Obituary: Ronald (Ron) Stanley Penny

15.3.1944 - 21.2.2015

Eulogy read by Ron’s sons, Nathan and Ashley Penny at the service held at St John’s Anglican Church, Forbes, on Wednesday, February 25.

On Saturday morning, Ronald Stanley Penny died peacefully at home, in the presence of family. His fight with bowel cancer had come to an end. Ron had fought the good fight, leaving no stone unturned in his pursuit of treatment.  “I’m not afraid of dying,” he would say, “but I would be angry if I didn’t try every option.” He would add firmly, “I’ve never come second, and I’m not starting now. There’s too much work to be done.” 

That was his trademark determination. He didn’t like the word ‘no’. Ron Penny walked many roads in his life, from the farmyard to executive management, influencing thousands of people along the way.

“Doing what needs to be done may not make you happy,” wrote George Bernard Shaw. “But it will make you great.” Ron was a restless soul with big dreams. He was the kind of man who rolled up the sleeves, reached out to people, and when the occasion called for it – stepped into the ring. In short, a man defined by family, friends, and the community. This is his story.

Ron was born in Sydney in 1944 to Robert and Olive Penny. He was one of three children, with Robert as the older brother, and Sandra as the younger sister. His father was raised on a farm in north-west NSW, where he logged the Pilliga scrub until the outbreak of the Second World War. He moved to Sydney and began courting Olive, a trained nurse. They married and Robert, known as Bob to his mates, enlisted with the army, serving as a gunner in Papua New Guinea. By war’s end, Ron was born and the family lived in a housing commission house in Auburn, while Bob laboured on the waterfront.

A green change was presented when Bob Penny applied and received a soldier’s settlement of land in the Central West. In 1956, the family packed their modest belongings on a truck and headed towards the small community of Wirrinya, near the township of Forbes. Arriving in the aftermath of a flood, their truck bogged in the mire, some paddocks away from the farm cottage. Ron, then an 11-year-old boy, walked to his new home, laden with cases.

Bob gave the farm a name – ‘Picardy’, inspired by a verse from the song which he recited to Olive. “Roses will bloom on Picardy, but there will never be a rose like you.”

It was here that Ron discovered his love of the bush. On weekday mornings, he milked the cows before catching the school bus to town. At night he set rabbit traps in the hills. Often alone, but seldom lonely, Ron found purpose in the land. This would grow into responsibility when his father suffered a heart attack and was thereafter prevented from hard labour. The growing boy would learn how to work as a man.

On his first day at school in Forbes, Ron met Norm Haley in the playground and the two boys struck a rapport. “Can you show me around?” asked Ron, wearing his Auburn Primary School jumper. The two boys shared a passion and aptitude for sport. At Forbes High, the teenagers played basketball with success. Their 3rd year school team won the regional titles, and both boys were selected for the state team.

But Ron was not academically inclined, and was easily distracted. As Norm recalls, “I remember being approached by Murray Cootes, a law-enforcing teacher who pulled me aside. He advised me that I stay away from three troublemakers. The first was my brother, the second was my girlfriend – who later became my first wife – and the third was Ron Penny!”

The unruly student was not above fisticuffs. Taught how to box by his father, Ron often found himself in a stoush at school – but as his sister hastens to add – mostly in the defence of her. Sandra recalls, “From doing drawings in my science book, to defending me against school bullies. I felt I could depend on my big brother, Ron.”

“There was another upside to having Ron as my big brother,” continues Sandra. “The senior girls at high school were nice to me because they wanted to talk to him!” Before Justin Bieber, there was Ron Penny…

The unlikely sex symbol acquired his leaving certificate and returned to the farm. He was a competent young farmer, with a keen eye for animal husbandry and wool production. He worked hard on the farm, and throughout the district, developing his skills as a wool classer. On weekends, he played first grade rugby league for Forbes and met with old friends, including Noel Corliss, who lived on a farm down the road. Of their exploits, Noel says “He was stubborn and refused to get drunk, despite handling a few beers. He made it a point not to swear or behave poorly. He was simply a loyal and honest friend.”

Then in July of 1966, at a woolshed dance held on Noel Fuge’s property, the Wirrinya farmer met a girl from Parkes. Her name was Julie Mary Woods. He saw Julie from across the floor and was instantly drawn to this striking brunette. Walking purposefully across the floor, Ron drew Noel aside, and pressed for an introduction.

“Don’t waste your time, Penny,” responded Noel. “She’s out of your league. You don’t have a chance!” But Ron was persistent. “Let me be the judge.” Noel relented and made the introduction. The boy from Forbes met the girl from Parkes, and they danced the night away.

Fortune favours the bold, and so Ron arranged to meet Julie again at the Bedgerebong Show in August. He met the parents too. This was followed with a whirlwind of outings that made Ron realise if he were to ask for the hand of Julie, he would need to present himself with a far better future. “I had to raise myself to her,” said Ron, reflecting in later years.  

