FORMER Williamstown mayor Howard Whittaker OAM died last week after a long illness.
Close friend Larry Noye said Mr Whittaker, 85, had left an indelible impression on Williamstown as a politician, historian and a plumber.
“He really loved Williamstown and did everything in his power to make life here a better place,” Mr Noye said.
Mr Whittaker served in the Royal Australian Navy during World War Two and crewed on board HMAS Kattabul, which was sunk by a Japanese Midget submarine in Sydney Harbour.
“He was very fortunate in that he was ashore when the sub attacked and he therefore avoided the same fate as many of his shipmates who were killed when the boat went down,” Mr Noye said.
Mr Whittaker was a former president of Williamstown Historical Society, a member of APEX and he also wrote a history documenting 10 years of his beloved Williamstown Probus Club.
Mr Whittaker leaves a wife, Pauline, also a former Williamstown mayor, and a son, Richard.
His funeral will be held at 2pm today (Tuesday) at Williamstown’s Holy Trinity Anglican Church.
