Victor Woodrow passed away on the 13th July, 2025 aged 95 years.
Victor was a valued Member of the Milang & District Historical Society for many years.
He was author of the book “Boats Across the Lake” published by the Milang & District Historical Society who hold the copyright. This book which details Victor’s own experiences on boats with his father, Wally Woodrow and also his Uncle Jack, is still a popular seller for the Society, having had two reprints.
The book was launched on September 27th, 2001 by Alexandrina Council Mayor, Kym McHugh at the Milang foreshore during the “Source to Sea” visit which was hosted by the Society when Paddle steamers and a flotilla of Boats visited Milang jetty for an overnight stay.
Victor also compiled Part 1 of a “Diary of Milang” highlighting significant events and happenings around Milang and presented it to the Historical Society for reference purposes.
We are fortunate that Victor had the foresight to record the information he had gathered over many years. He also put together a display in the Port Milang Museum depicting the boating and fishing industry at Milang and donated items from the Woodrow family.
In recognition of his contribution to the Society, Victor was awarded Life Membership in 2013.
Allan McInnes, President,
Milang & District Historical Society Inc.
Museum at the Milang Oval grounds open Sunday afternoons 1.00 – 4.00 p.m.
Entry fee $2.00.
Vale Victor Woodrow
27.02.1930 – 13.07.2025
As a long-time reader of the Milang Community Newsletter, I am sure that Victor would feel comfortable with me sharing, with his own community, a few of the “Milang Moments” in his life.
Victor was born to Walter (Wally) and Edith Woodrow who lived in the old house overlooking the lake on Daranda Tce. Victor attended the Milang Primary School where he was encouraged to do a second year of Grade 7 and to then join his father as a professional fishing team on Lake Alexandrina & Lake Albert. As the barrages had been built between Goolwa and the Murray Mouth, Wally advised his son to venture into Adelaide to gain a Trade, as the then fishing industry would only decline and therefore not provide Victor with an ongoing lively hood. Disappointingly for Victor, he was only able to professionally fish with his father for 2 years.
Victor moved to Adelaide and gained a Trade as a Boiler Maker whilst boarding with his Uncle Jim and Aunt Silv. He worked for 2 years with GMH Holden, 5 years down the south-east at Greenways Camp as their capable Welder, and many, many years Welding with the E & WS.
Upon his mother, Edith, needing to move to Adelaide in her older years for care, Victor divided his parent’s house block, sold the family home and built a shack on the other half, retaining the old outdoor toilet and his father’s sheds. This opened up a new chapter for Victor and his young family, which spent regular weekends and many school holidays in Milang which became like their second home. On every arrival to Milang, Wally’s fishing nets and yabby pots were diligently set, and there was always much to take home and freeze or give away to friends and family.
Victor retired from the E & WS at 63 years and it was then that he and his wife Kathleen began spending more time at Milang and became actively involved in the town. A period of time was spent involved with both the Milang Progress Association and also the Milang & District Historical Society. Eventually Victor, feeling pressed with his time, left the Progress Association to devote all of his energies to the Historical Society. Victor, along with his wife, did a lot of the work towards the Fishing Industry display at the oval Museum. He was, of course, very ably assisted by Allan McInnes and many other willing workers. It was an absolute delight for Victor to devote so much of his time to preserving that part of Milang’s history which meant so much to him.
Victor also had a great love of recording history through photos and the written word and thrived on research. This led him to writing the book “Boats Across the Lake” which was launched in 2001 by the Historical Society. He also wrote “Diary of Milang” Part 1, with Heather Pound writing Part 2.
Although Victor actually lived the majority of his life in Adelaide, his heart, mind and soul never truly left his home – Milang. RIP Dad
Joylene Woodrow
