General News
3 August, 2025
'Lovely lady' Alys Sturrock remembered
Alys Martha Sturrock (née Bunge) came into the world prematurely at Rokeby House (a private hospital in Scott Street, Warracknabeal) on December 16, 1927.
Her parents, Rubina (Ruby) and Hermann Bunge, were farmers at Walden, a few kilometres from Sheep Hills.
Being born premature, Alys was classed as a "shoebox baby" – she was so small, she could have fitted into a shoebox.
Not only did she survive against all odds, she lived a full life for the next 97 and a half years.
Alys was baptised in Warracknabeal on December 18 1927 by Pastor B Schwarz.
She was confirmed 16 years later, on December 19 1943, at the Zion Lutheran Church, Bangerang, by Pastor J Darsow.
Alys was the eldest of four children.
She had three brothers: Ronald Ernest (who was born in 1928 and predeceased Alys in 2006), John Alfred (1930-2023) and five years later, in 1935, Oswald Rex (known as Rex), who is still living in Nhill.
Alys attended the Walden private school for a short while until it closed.
She then, along with her three brothers, attended Sheep Hills Primary School approximately five kilometres from Walden farm.
Alys and the boys mostly drove themselves to school in a buggy towed by their pony.
One enduring memory Alys had of her childhood with her brothers was the story of Ron and John heading off to school in Sheep Hills in the buggy.
On heading around a corner, the buggy tipped over.
John picked himself up and walked home while Ron followed the pony and buggy to school.
Alys' comment on being asked if she was with them was "No, if I'd been there they wouldn't have been going so fast".
Alys attended Warracknabeal High School until the end of form two (the equivalent of Year 8 today).
To catch the bus each day, she had to walk to and from the Warrack-Minyip road – a trip of approximately two kilometres.
Disappointingly for her, after form two she had to leave school to help at home as her mother was battling health problems.
Alys always regretted not having been able to finish school and go into the paid workforce.
Her brothers also left school early to help on the farm.
Alys met her husband to be, Wal Sturrock (from Willenabrina), at a dance at Anzac Park, Warracknabeal.
They met under the stairs of the grandstand next to the football oval where regular dance nights were held.
A romance ensued for the next two years and they were married in the Lutheran Church, Warracknabeal, on June 24 1950 by Pastor B Schwarz.
Wal and Alys honeymooned at Katoomba in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales.
Upon arriving home they moved out to the Sturrock farm at Willenabrina and lived with Wal's parents for a few months until the older couple retired to Geelong.
Alys settled into farm life and quite quickly entered community service and raising their family of five children: Daryl, Janet, Graeme, Neil and Peter.
One of the first clubs she joined as a young bride was CWA when it was founded at Willenabrina in 1951.
(Alys went on to be the last living foundation member of the branch after 74 continual years of service.)
During those early years Alys held the position of treasurer for six years and was a committee member, the international officer, a floral hostess and for many years the magazine secretary.
CWA magazines were sent in bulk to the magazine secretary and Alys faithfully made sure they were delivered to each member monthly.
Alys had a strong Christian faith all her life, and most weeks she and Wal (and later their children as well) travelled the 22 miles (35 kilometres) from their farm to Warracknabeal for church services.
Alys also attended church guild very regularly, holding various behind the scenes positions, including as treasurer for many years.
Wal and Alys lived, farmed and raised their children on the Willenabrina farm for 39 years.
They then built their retirement home in The Avenue, Warracknabeal, and moved in, leaving Graeme to take over full responsibility for farming at Willenabrina.
While living in Warracknabeal Alys continued with her CWA and church guild commitments and busied herself joining various other committees (as did Wal) with the aim of contributing in her small way to the betterment of her community.
These included Vision Australia, RSL Ladies and the A&P society, helping in the "ladies' shed" every show day where she helped to prepare the display cabinets and dismantle them at the end.
Both Alys and Wal joined Probus and Alys joined Ladies Probus.
Committees aside, Alys was always cooking.
If there was a funeral, she cooked (and attended).
When a new baby was born, Alys cooked (and often gave a gift).
If there was a special birthday, there was always a card and also often a gift.
She visited the hospital and Yarriambiack Lodge residents, as well as various people around town quite regularly with guild members.
While Alys didn't play many sports, she loved tennis.
She played in her formative years for the Walden tennis team, encouraged by her mother who also played tennis.
After their wedding she and Wal played tennis for Daldee Tennis Club (north of Willenabrina).
They later joined Willenabrina Tennis Club, where they played for many years.
Their love of tennis was passed down to three of their children, who also started their tennis careers playing tennis for Willenabrina.
The other two played cricket instead.
When Alys and Wal became empty-nesters they spent time travelling, including one big trip to England, Scotland and Europe.
They also embarked on a combination camping/motelling trip around Australia.
Although camping wasn't their favourite thing to do, they loved it anyway.
Over the years they went west to visit Wal's sister and family at Narembeen and cousin at Three Springs, both in the West Australian wheatbelt, many times.
They also flew to Western Samoa to visit Daryl while he was living and working there for Australian Volunteers Abroad.
When Daryl moved back to Australia and settled in Townsville, Alys and Wal "killed two birds with one stone" and drove north in winter both to spend time with him and to enjoy the warm weather up there, getting away from cold Victoria.
Always on the trip north and driving home again they would call in on Neil and his family in Dubbo.
Their children recall always being amazed how many cousins Alys and Wal found around Australia to drop in on for a visit while passing through.
They also went on many bus trips with Probus, especially Alys alone after Wal passed away in 2006.
Alys loved visits from her family, especially from her 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Alys kept the biscuit barrel always full with her specialty yo-yos, forcer biscuits and famous mint slice.
In her later years her health declined and she moved into Yarriambiack Lodge Aged Care in Warracknabeal.
Although she had resisted the move for a few years, once she actually moved in she found she loved it there.
It was always nice and warm, she had quite a few friends already there to spend time with and the staff were amazingly kind to her.
After Alys passed away peacefully and with a smile on her face on June 5, the staff without fail said she had been a pleasure to care for and "such a lovely lady".
That sentiment pretty much summed up Alys' life: always caring for others without a thought for herself, a very giving, gentle and kind lady who lived by her Christian faith.
Alys' great loves in life were her God and Saviour, her family and her friends.