Wilbur left us peacefully surrounded by loved ones on 18th March 2024, aged 81.
Loving son to Cyril and Edna (both deceased),
brother to Andrew and Ruth, brother-in-law to Jan, uncle to Heath, Jared, Warren, Ashley, Ben, James and Matthew,
great uncle to Joel, Ty, Isaac, Campbell, Lachlan, Beatrix, Violet, Harper and Marlo.
Beautifully cared for by the staff at Castlemaine Hospital.
Family and friends are invited to attend Wilbur's funeral service, to be held in the Chapel of Mount Alexander Funerals,
12 Campbell Street, Castlemaine on Friday 22nd March at 11.00am.
Following this service the cortege will leave for the Chewton Cemetery.
If you wish to join us at the service via livestream
please return to the home page of this website and click on the livestream button.
The service will be live approximately 5 -10 minutes prior to commencing.
22nd March 2024 at 11:00 AM
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My sympathy to you Andrew and Ruth
on the loss of a gentle brother.
I regret being unable to join you on Friday.
Marilyn Venn (nee Campbell)
We were lucky enough that Wilbur chose to visit us frequently.
We were warmed by his gentle personality and all charmed by his quirky traits.
From swapping shiny coins to his regular espresso’s, our evenings were brightened by his visits.
We hope he felt some of the same joy that he brought to us.
Deepest sympathy to family and friends.
Wilbur’s absence has been felt and he will always hold a special place in our hearts.
Chris & the team at Bella Fresca
I am very saddened to hear the news of Wilbur’s passing.
Wilbur was an absolute pleasure to deal with. May he rest in peace.
Manuela Di Giorgio
Wilbur was a wonderful companion on many occasions as a volunteer at the Genealogical Society of Victoria.
I shall miss the follow-up cups of coffee at Dymocks!
A true gentleman.
Michael Rumpff, Councillor, GSV
On behalf of all of Wilbur’s friends and colleagues at the Genealogical Society of Victoria, we regret his passing and thank him for all his years of volunteering with us.
It was always a pleasure to work with him. He was a very brave and gentle soul.
Cherilyn Tillman, Councillor GSV
Thank you Wilbur for your friendship over the years. You helped me so many times when I had questions about my family’s migration.
The train trips were a lot of fun too. You will be missed by all of us. Rest in Peace, dear friend.
Charisse Kininmonth
Sad to hear of Wilbur’s passing. I have fond memories of our first posting as newly minted me meteorologists to Darwin in 1965.
Sadly for Wilbur Darwin had neither a pipe organ nor a steam train.
Michael Coughlan
As secretary of Frosterley club of Bureau of Meteorology retired staff, not only did I personally know and value my friendship with Wilbur, in circulating the sad news
I received numerous comments and expressions of sympathy from his former workmates.
John Halford
Relayed by John Halford, secretary of the Frosterley Club – ex Bureau of Meteorology
My wife Carolyn and I want to pass on our condolences to Wilbur’s extended family.
I was Wilbur’s colleague in Hobart and several years later in Melbourne. More recently we caught up at Frosterley lunches.
Wilbur was quiet but deep and was a valued colleague and friend as well as being a fine meteorologist.
Peter Noar (Retired Assistant Director, Services)
A colleague on the Genealogical Society of Victoria’s Saturday Library team for many years, thank you Wilbur for your support and friendship.
We will miss you.
Tina Hocking
I worked with Wilbur in the Hobart Office of the Bureau of Meteorology in 1974 and later in Melbourne. He taught me a lot about weather forecasting and how to analyse the weather situation. I appreciated his comprehensive analysis and thoughtful contributions to discussions on how the weather would evolve. He was quiet but had a shrewd and dry wit which shone through. He was a valued colleague.
Terry Hart
Wilbur was already an experienced “duty forecaster” several years my senior when we first met in the Hobart office of the Bureau over 50 years ago. We later crossed paths in the Bureau’s national Training Centre, where he lectured, and when he was in the National Meteorological Centre, where he was one of the select group of specialists who analysed and drew the weather maps used as guidance throughout the Bureau nationally and in the media. It was good to catch up with him at the retired officers Frosterley Club lunch last October, and to hear more in the the memorial service today about his rich life involving his many special interests. The loving tributes from his nephews were very touching. As well as the deep loss felt by his family, the meteorology community has lost a fine and respected colleague.
Kevin O’Loughlin (former Deputy Director, Bureau of Meteorology)
I’ve been saddened to hear of the death of Wilbur.
I worked with him, as a volunteer at GSV, Melbourne, the 4th Saturday each month, for 10 years.
He was so welcoming and helpful to me. We had many a long chat over the years.
Rest in Peace, Wilbur.
Joan Lemon
I knew Wilbur as a musician playing renaissance and baroque instruments decades ago. I read the notice of his death in the local paper just too late to go to the funeral.
It would have been good to catch up with him in his time here and reconnect in our love of that music, but we didn’t know of each other’s presence.
I watched the funeral service later — it’s wonderful to have that access.
Geoff Hannon, Castlemaine
I met up with Wilbur from time to time through his Bureau career and was always taken by his quiet professionalism, his gentle personal manner, his inquiring mind and his endearing sense of humour. And I was a huge admirer of his reputation and skill as a synoptic analyst. He was a great credit to the Bureau and especially to the noble practice of synoptic meteorology.
John Zillman