Rural Australia champion farewelled

The service was watched via live streaming at St Cuthbert’s Anglican Church Yarrawonga by about 70 mourners where four well-known locals spoke at a Wake.

Mr (Frederick) John Richards, 87, passed away in his sleep on April 28 in Melbourne, just a few weeks after leaving Yarrawonga – the town he loved and lived in for 50 years.

John was recognised with several honours throughout his life. He was Yarrawonga’s 2004 Citizen of the Year. In 2005, he received a Rural Health Volunteers Award from the Victorian Department of Human Services.

In 2007, John was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in 2007 for “service to the community of the Moira Shire, particularly as a contributor to health sector development, and to the newsagency industry through the Victorian Authorised Newsagents Association”.

On April 10, 2015, he was awarded the Degree Doctor of Science in Wodonga.

John’s wonderful vision to support ageing in country Victoria was backed by a generous donation which enabled the establishment, in 2002, of the John Richards Centre for Rural Ageing Research within La Trobe University, Albury-Wodonga Campus.

At the funeral service last Friday, tributes were delivered by John’s nephew Sam Marchant on behalf of the family and Professor Irene Blackberry in respect of La Trobe University.

Included in Sam’s tribute was: “The Richards/Marchant families are saddened to announce the sudden death of our brother and loved family member (Frederick) John Richards, known to everyone as ‘John’. He was the second son of Gwen and Ulysses Richards (deceased) and lived a remarkably active and generous life during his 87 years.

“Philanthropically motivated he devoted himself to supporting his family, friends and other interests in health and education services.

“Through the years John has held a highly eclectic range of occupations ranging from jackaroo, conscript, real estate, superannuation, newsagent, farmer and caravan park owner. His business interests included real estate, superannuation and investments. ‘Unsurprisingly retired’ was a position he held in name only.

“John was never above a humorous prank at family gatherings and was loved by the whole family. John is survived by his sister Margaret and brothers Rick, Glen and David. He will be sadly missed by all.”

Professor Blackberry said the John Richards Centre was made possible through the “vision, commitment and generosity of its benefactor John Richards OAM who wanted to improve the lives of older Australians”.

“The centre is a cornerstone of our regional research program. Its work has a positive impact on many communities across regional Victoria and Australia,” she said.

“The John Richards Centre for Rural Ageing Research is the only research centre of its kind that specialises in rural ageing research and program development.”

In a beautifully presented 36-page booklet celebrating 15 years of the centre in 2017, Professor Blackberry, as Director and Chair, John Richards Centre for Rural Ageing Research and prefaced by Professor John Dewar AO referred to John being “a gentle person who was generous and determined”.

“The University will honour his memory in the continued work of the John Richards Centre and our determination to fulfil John’s vision that philanthropy can make a difference and improve the lives of older rural Australians.”

A media statement by La Trobe University, issued by Professor Blackberry and Dr Sean MacDermott, included reference to Rural Australia losing “one of its finest champions in John Richards OAM”.

Passion for rural living

Although John grew up in Melbourne and was educated at Malvern Grammar School, he developed a passion for rural living and agriculture in his early life. During his last two years of secondary school, John studied Agricultural Science at Burnley Agricultural College.

After obtaining work at the Newmarket Saleyards, he beat a lot applicants for a position of Jackeroo in Gerogery, near Albury, completed three months National Service and returned to agriculture managing a property at Ballarat before a farm accident meant a change - to a superannuation firm in Melbourne then Sydney for six years before entering a newsagency in Brunswick.

A few years later, the opportunity to run the Yarrawonga Newsagency arose. John jumped at the chance to live in a rural area again and pursue his longstanding interest in agriculture. He managed the newsagency for 28 years.

Yarrawonga resident Nancy Wright started working “within days“ of John managing the business he took over from Chic Fawcett in 1973. “Yarrawonga has been so fortunate to have had John Richards as a respected, generous and well-loved member of the community for 50 years,” she said.

Brendan Clarke was an employee of John’s for 18 years at the Yarrawonga Newsagency, and together with former employees, Annette Lonie, Nancy Wright, Katrina Seccull, Bev Whinray, Henry Skewes, Allyson Clarke, Yvonne Vermey, Amanda Seccull and Christine Hicks, said a very successful business thrived.

“John was an outstanding businessman within the community, understanding, generous, hardworking with integrity second to none,” Mr Clarke said.

