John Worrall 1925 - 2016
Ivan John “Whoopy” WorrallMay 13, 1934 – January 25, 2016(This is the Obituary published in the Camperdown Chronicle Weds 10 Feb 2016.)
Born at Skipton hospital to John (Jack) and Maude Worrall in 1934, Ivan John Worrall was better known as John or ‘Whoopy’.
Beginning life at Mt Elephant Station, he earned his life-long moniker after jumping from haystack to haystack singing out “whoopee” as he went.
Mr Worrall became a resident of Derrinallum at an early age, when his family moved into town after his father enlisted for service at the start of World War II.
Soon after, the family home was destroyed in the 1944 bushfires, during which Mr Worrall was separated from his family and later found swaddled in a blanket at the front door of the Lismore pub. He never found out who rescued him.
The fire saw the family, including his sister Irene (dec) and twin sister Joan, spend the next five years living in a tent at a makeshift camp before Mr Worrall’s mother bought a home on Ligar Street in Derrinallum.
Not much for school, Mr Worrall took a position as a cabinet maker in Melbourne, before returning to work at Titanga, the Corlette and Hosking farms and on the railways.
Eventually in 1957, Mr Worrall signed up with Alec Cornish in Lismore where he worked for the next 12 years learning his trade as a boilermaker.
In 1972, Mr Worrall and his wife Barb purchased the business outright and serviced the Lismore and district’s mechanical needs for the next 43 years.
Married to Barb Glover in 1965, the couple went on to have four daughters and 12 grandchildren and shared 51 years together.
Known across the district for his happy-go lucky nature, ‘Whoopy’ was always armed with a smile and a joke and was quick to pitch in and help when needed.
An integral part of the Lismore and Derrinallum communities, Mr Worrall was involved in an endless number of organisations ranging from the local football and cricket clubs to the Lismore hospital, ambulance service, water trust and cemetery trust.
He also maintained a committed association with the Masonic Lodge for 54 years, where he forged and enjoyed many strong friendships.
Such was the affection and esteem Whoopy was held in throughout the local community, his funeral, held on Monday, was said to be the biggest the district had seen for decades, with many returning to the district to pay their respects.
Born at Skipton hospital to John (Jack) and Maude Worrall in 1934, Ivan John Worrall was better known as John or ‘Whoopy’.
Beginning life at Mt Elephant Station, he earned his life-long moniker after jumping from haystack to haystack singing out “whoopee” as he went.
Mr Worrall became a resident of Derrinallum at an early age, when his family moved into town after his father enlisted for service at the start of World War II.
Soon after, the family home was destroyed in the 1944 bushfires, during which Mr Worrall was separated from his family and later found swaddled in a blanket at the front door of the Lismore pub. He never found out who rescued him.
The fire saw the family, including his sister Irene (dec) and twin sister Joan, spend the next five years living in a tent at a makeshift camp before Mr Worrall’s mother bought a home on Ligar Street in Derrinallum.
Not much for school, Mr Worrall took a position as a cabinet maker in Melbourne, before returning to work at Titanga, the Corlette and Hosking farms and on the railways.
Eventually in 1957, Mr Worrall signed up with Alec Cornish in Lismore where he worked for the next 12 years learning his trade as a boilermaker.
In 1972, Mr Worrall and his wife Barb purchased the business outright and serviced the Lismore and district’s mechanical needs for the next 43 years.
Married to Barb Glover in 1965, the couple went on to have four daughters and 12 grandchildren and shared 51 years together.
Known across the district for his happy-go lucky nature, ‘Whoopy’ was always armed with a smile and a joke and was quick to pitch in and help when needed.
An integral part of the Lismore and Derrinallum communities, Mr Worrall was involved in an endless number of organisations ranging from the local football and cricket clubs to the Lismore hospital, ambulance service, water trust and cemetery trust.
He also maintained a committed association with the Masonic Lodge for 54 years, where he forged and enjoyed many strong friendships.
Such was the affection and esteem Whoopy was held in throughout the local community, his funeral, held on Monday, was said to be the biggest the district had seen for decades, with many returning to the district to pay their respects.
