Trevor's funeral was conducted on Wednesday 22nd March 2023, in the gardens of Partridge House, 38 Partridge Street, Glenelg.
Eulogy - Paul VK5PC.
Trevor Kenneth Wrigley VK5TW
Hi I’m Paul Philbrook VK5PC, I have been Trevor's friend for about 50 years, I must apologise if some of the stories or dates are not quite correct
But first some facts about Trevor..
Born on Boxing day the day after Christmas 1950 so he really missed out on those birthday presents.
Died last 13th of March 2023 with his wife Helen at his side in Resthaven Mitcham, very close to where he spent his early years.
Trevor was diagnosed with Parkinsons only a few years ago and in the last year suffered a very rapid deterioration. In fact exactly 3 years before the date of his death he was with Helen and my wife Aliceann and I enjoying a cruise around New Zealand on the ill fated Ruby Princess.
I first met Trevor at an Amateur radio Christmas picnic at Birdwood oval around 50 years ago, and we found we had a lot in common. And we developed other mutual interests with time. He had a range of interests, generally revolving around radio and electronics. I will try to give a precis of his life as I knew it.
Amateur Radio, call signs VK5ZTW, ATW and finally VK5TW this was his hobby, his happiest time was in his Shack and he was most comfortable alone or with a guest in the shack.
He was not gifted academically but pursued the examinations for obtaining a license with determination, including the very difficult morse code at the time requiring 10 words per minute.
Trevor was a member of most amateur radio organisations in Adelaide at one time or another. And could be heard most days on the 80 meter net or call back on Sundays.
A yearly event he attended most years was the SERG convention at Mt Gambier. Foxhunting involved racing around the pine forests trying to locate hidden transmitters. Which leads on to
Cars 4WD in particular, Trevor had a patchy start with cars, his eyesight was poor, so poor I don't think the young Trevor would be issued with a license today.
Driving with him was an experience, overtaking in particular, where he would pull himself ever closer to the windscreen in an effort to see oncoming traffic. Passengers would have to help, prompting him with “it's ok to pass Trevor” or “no, No, NO, there's a car coming!!!”.
His eyesight improved with subsequent Cornea transplants, and his cars did not suffer so much damage.
He graduated to 4wd vehicles, firstly with a Suzuki Vitara and ever bigger vehicles, which leads to the next of Trevors pursuits,
The Outback, Trevor enjoyed road trips and camping, and I recall a number of epic trips in Trevors early cars. One of the first was over to Ceduna to visit the OTC satellite communications station there.
The car, an early Cortina suffered brake failure due to the rugged dirt roads shaking the brake fluid out of the wheel cylinders, and eventually in Wudinna the exhaust pipe completely fell off.
This didn't dissuade him from the outback and with his first Suzuki and the Suzuki 4WD club he explored with Helen many places in the outback, and this along with the shack was his happy place. And this leads on to Helen..
Helen, Trevor had a number of friend circles that did not intersect in the early days, and Helen was in one of these.
So at one of Trevors parties at his terrible bachelor house in North Plympton, Aliceann and I were shocked to find there was a girlfriend called Helen!
Together they thrived, married and built a fantastic life together.
Helen provided Trevor with an extended family with her brothers and sister and an ever expanding family of their siblings and offspring.
Helen has gone beyond in supporting Trevor in his fight with Parkinsons.
Helen’s family also have been a great support to both Trevor and Helen in recent times.
Helen has also had to suffer some of Trevors other interests:
Bass heavy classical and organ music like the 1812 overture, he pursued bigger and better subwoofer systems much to Helen's distress!
A love for Scotch whiskey inherited from his Father Les. He wasn’t really a connoisseur, as he had ice in it, but appreciated a good single malt, and woe betide anyone who put Coke in it!
Steam engines, any event that involved locomotives or steam engines was always on the list to attend. We were fortunate to be with him on some historic steam trips including Adelaide to Victor and Peterborough to Eurelia both no longer possible.
Vintage radio, Trevor had a collection of interesting radios, most inoperable, but he was working on getting these working, He was a member of the HRSA and also enjoyed seeing others collections.
Boxer Dogs, Trevor had a Boxer dog as a child Debbie?? And also had a 2 more with Helen. They were great companions for Trevor and accompanied him on many of his camping trips.
Work history Trevor worked in the early years for Harris Scarfe, Fletcher Jones, Tracker/ Traeger (of flying doctor fame) all as a storeman.
He then laboured for Betts and Betts shoes, building their new shop in Rundle Mall. This was enough unskilled work for him..
He then with similar determination to gaining his amateur license, as a mature apprentice, successfully pursued a trade in the air conditioning industry.
This led to working in hospitals, Queen Victoria and Adelaide Womens and Childrens until his retirement.
However, even in retirement he had a bit more left and worked part time at a private hospital Parkwynd in the city. Also in there somewhere he worked at the Grand Prix with the on site TV service.
Anyway that's enough from me just one final thought, I looked up the definition of a good friend, here is what I found.
A good friend walks the talk and shows that they care by their actions – big and small. A good friend: is there for you, no matter what. doesn't judge you. doesn't put you down or deliberately hurt your feelings.
Trevor was all of these and more, thankyou..
The following comments are from John VK5BJE........
On March 22 2023, I attended the funeral of Trevor Kenneth Wrigley. Trevor died peacefully on the 13th March. Many people attended his funeral, including amateur radio operators from the following clubs: AHARS, AREG, NERC, SCARC and Wicen. There was a large group from AHARS where he had been a member for many years.
Over his amateur career of 50 years Trevor held the following call-signs: VK5ZTW, VK5ATW and finally VK5TW. Trevor was highy regarded and much loved by his friends in radio and 4x4 clubs. Trevor was a fine man, friendly and sociable and always willing to help.
He was self-deprecating about his radio knowledge. But he knew a great deal and I saw much of his handiwork: 160 metre home brew transmitters, an ATV transmitter, audio amplifers and sub-woofers to name just a part of his work. We both built a kit sub-woofer from Jaycar. Trevor liked heavy bass and theatre ogan music and the sub woofer did a great job. Mine still works well!
We heard about his tower-climbing skills at the funeral service and I saw him in action. He was nimble and agile.
Jenny, my xyl and I got to know Trevor in early 1983. I moved to SA to take up a new position and Trevor was the first amateur I met VK5BJE (ex VK3BJE). I first saw him on television. I had transmitted television pictures in Melbourne and I sought out devotees here. Trevor lived just a few kilometres away.
Our other common interest was 4x4 driving. We took many trips away with Trevor and Helen and other members of our club. The Flinders Ranges, central Australia, Lake Eyre and the Coorong are some of the places we visited. Trevor was Mr Fixit and I saw hime diagnose and fix vehicle problems on many occaisions.