The young farmer joined Elders and was transferred to Narrabri, becoming a licensed valuer and livestock agent. While there, he joined the rugby club, and was a fixture in the Blue Boars first-grade side as it won its first regional premiership in 1967. “He liked to go in for a hard tackle,” says his old rugby chum, Jim Henderson.

After nine months in northern NSW, Ron returned home for Christmas. Once again he met Julie at a woolshed dance near Forbes. This time, it would take more than his sky blue eyes. With perseverance, their relationship blossomed, and their love for one another only grew stronger.

And so in June 1968, Ron made – in his words – the best decision of his life. Julie accepted his marriage proposal, and the couple were wed in Parkes on 29th March 1969.

The following year, Ron accepted a branch manager’s position with AML and F, and the couple relocated to Forbes where old friendships were rekindled, and new relationships formed. Playing in a local tennis comp introduced Ron and Julie to Murray and Maureen Field. And Julie had a liking for the produce of a local grocer who operated from a van with his name on the side. It read ‘Bernardi’s’.

Not afraid to branch out, Ron regularly joined the local TV news, now known as Prime, to present the livestock report. Before Ron Burgandy there was Ron Penny! 

The marriage soon led to a family. Ron and Julie had two sons – voila! It was a happy family that gained immense support from Julie’s mother, Monica, and her brothers and sisters, including Lex and Alison, Bob and May, Jeanette and Ken, Margaret and Bob. Ron was a family man, and he always valued the family get-togethers, where his two sons could be led astray by their cousins.

In 1983, Ron built a house on the old farm of Picardy. It was a homecoming. There were many happy days as Ron went about breeding some of the finest wool-producing sheep in the district, and the occasional bumper crop. The family also became a fixture of the Wirrinya ratpack, made famous by the families of Dent, Mattiske and Fuge.

There were also tough times on the land, and the 80s saw crippling droughts, soaring interest rates and the crash of the reserve price scheme for wool, which brought many farmers undone. Picardy held firm, but Ron was restless to do more. He was asking questions about the state of Australian agriculture, the role of government, and the wellbeing of regional communities that depended on this lifeblood. 

Ron and other like-minded entrepreneurs saw the potential of China as an export destination – especially for wool. He found a strong financial partner and friend in Steve Elias, and the two set up a company, Pan Pacific Holdings and Investments.

Among their projects were to research, develop and sell a contamination-free nylon wool-pack – long before any such pack existed. The two adventurers also led numerous delegations to China to foster trade links with senior government officials. In those early days, Ron and Steve were granted access to courts where westerners rarely stood, where red carpet literally met their entrance, and banquets famously lasted into the small hours. “You would not believe the things I’ve eaten!” Ron would say with a mischievous wink – more often than not at the family dinner table, with his two sons agog. Mum was not impressed.

The ‘90s arrived and Ron Penny was on a political mission. Labor had held Federal Government through Hawke and Keating for a decade, and Ron was deeply concerned about the welfare of regional and rural Australia. For many years, he had supported the National Party, building a network of contacts that grew outwards from the local branch level, through to Canberra.  Now was the time to act.

Ron won preselection as the Nationals candidate for the Federal seat of Calare, which contained the regional centres of Orange, Bathurst and Lithgow. It had had been held by the Labor MP, David Simmons since 1983, and he was firmly entrenched.

Ron made a note of putting himself before all audiences – whether friendly or hostile – for open and honest debate. Entire weeks were dedicated to knocking on doors. ‘A penny is all it takes’ read the campaign banners. It was a gallant campaign, and by election night, Ron had greatly lifted the primary vote for the National Party in the seat. But it wasn’t enough.

Federal Labor had succeeded in scuttling the campaign of then opposition leader, Dr John Hewson, which had centred on the introduction of a new tax – the GST. There was no escaping the fallout across electorates nationwide. Such is politics. In conceding defeat, Ron was gracious to the victor. To the campaign supporters, he delivered a speech that upheld the spirits in the room. The cause wasn’t over. The time would come again. 

Ron returned to work on the family farm, supplementing the income with a second full-time job as a wool broker for Schute Bell Badgery Lumby and then Primac.

A familiar routine saw the farmer rise in the pre-dawn, pick up clients and drive to the Yennora wool stores in the south-west of Sydney, only to return later that day.

In the late ‘90s, Ron was head-hunted for a role of industry leadership, assuming CEO for the Saleyards Operators Australia. Working alongside his old rugby chum, Jim Henderson, Ron led and oversaw the implementation of practises and technologies to improve the performance of saleyards. 

In 2001, the family lost Julie to breast cancer. It was the one fight that Ron couldn’t bear to lose. In his words, Julie had been a soulmate. The grief ran deep, with her absence resting heavy on his conscience. Julie had poured herself into the family and the farm, but her untimely death had robbed the couple of their retirement plans, which included extensive travelling. Cruelly, the travel tickets had been purchased just months in advance.

