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There are very rare people who earn respect of a community for simply being good people, who are brave in a crisis and positive in their contribution to everyday life. Such a person was Chris Wills.
And to name the major oval of the Tamborine Mountain Sports Centre after Chris is quite simply, a fitting tribute.
Here are some words of respect from those who knew him well . . . tributes that celebrate a life well lived.
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Australian Transplant Cricket Club
Jeff Sewell
Chris was one of the finest fellows you could meet and the adversities he had overcome with such good humour and optimism were an inspiration.
And wow, couldn’t he play cricket and didn’t he love the game?
After receiving his heart/lung transplant, Chris was the standout performer for the ATCC during the 2006 Tour of England. In just 2 Tests, Chris scored 223 runs at an average of 74.33 and a highest score of 163. He also took 16 wickets at an average of 12.75. In the One Day Internationals, Chris scored 196 runs at an average of 98, with a highest score of 106 not out.
On those One Day matches, Chris also took 9 wickets at an average of 10.78 with an Economy Rate of 3.88. Truly the ATCC’s own ‘Mr Cricket’.
Imagine what heights he could have scaled had he not suffered from the crippling effects of cystic fibrosis? Then again, the world may not have been able to keep up with a Chris Wills in full swing. Chris was a fine cricketer, a real fighter and someone we were all proud to call “mate”. We will all be the poorer because of his passing, but our lives are the richer for having known Chris.
Mountain mourns battling batsman
Jake Dew | November 24th, 2009
Instrumental in building the Tamborine Mountain Club, Mr Wills's big fight was the development of new fields with Tamborine secretary-treasurer Alan Blackman, who admits no challenge was ever too great for him.
"He was an inspiration to a whole lot of people with just the way he battled with his own challenges," he said.
"He was really devoted to everything and he was devoted to helping the kids on the mountain with their cricket ... it's a big loss."
Given a second and then a third chance at life, a lot of Mr Wills's time went into junior cricket.
"We had no facilities up here and we have built a club that is successful in the seniors and juniors now -- and a lot of that has to do with Chris."
Chris Wills's Story told by Chris himself, late in 2008
Hello everyone. My name is Chris Wills. I am 40 years young and feel like the luckiest person in the world.
About 18 months ago I received a heart and lung transplant. This gift was given to me by the selfless donation from a beautiful anonymous family and the brilliant knowledge and expertise of our medical staff at The Prince Charles Hospital.
Before my transplant I was struggling a bit with everyday stuff. Good old Dr Bell eased me into the idea of taking this big step and assured me the time was right. I was unable to breathe properly and walking 50 metres made me breathless. I slept with my oxygen next to me and had a portable oxygen backpack for during the day and at work.
Without sounding too morbid, the average age for someone with cystic fibrosis is 28 years old. At the time of my transplant I was 38 years old. By this time most things that I used to do easily had become quite hard. For example, putting on my work boots was quite an effort, I would literally have to lie down and have some oxygen to get over that. I am sure many people around the mountain wondered why their pump repairman arrived in thongs!
In February 2005, I received a heart and lung transplant and had an incredibly good run with my recovery going very well. After a few months, miraculously walking, running, and working was easy! Mucus, oxygen, tiredness, coughing – GONE! UNBLOODYBELIEVABLE!!!
The gift that I have been given, cannot be bought, cannot be traded and cannot be sold. It is usually given by a stranger, who has actually lost so much, to a person that they will probably never meet.
Thanks to the Australian Transplant Cricket Club, the Gold Coast Bulletin and The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation for their kind permission to reprint these extracts.