RON Filmer was the youngest of four sons born to Tom and Nellie Filmer of Avondale, Candelo.
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Brothers Bruce and Max predeceased him, while Ken still lives in Adelaide.
The family lived and were educated in Candelo and assisted their parents on the family dairy farm.
Ron married Madeline Salway and their early lives were spent at Candelo before moving to South Australia, and then to Victoria where Ron drove transport trucks, lumping wheat and delivering fuel.
Together they raised four children - Jannice, Marlene, Max and Julie - before returning in 1966 to work the dairy farm at Candelo.
In 1970 the farm was sold.
Ron and Madeline purchased a home in Bemboka where they continued to live.
The family became very much involved in the Bemboka community in such organisations as pony club, show and school activities.
Ron worked at Cochrane Dam with Bega Valley County Council for a few years before purchasing a truck and loader.
He cut and supplied timber to local and Monaro clients.
They purchased the school bus run and safely delivered children to and from school and sporting events for a number of years.
Ron had an affection for horses and his uncanny knowledge and understanding of them ensured a successful working relationship.
He taught his kids to ride and they developed into competent pony club competitors.
He loved to venture into the Snowy Mountains, camping out and sometimes bringing home a young brumby to educate.
Perhaps his greatest enjoyment came from trotters.
He bred and broke in several winning trotters.
Ron obtained a trainer’s licence and a driver’s licence and achieved success driving many winners within local and Canberra trotting tracks.
As an animal lover he worked cattle dogs and regularly had a tamed dingo in his back yard.
Together with a few willing workers he involved himself in building a poultry pavilion at Bemboka Showground so poultry shows could be returned to the village.
His birds were exhibited at shows in many parts of the state and he was a much sought-after judge.
Ron passed away on April 22, aged 76.
His death after a short illness left his family and friends with fine memories of a kind and gentle man.
A true indication of the respect the man held was evidenced when hundreds of people travelled from several parts of the country to attend his funeral.
