Nancy Wright’s capacity to connect with people in her working life, church, artist group, golf and community activities was inspirational to many people.
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Nancy, 90, was farewelled at a packed St Cuthbert’s Anglican Church Yarrawonga on Friday, May 2, following her sudden passing on April 24.
A Service of Thanksgiving was conducted by St Cuthbert’s Reverend Roberta Hamilton.
“Nancy Wright’s complete faith in God enabled her to love people with such passion,” Rev. Hamilton said.
“She was a friend and companion to many people in the district as evidenced by so many people here today.”
Nancy was Yarrawonga Shire’s Home Care Supervisor for 23 years.
Her close friend of more than 40 years, Heather Kelly, played golf with Nancy the day before the passing.
“Brought together by a common interest in community development, we found ourselves on several committees together, but what really drew me to her, was the way she would go out of her way for those in need,” Heather said.
“When I was working with disengaged youth, there was a young single mother struggling to raise her kids.
“With no mother of her own, she’d had no one to show her how to parent and run a house.
“When Nancy discovered how grim the situation was, she took kind action.
“She bent the rules and arranged a Home Help worker to come in at nights and show the young mother how to cook; how to bathe the little ones; how to clean.
“She was prepared to push the service delivery boundaries to make a difference, and what a difference Nancy made.
“That young mother blossomed because someone cared.”
Nancy possessed an astute business brain.
“At one stage, Nancy was the chairperson, my boss, of the Neighbourhood House,” Heather said.
“During this time, she oversaw a period of significant growth as the organisation began the transition from a small community centre to the diverse agency it is now.”
Nancy’s son Andrew said he learnt three lessons among many from his mum: stay engaged, social and connected, be organised, and always be learning.
Nancy’s learning included HSC English in 1983 at age 48 with a brilliant pass mark of 93 per cent and graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Welfare from Charles Sturt University in 1989.
For many years, Nancy was on the management committee at the CYSS (Community Youth Support Scheme), a member of the Yarrawonga Neighbourhood House, a member of Yarra/Mul Artists Association and a founding member of the Business and Professional Women’s Group.
Nancy was born in Brighton in 1935, one of six children, with five sisters and a brother. Her father was a railway station master and the family moved many times, including Coleraine, Castlemaine, Hopetoun, Mathoura and Orbost, which involved considerable boarding for Nancy.
She met her future husband Rex in Yarrawonga, married in 1958 in the Anglican Church and their first home was Belmore Street’s the old bank house, now the Left Bank Restaurant.
Rex (Tiger) Wright was a wool classer who was also heavily involved in the community and a former mayor of Moira Shire.
“In 1978, the Home Care role became full-time, so Mum resigned from the Yarrawonga Newsagency,” Andrew said.
“It was a fantastic service to the community and I remember telling my classmates that she was the home help supervisor.”
Nancy’s daughter Sally described her mum as ‘the queen, and beautiful to the core’.
“She was ‘cool before it was cool to be cool’,” Sally said.
“She wore kaftans, corkies, cut-off jeans, did yoga, smoked herbal cigarettes (the rose ones from the health shop), drank brandy, and was as smart as a whip, wise as an owl and had the most wicked sense of humour.
“She wore kaftans, corkies, cut-off jeans, did yoga, smoked herbal cigarettes (the rose ones from the health shop), drank brandy, and was as smart as a whip, wise as an owl and had the most wicked sense of humour.
“Mum has totally blown my mind with her organisation, her love notes for us and directions. She will keep us entertained for many years.”
Son, Pilbar and his wife Gisella Villavicencio also spoke of Nancy in glowing terms, Gisella from a daughter-in-law’s perspective.
Nancy’s grandson Lucas specifically mentioned his Nan’s love of golf and painting.
“Both of these passions brought her so much physical, mental and social fulfilment and the way she engaged with them is something I’ll always find inspiring,” Andrew said.
“The thing I hope I can replicate, even half as well as she did, is how much love, care and time she had for everyone.”
Like so many, eldest son Rod was shocked to hear from Sally that his mum had collapsed and was taken to Wangaratta Hospital where scans revealed she had suffered a severe stroke.
“She lived her life with love and grace,” Rod said.
After the funeral service, mourners shared many stories about Nancy at the Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort.
Nancy’s younger sister, Mim Kocher from Healesville, spoke on behalf of the siblings, recalling many wonderful times.
“Nancy was a beautiful sister who will be sorely missed,” Mim said.
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