That’s how civil celebrant Rhonda Livingstone summed up Ron McKellar, who passed away on January 16, at a memorial service in Yarrawonga Mulwala Funerals Chapel on Friday, January 24.
A Life Member of Yarrawonga Mulwala RSL Sub Branch (2019), Mulwala’s 2007 Citizen of the Year, a distinguished Navy career, attending to, in his profession of masseur, so many patients and a proud family man being married to Joan for 58 years, and father to Andrew and Mandy - that’s how Ron will be remembered.
The eulogy was delivered by son Andrew and included the following: “On Tuesday 13 December 1932 enter Ronald James McKellar, first son of Mary and Alan McKellar and older brother to Les, Nugget, Elizabeth and Marlene.
“He was a post office worker at Borree creek, while still at school boarding at Nth Albury; Navy officer for which he was a part of the royal escort for Queen Elizabeth’s first tour of Australia on HMAS Vengeance in 1954, but had to return to the farm as his father was very sick and later passed away.
“He met Joan and married in 1966…I turned up 13 months later Mandy arriving two years later in 1969. They would have celebrated 59 years of marriage in June this year.
“While on the farm Dad would grow some vegetables on the side, then load up the EH wagon and trailer, head off and sell them to other farmers in the area.
“Public swimming pool manager in Oaklands, Yarrawonga Co-op manager who gave a young Ross Stevenson his first job, the first fish and chip shop in Mulwala, Rennie pub owner with people coming far and wide to spend a penny at Rennie…that was Dad. The first day when we moved into the pub, his first customers were 20 odd kids and some teachers from Savernake Primary School due to the bush fires which had taken part of the school. There were plenty of tales.
“He was so proud when Mandy followed in his footsteps and joined the Navy, even more so when she came home and marched on Anzac Day with him. He was a justice of peace for over 40 years.
“He was also not a bad masseur which he did for over 60 years. That‘s where a lot of the nick names came from. if anyone here has had a soft massage from Ron please put your hand up! You may be the only one here. But we all kept going back.
“He did the Sun Tour cycle race for 10 years with four winners, also the Murray river canoe race over 10 years with multiple winners
“We would often go or have parties, Dad would happily have people over, he didn’t need an excuse but did help, BBQ, spits, lots of fun had by all.
“Dad loved fishing, although Norm Dean (former Mulwala police sergeant) said he wasn’t very good at it. Dad would catch the odd cod or yellow belly but I think Mandy still holds the record in the family.
“Dad also loved football, especially the Swans, first South Melbourne then Sydney, he was president of Oaklands football club, secretary of Coreen Football League, trainer at Rennie, Yarrawonga, Mulwala and Yarroweyah with a few flags along the way. Dad never won a flag but his name appears on a premiership photo at Nth Albury, it should be his brother Nugget’s name and would tease Nugget about it!
“There was one day that dad was having a beer at the Swinger and three young blocks came in complaining about how sore their legs wore, dad just sat there listening, then slowly takes his leg off, puts on the bar and says I don’t know what you blocks are complaining about. They looked at the leg and left.
“There were a lot of people that had no idea he was leg less, he didn’t care. Dad would always help people in anyway he could, whether it was an extra scoop of chips at the fish and chip shop or just a helping hand or just buying a beer.
“We’ll miss you Dad, we’ll miss that joke we may have heard before, the little look, the eyebrow lift or even that quick wink, that quiet beer, but most of all these magic fingers that gave us so much pain but so much relief.”
A tribute was paid in respect of Ron by friend Moose Muir of Mulwala who spoke of Ron’s outstanding RSL Sub Branch work and community service which resulted in awards, and his brilliant masseur work.
“In 1995, a four-year-old boy from Cobram watched his mates play soccer. He wanted to play but couldn’t – he had cerebral palsy. Ron reached out to Ethan Newell’s family. After three months of intensive massaging of Ethan’s arms and legs, he was playing soccer. He made a full recovery,” Mr Muir said.
“Many hundreds of people took their injuries to Ron to be fixed up. Yet he never spoke of his injury and being seriously disabled later in life.”
An RSL service was conducted by sub branch stalwart Ian Summers. “We are assembled here to pay tribute to one who served with us in defence of our freedom. His ex-service colleagues know how well he served. His family and friends will remember with pride his service to his country,” Mr Summer said.
“R/46047 Telegraphist Ronald James McKellar joined the Royal Australian Navy on the 10th September 1951 and was discharged on the 9th September 1957.
“For his service he was awarded the following awards: Australian Service Medal 1945-75 with Clasp ‘PNG’ ‘FESR’ and Australian Defence Medal.
“How well he served will be known to many here today; how well he served his fellow men on his return is known to members of the RSL who mourn with me the passing of loyal friend.”
“Ron was such an inspiration, showing what can be achieved through acceptance and determination. He lived well and brightened the day,” Ms Livingstone said, and, with a favourite song of Ron’s - the Recessional Song ‘Duncan’ by Slim Dusty - told the packed chapel crowd to think of Ron every time their hear it.
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