What’s In a Name delves into the fascinating stories and personalities behind some of the city’s best-known street and location names. This week the Journal looks at W J Turner Reserve in Noble Park North.
City of Greater Dandenong Living Treasure Wal Turner was born in Oakleigh in 1919, the first of eight children of Alf and Daisy Turner.
His father was a cattle dealer and drover and in 1927 the family moved to a dairy farm on Halton Road, Dandenong.
The Greater Dandenong area was central to Wal’s life from that point until his death in 2010.
Wal left school at age 14 to work in market gardening, initially for Jack Baines and then for Mr and Mrs Les Lawrence.
He met his wife, Joyce, in 1939 and at the end of the war they bought 17 acres of market garden on the corner of Halton and Elonera roads in Noble Park North.
Wal earned a reputation for producing fine vegetables, particularly celery, and until he sold his farm in 1967 regularly made early morning trips into the Victoria Market.
His work with the Dandenong Show committee stemmed from this time and remained a keen interest in his later years.
Wal worked for McEwans as a foreman in their Clayton warehouse for 16 years, until he retired in 1984.
In 1973, the desire to improve the inadequate educational facilities in the Dandenong North area motivated Wal to stand for council.
He anticipated staying for just one three-year term but instead continued to serve until 1994, including two terms as mayor.
He was a dedicated councillor and became a member of countless, varied committees and organisations.
He saw this as the duty and role of a good local government representative and took enormous pleasure from being able to serve the community and help to develop its facilities.
Wal especially remembered his work with the Dandenong/Springvale Water Board, Dandenong TAFE, the Pillars of Freedom project, Dandenong and District Benevolent Society, Heritage Hill, Dandenong North Senior Citizens’ Club and the Jan Wilson Community Centre.
– Compiled with assistance from the City of Greater Dandenong.
