Wal's Weddings

My very lovely almost-sister-in-law, Jacq, sent me a link to a wonderful story about a man named Wal Richards.

Maryborough-Midlands Historical Society: supplied

Wal was intellectually disabled and couldn't read or write. But he loved to take photographs. Specifically of weddings.

He used to ride his bike to the weddings of complete strangers and photograph one of the most important days of their lives.

Maryborough-Midlands Historical Society: Wal Richards

The sheer volume of photographs he'd taken wasn't truly realised until after his death in the 1990's. His family discovered about 20,000 photographs from weddings spanning five decades.

Maryborough-Midlands Historical Society: Wal Richards

Most of the photographs have no information about the wedding - not even the date. The only idea you really get of a time period is by the style of the dresses!

Maryborough-Midlands Historical Society: Wal Richards

It's a great story (one I'd like to know more about!) and you can read about it on the ABC Ballarat website.

Wal's photographs are held by the Maryborough-Midlands Historical Society. I'd love to see more of them one day ....