurial businessman Ron Walker for a different reason than most.

He will be remembered for famously bringing the Grand Prix to Melbourne and the Commonwealth Games, his work as lord mayor, and for his unwavering love and loyalty to Melbourne.

As tributes continue to flow from high profile Australians, there’s one particularly moving tribute from the small Murray town that’s worth hearing.

Fifteen years ago, the Walkers gifted the Walwa Bush Nursing Centre $150,000 when it was operating as a hospital and was just days away from closing.

CEO Sandy Grieve told Neil just two weeks ago Mr Walker had phoned to check on a patient who had sent him a letter of thanks, after he was gored by a bull and treated at the facility.

“He wrote to Ron to say thank you very much, to say the money that you put in all those years ago ultimately led to my life being saved today,”she said.

“Ron, being the ever generous individual he was, gave us a call in response to that letter, to catch up and to see if there was anymore assistance he could provide us.”

She said the donation, and his lobbying of the government and key stakeholders, saved the facility and ultimately lives in the district.

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