“What sort of a man was he? Exceptional, brilliant, standing out from the crowd? Not necessarily, but he always worked hard, tried to give helpful advice where possible, and was happy to talk with everyone and be supportive.” – Jason Ronald on his late father, Peter.
Decades after his passing, the tireless community work of PB Ronald is still being felt in the local area through the memorial trust named in his honour, as RUSSELL BENNETT explains.
The PB Ronald Memorial Trust was set up to perpetuate the memory of the late Peter Bruce Ronald, who died in 1989 aged just 67.
But in his 67 years, Peter Ronald truly made his mark – one that’s still felt today in and around his local Pakenham community.
The PB Ronald Memorial Trust Board is supported by the Rotary Club of Pakenham, the Cardinia Shire Council, the Pakenham Racing Club, and the Pakenham and District Agricultural and Horticultural Society and operates under a simple guiding principle – ‘Trust money helps students’.
Set up in 1991, the trust has since directly benefited more than 80 local people with almost $100,000 distributed to anyone currently studying agriculture, horticulture or local government.
Those applying for grants must either be former or current residents of the Cardinia shire, where the late Peter Ronald worked so hard for numerous district organisations.
The late Peter Ronald worked as a farmer in Pakenham. He had a broad range of community interests and was deeply involved in numerous local groups.
He was a councillor of the Shire of Berwick and was a former shire president.
For 50 years he served as a committeeman of the Pakenham and District Agricultural and Horticultural Society and for 45 years as a committeeman of the Pakenham Racing Club. He was president of all three organisations, in addition to the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria.
Peter Ronald always encouraged young people to participate in sport, local agricultural shows and community affairs and his legacy has been continued by his sons Bill and Jason, who were both at the Pakenham Racing Club with about 100 other attendees last week for the latest announcement of scholarships from the PB Ronald Memorial Trust – the first in four years.
“The trust is in memory of my father and my father was very supportive of young people in the Cardinia shire, particularly those involved with horticulture, agriculture or the local government – his three passions,” Bill said.
“We thought there was an opportunity to provide some money to assist young people to further their careers because my father was very supportive of the young people not only doing well for themselves but also getting better qualified and educated so they could fulfil their lives in a more purposeful way. “That’s, basically, what it’s about – local people supporting the trust and giving away money to young people to further their careers in those chosen areas.
“It’s a great concept and we’re very proud to be able to spend some money in the community to allow this to happen.”
In addition to Bill Ronald, the current PB Ronald Memorial Trust members are Chairman George Blenkhorn, Tim Ahern, Pakenham Racing Club chairman Don Duffy, OAM, Wal MacDonald, Cardinia Shire councillor Graeme Moore, Ian Thomas, OAM, and Janette Young.
Past recipient Jess Murphy was invited along to the dinner at the Pakenham Racecourse last week to talk about how the scholarship she received six years ago as an 18-year-old helped her get to where she is today.
“It gives me pleasure that I’m able to be here tonight to support such a generous program that has supported me,” she said.
“I’m Jess Murphy – a 24-year-old cattle stud owner, regional quality manager, and previous recipient of the PB Ronald Memorial Trust scholarship who has a passion for photography.
“Back in 2011 I was fresh out of high school.
“I began working part-time at Coles in Warragul studying agriculture through Community College Gippsland. It was around that time that I was first introduced to the award by my mum. She encouraged me, I nervously applied, attended an interview, and I was lucky enough to be a recipient of the scholarship.”
Jess explained that the scholarship was the first she’d ever applied for.
“The process involved many kind and encouraging people, a process which, no doubt, gave me the foundation building blocks to develop my confidence and ability to share my passion for agriculture and the local community with others,” she said.
“I used my scholarship to assist in the cost of my course fees, as well as to purchase a laptop that I could study with any time and anywhere.
“While my TAFE days are long behind me now, the laptop has come along for the journey that is life and has assisted me in applying for numerous scholarships, ambassador roles, and jobs.”
At the end of 2011 Jess started her career at Ridley Agri-Products, where she’s now a regional quality manager.
“I now manage sites across Victoria and New South Wales from a quality perspective – ensuring that we are producing the high level of stock feed that we say we are,” she said proudly.
“My mills are producing a little over half a million tonnes of stock feed per year.
“Scholarships such as the PB Ronald Memorial Fund and other local community events have certainly helped shape me into the confident young professional that I am today.
“Growing up, agriculture was always a passion of mine – some may even say it’s in my blood.
“When it comes to livestock they say don’t get attached – they have a purpose and that’s that – but no doubt I’ve broken that rule many times, and no doubt will break it many more.”
Jason Ronald also spoke about his father at last Tuesday’s function at the Pakenham Racecourse in Tynong.
“Thank you all for continuing to recognise the contribution made to the community by Peter Bruce Ronald,” he said.
“It will be 96 years ago this October that Peter Ronald was born in the Berwick hospital and 28 years ago last 24 July that he died on his property in Pakenham.
“Not many people get to speak about their fathers years after they’ve died, so for me to be invited here tonight says a great deal about the respect in which he was held by the community of Pakenham and beyond.
“What sort of a man was he? Exceptional, brilliant, standing out from the crowd? Not necessarily, but he always worked hard, tried to give helpful advice where possible, and was happy to talk with everyone and be supportive.”
Jason spoke extensively about his father’s life, which was dedicated to the local community.
“On leaving school to manage the family property, he joined the Pakenham and District Agricultural and Horticultural Society and served as president for 11 years from 1941 to 1952,” he said.
“He joined the committee of the Pakenham Racing Club in 1945 and served until his death, with 22 years as chairman.
“He played in the Pakenham Football Club’s first 18 from 1941 to 1949 and was in the premiership team in ’47 and ’48.”
But it was the year of 1949 that Jason paid particular attention to. It was the year Peter married the love of his life Heather, and – in Jason’s words – “it was said that the ensuing 40-year partnership became not only the main source of Peter’s infectious joy, which influenced all who met him, but also the stable background to his multifarious service and achievements”.
Also in 1949 Peter was elected as a councillor for the Shire of Berwick, where he served for 23 years.
It was also the year he was appointed to the council of the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria, where he stayed intimately involved for the rest of his life – including in the 1972 Royal Melbourne Show, which had more than 916,000 people attending; a record that hasn’t beaten since.
Four recipients last week were presented with scholarships from the trust named in Peter Ronald’s honour.
Janette Young presented Brendan O’Brien with his award. He’s an apprentice farrier who is training to do what he wanted to do when he left school – studying part-time at Melbourne Polytechnic.
He thanked Jason for his insight into his father’s life – admitting he’d heard little about PB Ronald before the evening but that made him feel even more humbled than he did when he first heard that he was receiving the award.
“Thank you to the trustees for sitting down with me and learning a little bit about me and the direction I’m heading,” he said gratefully.
Ian Thomas presented Ashlee De Boer with her award. She lives and works full-time at home on her parents’ dairy farm and is studying at TAFE in Warragul for a Certificate IV in Agriculture.
She said that she would use the award to add a practical course to her skills.
Don Duffy presented Michael Enticknap with his award. Michael is an apprentice arborist studying for his Certificate III in arboriculture.
He attends TAFE in Glen Waverley one day a week where he undertakes both theory and practical studies, especially safety, in arboriculture.
The fourth award was presented to Tegan Ward by Graeme Moore. Tegan was introduced to the agricultural industry, especially sheep, at school and now has a small stud of Corriedales.
She is now studying for her Certificate III and IV in agriculture at a rural industrial skills training facility in Hamilton.
Further information about the trust as well as application forms are available from trust chairman George Blenkhorn on 0429 139 902.
