Darvall Club Member of the Year Award Stories: Ron Widdison, Andrew Bonwick, Geoffrey Mould and Mark Horton Andrews
He was an avid competitor for many years in the club as well as broader State and National competition. In the early 2000s he introduced the club marshalling group which has grown steadily since to provide a highly professional and reliable set of competition officials for the club. Will is a past President of the Club, was a joint Club Member of the Year in 2006 and was also recognised with Life membership in 2012.
At times in the history of an organisation it is important to pause and reflect on significant contributions, and to acknowledge and celebrate them. On behalf of the Club’s General Committee, I am delighted to announce the naming of the Porsche Club of Victoria Club Member of the Year Award in honour of William Darvall and Barbara Darvall. The award will now be named the Darvall Club Member of the Year Award. Back in 1975, Barb Darvall (then Clearihan) attended the first meeting of the Club with husband Brian. Barb joined the Committee in the following year, served as Secretary for two years, and joined the Committee again for a further four years in the late eighties. Barb was a contributor to the Porsche Club of Victoria book 1975-2015 the first 40 years, providing valuable historical reflections on the early years of the club. Barb was celebrated as the Club Member of the Year in 1985 and was awarded Life membership in 2012. Barb is a generous and popular stalwart of Club events, including numerous Club Nights, Social and Register runs, Tours, and Competition events, participating as both Competitor and Official. Will Darvall was a founding member of the Club having also attended the first meeting. 12
PORSCHE PARADE
Will was instrumental as Editor in production of the Porsche Club of Victoria book 1975-2015 the first 40 years. Together with magazine Editor Ron Widdison, Will is an integral part of the enormously popular ‘What’s in Your Garage” series. Like Barb, Will is a popular Club member and regular attendee of Club events. Ron Widdison: Clubs are built by volunteers who share a common interest, and the PCV has been fortunate enough to have had many who have put their heart and soul into building the successful Club we have today. Will and Barb Darvall are not just amazing PCV volunteers, they are also Porsche people through and through! In 1969 Barb bought her first Porsche, a 1965 912, progressing through 356s, 914s, SC’s and 911s. In 1974 Will bought his first Porsche, a Black 911S sporting the number plate MY911. It was in 1977 he bought his new daily driver, a holy grail 2.7 RS which he ran in the Vic, SA and Australian Hillclimb championships, winning the SA and Australian title in the under 3 litre sports car class. In the final round of the Vic title, he put the car up a tree, destroying it and nearly himself! And to top it off he even built himself a 550 Spyder replica sporting 911 brakes, engine, and gearbox! Both founding members, being present at the first club night in 1975 they got to know each other socially through club events.
Barb and Robin, marshalling at Phillip Island They lost contact in the 80’s while raising their families but reunited in 2002 through Will’s famous 550 Spyder replica at a 356 concours event where they said hello, got married and lived happily ever after! In 2000 I was lucky enough to meet my then neighbour Barb who introduced me to her lovely Guards Red 3.2 Carrera; two months later I had my own 3.2 Carrera, and the rest is history. I have been lucky enough to call Barb and Will friends for the past 20 odd years. It’s not often you meet truly special people, but Bab and Will certainly fit the bill. Their enthusiasm and passion for the Marque, PCV and life has brought them as much joy from the club as they have given. In 2009 I asked Will to write the article for a new feature for Porsche Parade. Will agreed and we spent the next 12 years (46 editions) travelling Victoria for “What’s in Your Garage” I am forever grateful to him for organising and writing the stories and the time we spent together. Quite often these types of honours are made posthumously. I am so happy that the Committee has named the Club member of the year after Will and Barb at this time so they can feel the love and appreciation from the Club for their lifetime of contributions over the past 47 years.