“As a young lad of 17 straight out of school, John was a fine mentor to me and many others, and instilled life values that helped shape the lives of many people who worked under him. John employed 20 local kids earning money for the first time in their lives.

“I will be forever grateful for the contribution John Richards made to the Yarrawonga community, and he leaves a legacy that will never be forgotten by me.”

As ‘paper boys’ for some two years with the Yarrawonga Newsagency, Jeff and Tim Long very much enjoyed delivering the newspapers for valued pocket money and appreciated the support of their boss.

Outstanding background

John had an outstanding background in Yarrawonga as exemplary businessman managing the newsagency and serving as member, chairman, vice president and president of the Yarrawonga District Health Service Board of Management for some 22 years.

From there, Mr Richards was instrumental in the establishment of the Moira Healthcare Alliance, being President of the Alliance from 2002 to 2005, and remaining on the board until 2008.

Upon being awarded the Degree Doctor of Science in Wodonga in 2015, he told the Yarrawonga Chronicle: “It was absolutely magnificent. It was a great day.

“I’m very pleased with the progress made. It’s all going very well, with three PH.D. academic achievers completed and more on the way.”

Yarrawonga Health Board Chair at the time, Margaret Hauser, commented in 2015 about the ceremony: “It is extremely well deserved. The work and effort John has put into health and aged care is amazing.”

“John ensured that his philanthropic gift was matched and grown through partnerships with La Trobe University and the Victorian Department of Health,“ she said.

“While we have maintained our base at the Albury-Wodonga campus, we now have clusters of staff and students located in Bendigo, Mildura and Melbourne campuses.”

Upon John’s passing, staff and students of Albury-Wodonga Campus, La Trobe University issued the following statement: “John was an outstanding citizen who cared and thought deeply about the future of his community of Yarrawonga and the wider community of rural and regional Australia. John was always a man of action and volunteered in roles across the community, including business, health, community services and agriculture. John was also a generous philanthropist.

“John’s vision and generosity founded the research centre for rural ageing at La Trobe University’s Albury-Wodonga Campus. Through scholarships he supported local students achieve their goal of university study. The Albury-Wodonga Campus is enriched by John’s legacy.”

The Yarrawonga Wake

The local live streaming at St Cuthbert’s Church was organised by Brendan and Nancy, in conjunction with church officials and a Wake held in the church hall over a lovely cuppa and delicacies, with Brendan as Master of Ceremonies.

John loved Yarrawonga and did not want to leave town but felt he had no choice after a dreadful scamming incident. He had been a client of Yarrawonga’s most senior and qualified doctor, Dr. Clyde Ronan for some 40 years. “He died of a broken heart in my view, soon after leaving Yarrawonga,” Dr Ronan said.

“Hospital board chairman for six years, seven as deputy and 22 years on the board, with a tenacious thoroughness and an agreeable manner with people…remarkably, a philanthropist supporting La Trobe University…all this and more added up to him being a well-grounded contributor to the world that he saw, touched and eventually left. John followed his visions without an over-inflated sense of self-worth.”

Past president and board member Jack Sterkenburg also outlined John’s remarkable background and mentioned another facility named after him. “John was awarded a Life Governorship in 2005,” Yarrawonga’s former top shire engineer said.

“In 2016, Yarrawonga Health named the new student accommodation in Lynch Street after John, for his significant contribution to the health service and the health industry in Victoria.

“The accommodation building has housed many students who are studying their placement rounds with the hospital.

“Staff at the administration building always looked forward to John popping in to say hello and he greeted all with a smile. John always showed a passion and an interest in what was going on.”

Elaine Bellis served as hospital secretary when John was board chairman. “John was always friendly and ready to be there for you. It makes such a difference to work with someone like that,” she said.

“He always managed to get things done thoroughly – with a smile. John was a wonderful contributor and a respected gentleman.”

John meant so much to so many people. Brendan Clarke was one of those persons who so gratefully appreciated his former boss and friend, and gave many examples of his learnings from John and his generosity.

Rev. Ghiloni commented at the Melbourne church service John had lived “a full life, was caring, interested and made significant contributions”.

John Richards OAM was a wonderful, successful businessman who made such huge contributions, especially to rural health. He was, indeed, a rural Australian champion. John leaves behind a remarkable legacy that will endure for many years to come.