Footscray’s iconic Jim Wong Restaurant will live on as a legacy to its beloved founder, Jimmy Wong, who died last week.
Tributes have been pouring in following the death of the cherished Footscray restaurateur, renowned across Melbourne for his kindness and his popular dim sims.
Mr Wong, 75, died at 8am last Thursday surrounded by family.
Wife Marianne Wong said her husband died as a result of head injuries sustained in a fall at the Barkly Street restaurant earlier in the week.
Mrs Wong, who was married to him for almost 50 years, said Mr Wong was “fit as a fiddle” and his passing came as a shock.
“He was healthier than a lot of people,” she said. “He still made his dim sims three days a week. He lived for Footscray. We had a chance to go other places and he said, ‘No way’. He was Footscray through and through his whole life.”
The couple lived above the restaurant so Mr Wong could be on hand at all hours at the business he had run for 57 years since 1959.
Mrs Wong said her husband was on his way to making the latest batch of dim sims last Monday when he tripped and fell down stairs.
He was taken to hospital but never regained consciousness. Mrs Wong said his family members bid their farewells at his bedside last Thursday, and they were able to fulfil her husband’s wish of having his organs donated.
“Jimmy was like that – he always wanted to help out in any way he could,” she said. “He was that kind of person.”
Mr Wong hailed from Canton, China, arriving in Melbourne at the age of 13 and learning his craft from an uncle. His restaurant was a well-known haunt of sports stars, particularly his beloved Western Bulldogs.
Mrs Wong, a well-known figure at the restaurant, said she would work with her three children to keep the restaurant going.
“It’s a bit hard for us, but we will get through and keep his name going for as long as we can,” she said.
Footscray mayor Cameron McDonald said the council was deeply saddened at the news of Mr Wong’s passing.
“Jim was incredibly well-liked, respected and loved by all who knew him,” he said.
“Footscray, and the wider western community, has lost a legend. He will be greatly missed.”
Mr Wong leaves behind wife Marianne, three children and five grandchildren.
His funeral will be at Footscray’s Whitten Oval from 1.30pm on Thursday, May 12.
