Old Collegian Christopher (Chris) Grattan Wallis (SPC 1969-70) passed away suddenly on 25 February 2025 from a heart attack in his sleep on following a country bike ride.
We extend our condolences to his partner Soula and his siblings and extended family. Chris was the eldest of six children and a proud uncle and great uncle.
Chris, who was nicknamed “Nancarrow” by his classmates, spent two years at St Pat’s and has a boarder from Balwyn.
Chris was the founding editor of the school magazine Pegasus (click here to read the first edition); and a proud resident of Kenny House with house master Br Fogarty.
He finished third in the Purton Oratory in his final year with his speech titled “Anarchy” and was a member of the Second XI Cricket and Athletics teams.
Chris has been remembered as a passionate bike rider and boasted riding in 23 countries. On many occasions he rode solo overseas and sent Go Pro videos to his family and friends from his bike camera.
Chris worked as an accountant and teacher; and then as a tax barrister. He was a published author on revenue law and superannuation.
The Victorian Bar remembered Chris as a latecomer to law, who was a member of the Bar for 25 years, and would be deeply missed by the wider taxation community throughout Australia.
The tribute described Chris as “entrepreneurial by nature” who “established a successful taxation training company during the recession of that era, combining his teaching, accounting and legal expertise”.
“A tenacious and fearless advocate, Chris had a strong sense of fair play, shaped in part by his years as a part-time VFL umpire. He firmly believed it was rarely in a client’s best interest for a matter to be determined by a court. In fact, he was perhaps the only barrister to openly state on his website that any year he did not set foot in a courtroom was a good year. His practice extended across Australia, and he was particularly esteemed by the Tasmanian tax community. Though he may not have been beloved by revenue authorities, he was certainly respected by them.
“Chris was generous with his knowledge and dedicated to the development of taxation law. He was an active member of the Australasian Tax Teacher’ Association, a foundation member of the Tax Bar Association, and a Chartered Tax Adviser under the auspices of the Tax Institute of Australia, where he continued to technical, policy, and educational committees for over three decades. His input was highly valued in numerous tax discussion groups”.
Former classmate and 1970 College Captain Peter Mackey recalled Chris had called himself a failed politician after unsuccessfully standing as an Independent candidate for the Federal electorate of Macnamara in 2019, which covers the port and bayside suburbs of Melbourne – where he liked to ride.
“I will cherish my memories of Chris at SPC & post school,” Peter said.
“Vale Nancarrow.”
Thank you to Peter Mackey (SPC 1966-70) for his assistance in preparing this tribute
