It's Christmas in July after Joe’s passing

BEST known, or more accurately, “best unknown” for his decades of service as one of Melbourne’s most prominent and longest-serving Santas, Joe Ford of Corinella has gone, but certainly not forgotten.

Last Sunday, July 16, there was attribute to his life at a memorial service at the Archies Creek Hotel and on Wednesday, July 19, he was also remembered at the Bass Coast Shire Council meeting by Cr Ron Bauer and Cr Clare Le Serve.

“Mayor, my fellow councillors and ratepayers watching this meeting, it is with great sadness that I have to inform the community of the death of Joseph Ford of Corinella. Joe Ford was born on September 25, 1942 and passed away on June 15, 2023,” said Cr Bauer in a tribute to Mr Ford.

“Thousands of children born between approximately 1980-2005 yearned to meet Joe Ford yet but if I asked nearly anyone of those adults today they would not recognize him.

“I met Joe well before he made Corinella home in 1989. When I was doing my Bachelors of Media Studies in 1975 at RMIT, he taught me television production. He had moved from Brisbane the year before where he was a producer for the Channel 0 network, now Channel 10. Joe’s jovial personality was infectious and he was the only lecturer from that era I kept in touch with.

“When he moved with his wife Hildegard and young daughter Amelia to Corinella, he got involved with community activities and was a founding member of the Corinella Foreshore Committee. Joe was also heavily involved with the Corinella Residents and Ratepayer Association.

“Joe will also be fondly remembered by the children in the area, yet almost none of the children who are adults know would recognize him. The answer? Joe Ford was the quintessential Santa Claus of Myers and also David Jones. Year after year he would don the red suit and white beard and be in Santa’s cCave on the 5th floor of the Myer building, bringing joy and in many cases, listening to the wishes of 1000s of youngsters.

“I remember him coming into my store in Little Collins Street in full regalia. As Santa he definitely had a presence.

“Every Boxing Day he was the Santa at the Boxing Day Test and there is a picture of Shane Warne sitting on his knee. Joe was Santa for many functions in the Bass Coast area as well,” said Cr Bauer.

“With his experience in television production, Joe ran courses at Myers to train the would-be Santa Clauses. In the gallery of honour in Myers is a photo of Joe in full regalia, the way the children will remember him.

Joe is survived by his loving wife of almost 50 years Hildegard and their daughter Amelia.”

Cr Clare Le Serve was on leave from the council meeting but asked to add the following: “Joe was a fantastic community advocate, he was instrumental in establishing the Corinella Residents and Ratepayers Association. He always did Santa for the community, and made the children feel special at such a magical time.”