In a service held at St John’s Anglican Church - just metres from the mayor’s Town Hall office where he spent countless hours - his sons Nathan and Ashley Penny spoke of their 70-year-old father’s devotion to the Forbes community and passion for the rural Australian lifestyle. 

Nathan and Ashley spoke of their dad’s early years, and the events that brought the family to the  Wirrinya district, where Ron’s father Bob established a successful farming enterprise.

Their touching eulogy also revealed Ron’s school days, and the earliest moments of a long career in rural industries, including woolbroking, exporting and saleyards operations.

The sons also spoke of Ron’s courtship with their mother, a young Parkes woman Julie Woods (later Julie Penny), who sadly also lost a battle with cancer in 2001. 

Ron had previously (unsuccessfully) sought to enter federal politics, as The Nationals candidate for the seat of Calare, and when he lost Julie to breast cancer, he decided to sell the Wirrinya property and move to Forbes.

In 2004 he entered local government, having been encouraged to do so by friends who saw his leadership qualities.

After two terms as a councillor he successfully sought the mayor’s role at the most recent Forbes Shire Council elections in 2012.

As related to mourners by Nathan and Ashley, Ron was “a man defined by family, friends and the community” and he set about realising his dream of making Forbes the “lifestyle capital of the central west”.

“He took great pleasure in seeing a number of landmark achievements come to fruition,” one of his sons said.

Nathan and Ashley said their father faced cancer with his trademark determination and while his body was failing, his mind remained razor sharp.

“In his final weeks he took on a new role, no doubt his proudest role, as a grandfather to Abigail.” Forbes Shire Council staff formed a guard of honour outside the church yesterday for their former mayor, with the funeral cortege proceeding to Forbes Lawn Cemetery for burial.

Friends, family and colleagues gathered at Forbes Sports and Recreation Club yesterday for the wake.