By Kath Gannaway
The Upper Yarra has lost two prominent and respected business and community members this week.
The sad news of well-known Warburton resident Carmel Fox’s unexpected death while on holidays overseas came as a shock to her community, not the least in Powelltown where Carmel and husband Harold have operated the Powelltown Sawmill for many years.
Carmel was a teacher at Upper Yarra Secondary College and treasurer for the Warburton Presbyterian Church.
A service for Carmel will be held on Friday 2 June, at Heritage Funerals in Woori Yallock, at 1pm, followed by a burial service at Wesburn Cemetery and a catch up at the Presbyterian Church hall in Warburton.
Ted Gramlich, also well-known throughout the district, passed away on Thursday 25 May, aged 72. Ted was an ex-captain of Hoddles Creek CFA, and involved with many community groups including Beenak Cemetery Trust, Hoddles Creek Primary School and the Upper Yarra Draught Horse Festival. He was a respected businessman as proprietor for many years of District Hire and Sales in Woori Yallock.
A service will be held for Ted at Heritage Funerals in Woori Yallock at 11am on Monday, 5 June, with a graveside service to follow at Beenak Cemetery. The Hoddles Creek CFA will also be open for a catch up.
In Healesville too there is sad news of the passing of John ‘Buck’ Hamlyn, one of the town’s enduring characters, at the age of 81.
Buck was an identity of Healesville for many years, raising his family in the town, working in the timber industry and in his later years earning a reputation as a man ahead of his time for his dedication to recycling.
His nephew Gary Hamlyn said his memories of his uncle are of his time working at Campbell’s sawmill in Chum Creek, of a big man who enjoyed close ties with many of the older families of the town.
Buck spent his last few years in aged-care down the line.
The funeral service will be held at the Le Pine Funerals chapel in Healesville, at 10am on Wednesday 7 June, followed by a graveside service at Healesville Cemetery.
The Mail expresses our condolences to the Gramlich, Fox and Hamlyn families.
