His was a life dedicated to the arts and so it was fitting that when mourners gathered to mark the loss of Hugh Waller on Thursday, it was examples of his photography that greeted them in the foyer of Eaglehawk’s Victoria Street chapel.
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The respected photographer and arts advocate passed away on June 16, aged 57, after suffering complications from a heart attack.
His death was felt acutely by the city’s creative community, many of whom were mentored by the man they described as selfless.
Among those to work alongside Mr Waller was Bendigo painter and animator Kain White.
The pair curated several shows together since first meeting in a Bendigo art supplies shop.
Mr White said his elder was a supportive, humble man.
“He'd just shrug his shoulders if you said something complimentary,” Mr White explained.
“He lived and breathed [art] – that's how hard a worker he was.”
It was when Mr Waller came to watch his bands play in the 1980s that Tony Day first discovered he shared a taste in music and sense of humour with the late man.
Mr Day said he would miss their impromptu, late night or early morning conversations the most.
“He would come over and say, ‘I can't nut this problem out, let's go and have coffee’,” Mr Day said.
Artists will continue to benefit from Mr Waller’s legacy, especially his BendArts network, an online platform that allows artists to meet, collaborate and support one another.
A renaissance man, he engineered the app and website himself.
”He was just truly created with a lot of foresight – he could see what was needed and he got it done,” Mr Day said of Mr Waller.
City of Greater Bendigo arts and culture co-ordinator Maree Tonkin also paid her respects to the much-loved community figure.
“[His] unwavering support, generosity and leadership within the arts community will be felt for many years to come,” she said.
“He was a true collaborator, a mentor to many artist , an arts advocate, inspiration and talented artist.”
Hugh Waller is survived by his mother, Elizabeth, and his siblings, Jim and Anne.