Walter Magilton was always drawing, painting and making things as a kid, and it was Llew Evans (OCG 1931 and past staff) who saw the artist in him. This was before Carey though – he was a young teacher at the tiny bush school I went to in rural Victoria, where Llew took a shine to Walter and his older brother. Llew introduced Walter to proper artists’ materials, with real watercolour paper, the purpose-made brushes and tubes of high-quality paint – a far cry from the kids’ painting sets that Walter had been using up until that point. 

Walter and his brother came to Carey for two years as boarders, which was all his parents could afford at the time. They were dairy farmers, and when Walter went back home after Year 10, he started working on the farm too. Walter loved working with the horses and being in nature, but it was the landscapes that he was able to paint that brought him the most joy during that time. 

One day, his dad said to me, ‘Walter your heart doesn't seem to be in farming, you should have a think about it. If you decide to train for something, I'll pay for your training. If it doesn't work out, you can come back on the land.’ It was the best thing he has ever said to Walter – he knew that he wanted to paint. 

Carey had no art department at the time, so instead of going back to finish school, he applied for Teachers’ College – Caulfield Tech at the time, now known as Chisholm Institute – to do an art and craft course, and it was amazing. He taught art for 27 years and was a Senior Master for 10. He loved it. 

When not creating art, Walter spends time with his wife and children  and he's a member of the MG Car Club, a fellowship member of the Victorian Honour Society and a life member of the Australian Guild of Realist Artists. He also loves getting involved with the Warrandyte Festival, and for many years was a volunteer fire-fighter. He's still connected to his old friends from Carey, too – he especially enjoys the regular Old Carey Golf Lunches.