1924 - 12/12/2008
R.I.P.
 
 

Obituary #1 (from The Double Bay Men’s Bowling Club)
WAL Granger, one of Double Bay’s most enthusiastic members and the man who owned the only set of lawn bowls in the world with the Donald
Duck motif, passed away on December 12, at the age of 84.

Members stood for a minute’s silence to honour Wal’s memory at the afternoon tea break on Wednesday, December 17, after a short eulogy, written by club patron Jack Jarman, was read by former club chairman, Leon Portrate.

Wal, who served on the Double Bay BC board of management from 1991 until the merger with Rose Bay in 2000, in commercial life was the Australian representative for the Walt Disney organisation. As such he was given permission to use the copyright image of Donald Duck on his bowls.

He joined Double Bay in 1982, but had been a member of the Bondi Bowling Club since the mid-1940s – a membership he retained until recently and of which he would jokingly suggest that this made him “one of the longest members of Bondi”.

At Double Bay, Wal won the 1985 Minor Singles and shared in pairs, triples and fours club titles over the years. One of Wal’s passions was representing the club in pennants. “Win, lose or draw,” Wal would say, “meeting new bowlers made the game that much more enjoyable”.

As Jack Jarman’s tribute said “Wal Granger was an excellent clubman, a gentle man, with whom it was a pleasure to spend an afternoon in his company on and off the green”.
 
 

Obituary #2 (from the SMH 19-02-2009)
IN 1942 Wal Granger had been employed by his father, Walter Granger, for barely 12 months when he felt he was needed in the Australian Imperial Force and enlisted. He transferred to the RAAF and trained as a sergeant observer. After further training in England he was commissioned as a navigator and flew a tour of 36 operations in 101 Squadron, probably the most secret RAF squadron in World War II.

His operations were code-named ABC, Cigar or C'est Guerre, and carried secret equipment for jamming German Luftwaffe controller transmissions. German-speaking special operators went along and dis-information was broadcast from specially equipped Lancasters, to which were attached two very large vertical antennae.

The operations were dangerous as the planes flew in the main bomber stream at all times and 101 Squadron had the highest casualty loss of any squadron. After his tour, Walter Granger was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross and returned to train future navigators.

Walter Arthur Granger, who has died in Sydney aged 84, was born in Casino, the first of four children to Walter Rogan Granger - a mail order toy retailer and associate of John Sands, the publishers and printers - and his wife, Lorna Madeline.

The Granger family moved to Sydney during the Depression years and Walter did well at Cranbrook, receiving a distinction in Business Principles.

While on a business trip to California, Walter senior had become acquainted with Walt and Roy Disney in 1937 in Burbank, near Hollywood, after successfully introducing the concept of "Mother's Day" in Australia.

Disney was badly cash-strapped after the launch of Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs. Walter senior convinced him to embark on an advertising campaign, which ensured the success of the venture. Disney never forgot and soon appointed him Australian representative for Disney Enterprises, later to become a magical world of television, toys, films and theme parks.

Flying Officer Wal Granger DFC returned safely from England in March 1946, but his father died suddenly in 1947. His standing had been so high as Disney's representative that Disney was encouraged to give the 23-year-old Wal a chance to take over the Australian business. He thus became the breadwinner for his mother and three younger siblings.

In April 1957 Wal married Joy Quinn, who became active in charities and a vice-president of the Black and White Committee.

Wal acquired a passion for farming, fishing and bowls and was a most convivial host. The Grangers built a house on the side of a cliff in Point Piper. They only only recently completed refurbishing Babworth House in Darling Point.

During Wal Granger's watch the Disney world flourished in Australia and grew beyond just Mickey Mouse, Snow White or the Big Bad Wolf. He loved good fellowship, a single malt scotch and a cigar.

Wal Granger is survived by Joy, their daughters Anna and Louise and their families.
 

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