Vale Malcolm Wallis
It is with great sorrow that I advise Kyogle Council today lost a valued employee and member of our local community.
Council’s Tourism and Economic Development Officer, Malcolm Wallis, passed away this morning from a suspected heart attack.
Malcolm was a caring and dedicated colleague, a great friend to many, and a true gentleman.
A passionate advocate for Kyogle Council, Kyogle and the villages, Malcolm was a driving force behind the establishment of a permanent Visitor Information Centre (VIC) in Kyogle.
He originally started work at Council in 1983, working at the front counter as a customer service officer until 1990.
Malcolm worked as a volunteer for a number of years at the new VIC after it opened in 2002, returning to work full-time for Council in 2006 as a tourism officer.
A few years later his role was diversified to become both Tourism and Economic Development Officer.
Malcolm genuinely cared about the Kyogle local government area and the people who called it home. He had a passion for the area’s natural beauty, its history and culture, and always maintained a positive outlook for the future prospects of our community.
He was a strong advocate for the local agricultural industry, local businesses, community and sporting groups, and the wide range of events and activities held across the local government area and the broader Northern Rivers region.
He was also a passionate fan of his beloved Rabbitohs, the Australian Wallabies, and the group of young golf cadets that he coached and mentored.
Malcolm was an avid fisherman, and was instrumental in putting forward the business case that lead to a successful grant funding for the initial sealing of the road to Toonumbar Dam, which was completed in 2017.
He was constantly searching for ideas and initiatives to grow and promote the area, and while some may have seemed to come from left field, his enthusiasm never wavered and was quite often contagious. He even managed to get the Deputy Premier of NSW to enter the egg tossing competition at this year’s Fairymount Festival!
It was the mark of the man, that no matter the situation, Malcolm could always find a smile and maintain a positive outlook.
His catch phrase was “living the dream”, a statement that reflected his attitude towards his work and his life in general, and one I have no doubt he genuinely believed to be true.
No words can completely describe Malcolm or how much his presence will be missed by his colleagues and the community.
Council offers its deepest condolences to Malcolm’s wife Allison, their two children, and the extended family. – General Manager Graham Kennett
