Historical information
Attached to his R.S.L. Membership Card along with the funeral notice, is a subsequent newspaper article written at the time of Walter West's death, which reads:
Death of Pioneer Settler/ A pioneer settler of/ the Red Cliffs irigation/ district and one of the/ last men to be evacuated/ from Gallipoli, died sud/denly on Saturday night/ aged 84./
In 1922 Mr. Watler Thomas/ West came to Red Cliffs/ where he established Block/ 86 in the irrigation district./
He lived there until his/ death on Saturday after playing bowls at the Red/ Cliffs rinks on Saturday/ afternoon./
Mr. West was born in Jeparit and served with the/ 24th Battalion in Egypt and/ Gallipoli./
He was awarded the Mili/tary Medal in France in/ 1917 and the Military Cross/ in 1918 when he captured/ single handed an enemy/ machine gun post./
He settled at Red Cliffs/ on his return when the/ area was placed under irri-/gation./
For 25 years he operated/ a unique partnership with/ the late Mr. Martin Nippe, his adjoining property/ owner. The pair pooled their/ horticultural equipment for/ joint use./
Mr. West joined Mildura/ Legacy in 1942 and was an/ active member until his/ death./
The funeral will be held at the United Church, Red/ Cliffs this morning at 10.30
Physical description
Type written obituary, presumably used when Walter West,MC,MM, died.
Inscriptions & markings
Walter West MC,MM/ Red Cliffs residents were saddened to learn of the sudden passing on Saturday last/ of Walter Thomas West MC,MM., a Pioneer/settler and well respected citizen./ "Wal" as he was affectionately known, was/ born at Dandenong some 84years ago./ He served with distinction in World War 1/ with 24th Battalion. He was an original ANZAC, and also saw service in/ Egypt and France. He received two awards for gallantry in the field - The Military/ Medal in France 1917 and the Military Cross in France/ in 1918 when he was responsible for the/ single handed capture of an enemy gun and crew./
He was an original soldier settler and developed/ his fruit block in Red Cliffs which is still/ operated by his son Tom. In 1922 he/ became an original Trustie of the Methodist/Church and was the last surviving original/ Trustie. He served on the Board of/ directors of the Red Cliffs Co-Operative Co.Ltd/ from 1954 to 1967, and was Chairman of Directors/ in 1963 and 1964. He showed a keen interest/ in youth activities and some excellent cricketers/ were produced as a result of his coaching of/ the Methodist Junior Cricket Team. He was an/ active and keen member of Mildura Legacy/ for 34 years, serving as President in 1947 and 1948./ He was secretary of the Cemetary Trust for many years, served on the Hospital Committee/ was a member of Memorial Lodge, a member of Red Cliffs Senior Citizens Club and a /member of Red Cliffs Sub-Branch R.S.L. since / it's inception./ He was a keen member of the Red Cliffs/ Bowling Club and took part in a club event on/ the day of his passing./
It was the pioneer settler and men with ability/ and initiative of Walter West that brought/ out the Community Spirit which resulted in/ the Red Cliffs we know today.