Wallace Werrett Delicatessen, 309 Lonsdale Street, Dandenong.

Wallace Robert Werret, and his wife, ran a Delicatessen and Cake shop, at various locations in the area, this one was next to the De George Dandy Café, which closed in 1981. The Delicatessen was formerly conducted by Mr. James Hollingsworth, before it was purchased by Mr. Rich Werrett, Wallace's father, in 1948. Although Wallace ran the business.

309 Lonsdale Street, Dandenong, undated.

In September/October of 1954, he moved to 225 Lonsdale Street, formerly the “Vaninka” Cafe, after having vacated the pictured site, to make way for Titchers Pharmacy to move in from their original location. Sadly the old Delicatessen was demolished, Titchers opting to build a new building for their Pharmacy.

The Dandenong Journal, Wed 29 Sep 1954, Page 24

 Wallace was born at the Maternity Hospital located in Thomas Street, Dandenong, on 9 October 1920, to Richard Frederick Werrett and Evelyn Violet Allan. He attended the Keysborough Primary School.

He enlisted in the Citizen’s Military Forces in 1938, and was called for full service in 1940, being transferred to the Second Australian Imperial Force in 1941. Being discharged in July 1946. He reached the rank of Captain.

While serving during the war years, Wallace me Joyce Taylor, who was serving in the Australian Women’s Army Service, they would eventually marry in 1947, in Brisbane, going on to have 3 children.

In the 1950s, Angus Facey approached Wallace to join the Frank Facey Real Estate Agency. Wallace would take this opportunity and was a manager at Facey for about 20 years, before retiring in 1977.

He was Dandenong's Citizen of the Year in 1982, awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1985, was the Dandenong Liberal Party president for 12 years and stood for Parliament, a justice of the peace and Dandenong Chamber of Commerce president, and received the Paul Harris Fellowship from the Rotary Club of Dandenong in 1994.

Joyce lost her battle with cancer in 1989/90, after 42 years of marriage. Later Wallace met Kay Poole, who became his companion for the last 20 years of his life. Wallace died on 1 February 2014, and is his funeral and cremation was held at Springvale Botanical Cemetery.

Photo credit goes to Dianne Pagliuca.

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