Wheller was born in
Tarlee,
South Australia, a son of Mary Jane, née Gullidge (died 1939) and James Manuel Wheller (died 1906), a blacksmith. He was educated at
Stanley Grammar School,
Watervale, and worked for a while in Norwood, Adelaide. and applied as a candidate for the ministry. In 1905 he was sent by the Methodist synod in Brisbane to
Queen's College, University of Melbourne. At the 1906 synod meeting his probation was advanced one step, and in 1907 was appointed assistant pastor of the
Paddington Methodist Church. He mostly served in the Kennedy Terrace Church, in the
Ithaca circuit. In 1909 he was posted to the
Cairns Church, and was given a rousing farewell two years later. His next posting was to the
North Ipswich church, where despite his health being affected by the hot weather, he had a successful ministry. His next post was to
Stanthorpe, who played host to the Downs Synod in 1915. In 1917 he was next sent by the Stationing Committee to
Wooloowin, and in 1921 to the Ellenborough Street church, Ipswich. Sometime around 1925 he was called to the Albert Street, Brisbane, church, where he remained. At the 18th general conference in May 1941 Wheller was appointed President-General of the Methodist Conference, which covers the whole of Australasia.
William Henry Jones, as secretary-general, would have progressed to president-general, but died in July 1939. J. W. Burton was confirmed as secretary-general. In 1936 the experimental Garden Settlement, Queensland's first aged care community, largely sponsored by
George Marchant at
Chermside was opened. It provided board and lodging for around 70 old people, charging 14/6d ($1.45 before inflation) per head per week. Millar and Wheller were accused of contempt of court when they wrote a letter to the
Courier-mail, criticising a judge of the Supreme Court for a joke he made against the institution of marriage. Both men, and the publisher of the
Courier-mail, were dealt hefty fines by Justice Macrossan, but reversed on appeal to the Full Bench. Both were vigorous critics of all forms of gambling but reserved their harshest condemnation for the government-run
Golden Casket, a lottery with prize of £25,000. He led protests against the introduction of Bingo. He was still president in 1943. ==Publication==