Antony John Fowler ‘Tony’ WARD

30.04.1948 – 21.07.2022
Loved husband of Ali, father of Hannah and Jake, father-in-law of Sebastian, cherished grandfather (Grumpy) of Zara, Charlotte and Millie and friend of many.
Tony was an absolute character and will be forever loved and remembered.

Funeral Notice

ServiceAugust 12, 2022 - 2:00 pm4-32 Province Boulevard Highton, VIC View MapVenue: Tuckers Chapel, Barrabool Hills Centre

Please click here to view webcast.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Service to Celebrate the Life of Mr Antony John Fowler ‘Tony’ Ward to be held at Tuckers Chapel, Barrabool Hills Centre, 4-32 Province Boulevard, Highton on FRIDAY (12th August) at 2.00pm prior to a private cremation.

Tributes

  1. I was Tony’s first ever TA. And female. And a chemistry graduate to boot. What was he thinking! He made the unorthodox decision to squeeze a second desk into his office for me so he could be more “hands on”. By that, I don’t just mean that he got to tell his stories and dirty jokes freely, with his loud sergeant major voice, he also enabled me to pass the difficult “engineering”-related exams, like Drafting, rather quickly.
    Now that I’ve relocated back to Melbourne after 27 years overseas, I planned on catching up with Tony this year. I’m so gutted.
    RIP, ye olde Geezer!
    Love,
    Sandra xxx

    Sandra Mannas Wolf August 13 2022
  2. Great send off for a great man
    Sending heartfelt condolences and all our love
    Cheers

    Hil & Art xoxo August 12 2022
  3. Always a pleasure to be around. Tony will be sadly missed by all of us.
    Deepest sympathies to Ali, Hannah, Jake and family.
    Geoff and Claire Pryor

    Geoff and Claire Pryor August 12 2022
  4. Thanks Tony for all of the laughs and your great company at the Corowa Cup golf getaways!

    Mark O'Donnell August 12 2022
  5. Tony was a wonderful business partner, a great Chairman, an excellent mentor. He was happy, funny, approachable, generous, and a real raconteur. It’s just hard to appreciate that he is no longer with us. He will be greatly missed.

    Robert Wulff August 12 2022
  6. Tony was my lecturer some years ago. When I would bump into him (usually at IPTA conferences) he was forever friendly and cheerful and I was always struck by his generosity, warmth and humour. I am sorry to hear of his passing and offer my condolences to his family and friends. I will miss his wit and charm.

    Julien Uyttenhove August 12 2022
  7. Tony was an unforgettable character. As a colleague of his for many years at Griffith Hack in Melbourne I always said he was the heart and soul of the firm. And he was an excellent patent attorney as well. I’ve no doubt Tony is already playing golf and cricket “up there”.

    Best wishes to Ali and family.
    Geoff and Lea Levy

    Geoffrey Levy August 12 2022
  8. Tony had the greatest love for the Australian patent attorney profession. He bothered to get to know all the newcomers as we came along. He was full of humor, totally irreverent and most of all full of life. He is irreplaceable and I will miss him dearly.

    Marguerite Port August 12 2022
  9. Tony you were one in a million… it was my honour to work for you. You treated me with so much respect and taught me so much about IP but also about life. I am a better, stronger person because of you. You made each day of work even better, even though I had to endure all your ‘funny’ dad jokes and singing! I will cherish them…
    You were the life of the party and always managed to keep up with the younger guys!
    You had the most interesting stories, I will never forget that you bowled out Shane Warne :) maybe now you will have another chance!
    You were always kind to me and my family, even through my darkest days you would always check in and make me smile. Your last txt msg will always stay with me “always be ready to rock and roll”.
    Rest easy my dear friend!

    Alison, Jake and Hannah sending you all my love. May he rest in peace.
    X Elena

    Elena August 12 2022
  10. I first met Tony through Geoff Collins some 35 years ago. I’ve never met a greater raconteur, entertainer and all-round really great guy. We shared both social and business dealings and I am deeply saddened by his sudden loss. I always thought Tony would go on forever he was just that much larger than life. My deepest condolences to Alison, Jake and Hannah.

    Bernard Cassell August 12 2022
  11. One of my first bosses, and one of the best. Ever grateful for his humanity, his humour, his generous mentorship and his fundamental decency. Many cherished memories and deep gratitude

    Antony Taubman August 11 2022
  12. Tony brought so much fun to all 19 holes of golf. Will miss that colourful, generous, bawdy, and spirited Englishman. Fairways and greens forever, Tony, my friend.

    Alex Fenton August 11 2022
  13. We are deeply saddened by the loss of a great storyteller, raconteur, lover of good food and even better wine. Sending our love to Ali and the family. Vale Tony Ward

    Brenda and Grant Bailey August 11 2022
  14. I first met Tony in 1976 just days after his arrival in Australia. We have been close friends ever since.
    In simple Aussie terms he was the best mate a bloke could ever have.
    Rest in peace my friend.

    Geoff Collins August 11 2022
  15. Sad sad loss. Still numb. Will absolutely miss you. I couldn’t have asked for a better brother than you. Love you and always will. We’ll meet again,love Richard.

    Richard Ward August 11 2022
  16. Tony will be sorely missed by so many. We had such great times together over the years.

    Sheila Beard August 10 2022
  17. So sad that I won’t get the opportunity to give my Best Man another thrashing on the golf course.

    The world has lost not only a real raconteur, but a true bon viveur as well.

    You were one of a kind and will be greatly missed by all of your friends and family.

    Thanks for over fifty years of friendship. I have wonderful memories of all of the laughs we shared together during this time.

    William Beard

    William Beard August 10 2022
  18. We laughed, we cried & we loved spending every Christmas with Ali, Tony and the kids for the last 35 years.

    What a wonderful generous spirit, full of life and laughter. There are so many memories to cherish. We will miss you greatly, Tony. Hopefully you & Johnny are already sharing jokes & a glass of red.

    With much love and deepest sympathies to Ali, Hannah, Jake, Bas, Zara, Charlotte & Millie from the Holdsworth family – Kerry, Francee, John & Ben.

    Kerry Holdsworth August 9 2022
  19. I am a patent attorney in Oxford in the UK, and news of Tony’s passing has reached me here.
    I worked as a patent attorney for Spruson & Ferguson in Sydney from 1993 to 1997, and have returned to Australia over the years, sometimes attending IPTA conferences.
    Tony made a lasting impression on me, because of his energy, his humour, and his honesty.
    I am moved by his death, which I feel marks the end of an era.
    My best wishes to all his family.
    Best Wishes, Julian Asquith, Partner of Marks & Clerk, in Oxford, UK

    Julian Asquith August 5 2022
  20. Tony was a great Australian Englishman! We sang many old rugby songs in many different venues around the world and I will miss him. He played the wild rover for many a year and I am sure he won’t stop now!

    Frank Callus August 5 2022
  21. The Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia (IPTA) is deeply saddened by the passing of Tony Ward, Distinguished Fellow of IPTA. Tony was a member of IPTA since 1978 and served on IPTA Council from 1994 to 2009. He was President from 2006 to 2008. Tony became a Distinguished Fellow of the Institute in 2013.
    Tony was enthusiastically involved in all aspects of IPTA life, including the annual fun run, golf and cricket events, annual conference attendance and hospitality suite sing-alongs. Tony was the life of the party. He will be greatly missed by IPTA, its members and the profession as a whole.
    Our thoughts are with his wife Alison, his children Hannah and Jake, his grandchildren, friends and colleagues at this sad time.

    IPTA August 5 2022