Ron passed away in his beloved home town of Rushworth at the Waranga Memorial Hospital on Tuesday 26th of January 2010.
Australia Day befitted such a wonderful gentleman who passed away at the age of 87 years. Ron will be remember as a pillar of the Rushworth and Goulburn Valley district for his lifelong contribution. All but for 7 months Ron lived in Rushworth all his life and worked in his family's wood mill and as a wood merchant. Few would know that when Ron was a lad of 15 years, he contracted polio and was hospitalised for 21 months in the old Mooroopna Hospital and then spent the next twelve months re-learning to walk. Despite that set back, Ron spent his life raising his family with his wife Hazel and with his brothers Jack and Roy they operated the family business known far and wide as G. Risstrom & Sons. Ron retired from active duty at the mill in 1987 but continued going to the mill every day for morning tea and to look after the books and do the banking. Ron's lifetime of contribution to his communities included six years as a Councillor with the Waranga Shire, chairman of the Waranga Hospital Board and a member of this committee for over 30 years, he was for a period of time the Chairman of the Rushworth Parks Trust, the Masonic Lodge and the Rushworth Swimming pool committee. Ron was a member of the Waranga Water Board for more than 40 years and a member of the Rushworth Cemetery Trust for 30 years. Ron's long list of sporting committment includes being President of the Rushworth Golf Club where he played for 18 years and a member of the Rushworth Bowling Club where he played for 51 years. Ron served on the Rushworth Football Club committee for 20 years and was the Tigers club delegate to the G.V.F.L. for 13 years. Ron then became a very well respected and astute member of the G.V.F.L. Independent Tribunal for many years and was a Life Member of the Rushworth Football Club and also a Life Member of the G.V.F.L. as was his father before him. Ron had claimed that he had never missed a Grand Final of the G.V.F.L. since 1927 right up to the year 2000 except for those 2 years as a 15/16 year old. Ron had often quoted, "Why would you live anywhere else when you could live in Rushworth."
To Ron's family and loved ones, the Goulburn Valley Football League offers our deepest sympathy. Vale Ron RISSTROM.
Last Modified on 08/07/2010 22:33