Life on the land had become tough for Ron. His sons now pursued careers in different parts of the state, and his vision for Picardy felt redundant. If things weren’t hard enough, the heavens dried and drought ensued for several years. After much soul searching, Ron realised that it was time to let go, and embrace a new life. He sold the family property in 2004, and with the company of Pippy, his trusty sheep dog, moved to the red brick house of 2 Clement Street.  

Now retired, but still restless, Ron was convinced by friends to run for the local council of Forbes Shire. Ron put his name in the hat, but promptly left the country for a pre-booked holiday, forgoing the opportunity to campaign. No worries – Ron was elected a councillor while in New Zealand, no doubt bathing in hot springs. 

In the following term, Ron became a fixture of the council, participating on every committee going around, and forging strong relationships with other councillors. All the while, Pippy rarely left his side, and was often seen in the front passenger’s seat of Ron’s car. 

In 2012, Ron sought re-election on Forbes Shire Council, but this time, with a mind to become mayor.  He was returned emphatically, and thoroughly enjoyed working with his colleagues including deputy mayor, Graeme Miller and fellow councillors. He was ably supported by general manager, Brian Steffen and his staff. It would prove a great team. 

During his time as mayor, Ron had great pleasure in seeing a number of landmark developments come to fruition. He oversaw the opening of the Forbes Homemakers Centre with Spotlight and Bunnings – the largest store west of the mountains. 

This reflected his belief that Forbes should become a lifestyle capital in the west, embracing the town’s heritage, parklands and lakeside beauty. 

As a businessman, he understood the needs of industry, and how to create an environment that attracted investors and new businesses. To this end, he was greatly encouraged when the first stage of the Central West Industrial Park was sold. 

For too long, Ron would say, Forbes was the best kept secret in NSW. He saw communication as the solution, whether tapping pollies on the shoulder at every opportunity, or focusing resources in coordinated marketing campaigns. He took immense pride in the launch of the ‘Forbes in the Heart of the Country’ tourism campaign.   

Ron also believed that health was a key priority in regional Australia, with communities impacted by an ageing population, and a widespread shortage of trained GPs and health professionals. Forbes could show leadership. The development of Jemalong Regional Education Centre (JREC) and the successful partnerships formed with both Lachlan Area Health Services and Western Institute of TAFE, have bolstered the future of rural health, and positioned Forbes as a centre of education.  

In truth, Ron saw Forbes as the heart of NSW, and was now leveraging the sum of his contacts across government and industry – and gleaned over 50 years – towards the pursuit of this goal. He maintained close links with the National Party, attending state and national conferences with his good mate, Jeff Herdegen. He now approached the party as a statesman, forming particularly strong relationships with Federal Member for Calare, John Cobb, Senator Fiona Nash, and State Member for Orange, Andrew Gee. 

On most mornings, the mayor and deputy mayor would be seen walking around the lake, discussing council matters, and stopping to chew the fat with townsfolk. It was never too rushed. On Ron’s leadership style, Graeme says: “He was a good leader. He believed in principles, and understood how a council should operate. He led without stepping on the toes of staff, which created a confidence in the office, and lifted the outcomes.”

Graeme adds: “Ron was charismatic, and had a natural gift for public speaking. Staff would often write his speech out in full and hand it to him. Ron would cast a quick eye over it, put it his top pocket, and then walk out on stage. It was always off the cuff, passionate, and memorable.”

Thank you, Graeme. Ron relished the partnership, and had great faith in the council staff.

A year ago, Ron was diagnosed with bowel cancer. Having nursed Julie through her ordeal, Ron knew where the road led. Forthright and positive, he underwent multiple rounds of chemotherapy, and while his body battled the disease, his mind remained razor sharp.

During this time, Ron received outstanding support from Robyn Miller, a true and loyal friend. A former councillor and recently retired nurse, Robyn’s support enabled Ron to maintain an ambitious workload and an array of projects. 

We would like to thank Robyn for all the good work she has done for the family.  The family would also like to thank Dr Pereira and the nurses of Forbes Base Hospital – Rachel, Mandy, Wendy, Sally and Bernadette, for their palliative care. To Doctor Hemant, who was not just a GP to Ron, but a friend too.

In his final weeks, Ron took on a new role. Arguably his proudest role, in becoming a grandfather to Abigail Julie.

Our father was many things to many people. Most of you will have stories of Ron Penny, just as we have ours. Stories where he spoke out, put it on the line, smoked the peace pipe, chipped away, got his hands dirty, got results, played the larrikin, showed respect, and walked as a grey-haired statesman.

In his final days, as he did through his entire life, we believe Ron lived the virtues of a great Australian.

We will leave you with the words of Lord Alfred Tennyson.

"Though much is taken, much abides; and  though we are not now that strength which in old days, moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are.

One equal temper of heroic hearts, made weak by time and fate, but strong in will. To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."

On Ron’s behalf, we would like to thank all of you for being a part of this man’s life.