General News
2 May, 2023
Cheeky woodcarver Cookie greatly missed
Frederick Lyle Cook, known as Lyle or Cookie, was born in Wycheproof Hospital on February 17 1932. Lyle was the fifth child to Herbert and Ruby Cook, and a brother to Aubrey, Gwen, Mervyn, Shirley, Avril, Coral, Errol, Graeme and Lorna. Growing up...
Frederick Lyle Cook, known as Lyle or Cookie, was born in Wycheproof Hospital on February 17 1932.
Lyle was the fifth child to Herbert and Ruby Cook, and a brother to Aubrey, Gwen, Mervyn, Shirley, Avril, Coral, Errol, Graeme and Lorna.
Growing up on the xxWilkur South family farm, Lyle began his education in January 1938, attending the Wilkur South Primary School.
He rode two miles to school every day on horseback with his siblings. There were 12 to 14 students at the school and five of them were from the Cook family.
Lyle went on to attend the Warracknabeal High School where he would ride his pony, Paint, six miles to meet the bus.
He did this in rain, hail or shine, but strongly remembered the frosty mornings the most.
Paint was a reliable, gutsy little pony and needed no guiding on the 20 minute ride. Lyle could put his hands in his pockets and off Paint would go.
At 15, Lyle took up boxing, and over the five years that he boxed he competed in around 35 bouts.
Attending local competitions throughout the Wimmera Mallee, Lyle competed in the Welterweight class, improving as he got older.
Lyle was always modest about his wins, saying he “won his share”.
He retired from boxing in 1952 after winning the Welterweight Championship.
Lyle left school when he was 15 after his father saw an ad in the local paper for a carpentry position with Carter’s. Lyle headed to town and applied for the job and started the following Monday.
Carter’s closed five years later and Lyle worked with Shaw’s for six months before going out on his own as a self-employed builder, aged 21.
Lyle met Gladys Godden in 1951.
They enjoyed going to dances and balls together and were married on September 26 1953.
They made their home at Clugston Swap, now the home of Wilken Grain, where they lived for six years.
Lyle kept busy work-wise building barns and shearing sheds, and purchased a block at 14 Werrigar Street, Warracknabeal.
Moving three rooms onto the block, Lyle renovated and extended these rooms, turning them into their family home.
Lyle was later approached to purchase the block next door. He agreed and this is where he built his workshop.
While working on his own Lyle took on many different jobs; one of which was painting the top of the old water tower.
He thought this job would be a bit of a challenge, being pretty high off the ground, and those who knew Lyle well know he was a thinker and quite creative.
Lyle had a steel ladder, so he welded some rods to the top to make hooks and hooked it over the top of the tower, 36 feet off the ground. It got the job done.
In 1954, Lyle and Gladys welcomed their first child, Judith, followed by Michael in 1956, Trevor in 1959 and Gail in 1963.
Lyle’s passion for boxing never went away.
In 1962, Lyle became a trainer, coaching his son Buster from the age of six, and later Trevor and other local boys who joined the Warracknabeal Boxing Club.
Lyle’s life was turned upside down in 1978 when Gladys suddenly passed away. This was a difficult time for the whole family.
Lyle underwent spinal surgery in 1983 at the age of 53 to remove a disc, however the surgeons discovered the bone was compressing on his spinal cord leaving him paralysed from the waist down.
He spent three months at Austin Hospital and was told he would never walk again.
Lyle’s physiotherapist held out hope for him, telling Lyle that miracles do happen, and it did.
With Lyle’s extreme determination and seven years of agony, Lyle was able to walk and dance unaided again.
Growing up surrounded by horses meant there was always a pony or two in the back paddock of Lyle’s Werrigar Street home for his children, and later his grandchildren, to ride.
Lyle moved onto miniature ponies, and up until 2015 Lyle would break them in and make carts to take his great grandchildren for rides.
Another one of Lyle’s passions were his foxies.
He loved his dogs so much that in 1987 he buried cement pipes in his yard so the dogs could run underground from one kennel to the next, which amazed his many visitors.
Lyle bred foxies for over 60 years and made little carts for them, becoming an important part of the yearly Christmas parades.
Ladders and houses were next. His beloved foxies had an adventure park of their own. He moved on to performing tricks with his dogs, which was a highlight for all who visited.
Not being able to return to work after his operation, Lyle tinkered away in his workshop where he discovered his woodcarving talent.
Lyle carved his first rocking horse in the 90’s and then moved onto horse heads, draft teams and his many more creations.
Lyle would share his talent with his displays at local shows, and opened his home to visitors and tourist groups from many destinations.
Some of his pieces are now on regular display at the Warracknabeal Museum.
Locals may remember when the cheeky local woodcarver added two small dingo puppy statues to the roundabout at Scott and Lyle Street, or when a strange wooden man showed up at the primary school gate, doing a spot of fishing in a puddle.
Lyle always had a great sense of humour and was even known to add a wooden jar of vegemite to the supermarket shelf.
Lyle shared his building and woodcarving knowledge with the Warracknabeal Men’s Shed after joining in 2005.
He loved going to the Men’s Shed to catch up with his fellow “shedders” and enjoyed doing restoration work there.
Lyle adored and treasured his family the most.
He was the proud grandfather of nine, and great-grandfather of 16 - soon to be 17.
Living his life “Lylestyle”, Lyle will be greatly missed by many - especially his whistling.