WALTER Thomasson’s story is one of experience and insight, starting as a humble Charters Towers schoolboy to become one of the town’s most profitable employers.
The well-known entrepreneur has founded and managed many small businesses including a list of local supermarkets.
Born to Walter and Lavinia Thomasson on December 18, 1933, Wally was the eldest and only boy of four – Dawn, Pam and Olive.
In his early years Wally’s family settled in the gold mining town of Collinsville until his family were forced to move due to a lack of medical services in the region.
“We had a lot of fun growing up, going to dances, fancy dress balls, duck shooting and fishing,” he said.
“One of my first memories was falling off my trike and having a hat full of blood, the ambulance man had to shave my full head to find the tiny cut.”
At the age of two, Wally’s eldest sister Dawn became sick with double pneumonia passing away in December 1937.
“The tragedy really struck my parents as there were no qualified doctors at the Collinsville Hospital,” Wally said.
The family packed and returned to Charters Towers, later moving to the Rochford gold mining fields for work.
“I had a lot of fun fossicking for gold, fishing in the Burdekin River, chasing pigs, shooting topknots and squatter pigeons,” Wally said.
“Dad, mum and I lived in a tent for many years. You could hear the dingoes breathing outside, I was terrified.”
Wally completed his early years of schooling via correspondence before returning to Charters Towers to complete his high schooling at Richmond Hill State School.
“I played a fair bit of cricket and was selected in the Charters Towers school boy’s cricket team in 1949,” he said.
“Before the rain stopped play, I opened the bowling and off six over’s I had three maidens and took three wickets for eight runs.”
“I also competed in the interschool athletics were my record for the 100 yard hurdles still stands.”
Accepting his first job at the age of 17, Wally emerged as a credible accountant working across three firms in his early twenties; Jack Orme, Bartlams Limited and Coy Secretary.
Despite his success as an accountant Wally aspired to attend Duntroon, the Royal Military College in Canberra.
“Dad wouldn’t sign the papers for me go to Duntroon,” Wally said.
“But when I was old enough, in January 1952, I went into national service till April.”
“I was later promoted to Sergeant and transferred to the formation of the 31st brass band.”
“At the same time I was approached by the Charters Towers excelsior band to act as their drum major and did so for 25 years.”
In March 1954, Wally married local beauty Marlene McCallum having children Walter and Dianne.
“We were school friends and started holding hands at 14,” Wally said.
The young family brought their first house in Aland Street for just 2500 pounds.
But heartache fell on July 26, 1960 for the Thomasson family, when Marlene passed away from pneumonia caused by Asian flu.
“I was devastated and returned to live with my mother and father,” Wally said.
“I found it difficult as the children were three and two years of age.”
After the passing of his wife Wally kept busy in sport playing men’s basketball and cricket.
“I played in the first Charters Towers Gold Field Ashes and played until 1973,” he said.
“I was also playing golf, which I have played since the age of 12.”
“My father was an excellent golfer winning the Charters Towers A-grade championships 15 times.”
Wally returned to the Bartlams Limited, a grocery store Marlene worked at, as company secretary and accountant before going on to work at the local Holden dealership and later selling life insurance with City Mutual.
On May 25, 1962 Wally remarried treating wife Marie Glenwright to an island getaway honeymoon on South Mole Island.
The pair took a bold step moving to Greenvale to open and manage a Bartlams grocery store.
“I went to Greenvale first and started setting up shelving,” Wally said.
“Two months after I got up there Marie and the four children (Paul, Ian, Helen and Denise) came up with all of the groceries.”
“We were there for two years running the grocery store, butcher shop, newsagency, travel agency and bank.”
The family of eight shifted to Weipa in December 1975 where Wally’s eldest son Walter began his apprenticeship as an electrical technician in the army.
“Whilst in Weipa I managed the centre for Comalco as well as working for eight years as acting police-magistrate,” he said.
“I also joined the Lions Club and did two terms as president winning the world president’s award for the best increase in membership.”
During Wally’s time in Weipa, the Comalco Supermarket was overtaken by Woolworths where he maintained the assistant manager role.
The family left Weipa in 1983 to go into partnership with Ken and Christine Turner, who ran the grocery store at Rollingstone.
Together the two couples operated the Takeaway at Turners landing at Balgal Beach.
“We did this for 18 months then the store at Rollingstone sold,” Wally said.
“We moved to Townsville and applied for many jobs without success.”
With the economy levels struggling Wally and wife Marie accepted a position in Cairns.
“I managed the Manunda barn and Marie worked at Smithville,” he said.
“Life was wonderful with many bike rides up the Northern beaches.”
The couple left Cairns in October 1988, again transferring back to Wally’s hometown, Charters Towers.
“We started a small supermarket on Hackett Terrace and called it Tarcoola,” Wally said.
“We built a good business and took on Jennifer Oss as a partner.”
The pair later decided to buy another supermarket to avoid the costs of high rent.
“Both of our supermarkets did very well,” Wally said.
Today, the Thomasson couple are happily retired, selling their Tarcoola supermarket to Jennifer and the other to son Paul.
At the age of 80, Wally still enjoys a hit of golf and spending time with his grandchildren.