By Tyler Wright
Community members gathered at the Monbulk RSL sub-branch on Friday 19 May to remember long-standing president William (Bill) Ford after his sudden passing early this month.
Bill, aged 72, died unexpectedly overnight on Saturday 6 May, leaving behind his three sons Jeffrey, Michael and Steven, as well as a lasting legacy of service to the town he loved.
At his father’s funeral, Jeffrey said the family would hold a barbeque following Anzac Day services on 25 April each year where his dad would remark how impressed he was at the turn out.
“Today, I think he’d be there, he’d say ‘good turnout, son. Good turnout,’ Jeffrey said.
“I was having a chat with Michael and Steven during the week, and we decided that it was lucky dad did pass away after Anzac Day,” Jeffrey said.
“He took pride in selling the badges and being part of the RSL. I think he also enjoyed on Sundays having a chat…that was more of the fun.”
Monbulk RSL sub-branch secretary Craig Vandenberg said Mr Ford enlisted in the Australian Regular Army on 18 June 1969, in the first recruit training battalion.
“On the 26 August 1969 he was forwarded to the School of Army Health. 16 February 1970, he was forwarded to the headquarters area,” Craig said.
“From there, Bill moved on to the Second Military Hospital as an assistant medical instructor. He stayed there until he was discharged on 17th June 1975, where he held the rank of corporal.
“He was awarded the Australian Service Medal”
In 1972, while serving in New South Wales at the Repatriation hospital, Bill was married to married wife Sue at the Monbulk RSL sub-branch, before the couple began their married life in New South Wales.
The pair then moved back to Monbulk, raising their three sons on Moores Road.
“After leaving the service, Bill continued his career in the medical field, working as a theatre nurse until about 1980,” Craig said.
“Bill then took position with a company called Sansons, which later became Phoenixm and was working in sales with medical.
“Before long, he moved on to Wiss Medical Equipment where he stayed until his retirement.”
Craig said during the 1980s and ’90s, Bill was involved in Apex Medical.
“Jeff recalled yesterday spending time with his dad on weekends… helping with chores, cleaning up and fixing up around the place,” he said,
“There was also a period when Bill was running blue light discos for teenagers.”
“Over time Bill grew into his community and became active in the RSL helping with renovations here and taking on the role of president in 2014.”
It was also at this time that Bill’s wife, Sue, became ill, and the decision came for Bill to retire from full time work.
“When Sue passed in 2017 it took a big toll on Bill. But [with] the support of his boys and the RSL community, Bill was able to move forward,” Craig said.
“Bill immersed himself into the RSL and most of you recall his dedication to selling Anzac tokens outside Woolworths and Aldi, also going all the way out to Seville to service the Yarra Valley.
“Bill was here to assist community following the 2021 storms; helping people, keeping people safe, warm and fed with other members from Monbulk Emergency Management Group. Bill also was a regular at the open door pantry in Monbulk and he helped locals to understand and how to manage their dietary requirements and other health conditions.”
Both Jeffrey and Michael said their father was like an ‘old-school YouTube,’ with knowledge readily on hand to share.
“I was always amazed by how strong my dad was and would happily claim he was the strongest dad in the world to any kid who dared to say their dad was,” Michael said.
“From watching him hoist engines out of cars to building the house, sending him home covered in soot, from fighting the Ash Wednesday bushfires or saving the life of a wonderful neighbour,or simply pulling bikes out of a raging river after certain children had tried to unsuccessfully cross to the river.”
“We certainly didn’t expect to be standing here sharing about his life so soon.”
Family, serving men and women were invited to demonstrate their love and devotion for Bill by laying a poppy at the service.
