Ronald Armstrong Brien Hope was born 9 December 1925 at Murray Bridge, South Australia, the youngest of three sons to Edgar William Hope and his wife Christina O'Brien.

From Murray Bridge the family moved to Bordertown and then a few years later, their father was transferred to Adelaide in the Railways. He bought a house at Black Forest, where the family lived from there on.

Between 1939 and 1945 Australia was 'at war' on two fronts - Europe and the Pacific. Ron signed up for active service and for a time, he was sent to Borneo with the RAAF. At the same time as he was there, so too was his brother Ian, who had signed up for the Australian Army. They met up as often as they could. It must have been just fabulous to see one another in such an environment. At other times, Ron saw active service at Morati (Pacific Islands), This is where it is likely that he came across some Japanese soldiers and while the details are a bit sketchy as to how it all happned but he managed to bring a couple of Japanese swords home as souveniers.

After the death of his parents, Ron bought the house and some years later, after he had a family of his own, be rebuilt on the same block.

On 23 April 1966 he married Janet Simpson Paton, daughter of William Paton & Ruth Burnside.

Ron died suddenly just 5 weeks before the wedding of his younger daughter, on 9 October 1993.

A Tribute to Ronald Armstrong Brien Hope

"Today we pause to pay tribute to our dear friend and relative Ron Hope, to reflect on ways he touched our hearts and lives and to allow happy memories to bubble to the surface. We also acknowledge our powerful, whirling positive and negative emotions. We come with some regrets, wishing we had said or showed more of our love. We come with sadness, hurt by the cruelness of life which has claimed Ron in death just weeks before Heather and Peter's wedding. Sorrow and joy often puzzle us by appearing side by side in life.

We come to say good-bye, to acknowledge our heartache and to celebrate the love we have for Ron, acknowledging all we have learnt from him.

So let us look back to when Ron, a tiny handsome helpless baby is born into the home of Mr Edgar and Mrs Christina Hope at Murray Bridge in 1925. Picture their 3 sons, Ian, Lindsay and Ron, affectionately called Podge, Pinny & Dick going to primary school, learning as young lads do and helping Mum & Dad around the house.

On leaving school Ron became a milky before joining the RAAF in 1944 and serving Australia in Borneo as a leading air craftsman. On resettlement after the war Ron became apprenticed as painter. He met Frank while working at Sam Walters striking up a friendship that was to last over 40 years. Generous to a fault, friendly with everyone he met, Ron had mates all over the place.

In 1946 Ron, then known as Podge, and his brother, Ian, became foundation members of the Black Forest Methodist Cricket Club, playing in the United Church Cricket Association. Although not endowed with the finer attributes of a cricketer, Ron relied on a good eye, strong arm and plenty of luck to leave his mark on the bat and the game. When Ian or "I Hope" appeared as number 9 batsmen we knew "hope" was fading. When Ron padded up as number 10 as "R Hope" we knew things had taken a decided turn for the worse, as Ron's average over the years showed approximately 3 runs an innings. But the important point to make is that Ron was keen to play his part in making the team a success, which it was in later years.

Although he never argued, he loved to stir his friends and many of you here today will have significant memories of times spent together.

Still a bachelor in the 1960's he lived with his mother & father. Maggie came to board with her grandparents. Though not one to show his feelings he had a soft spot for Maggie and he became her "white knight". Many is the time his "Oh! Mum can't you leave the poor girl alone" would rescue her from the clutches of rigid rules. Maggie & Chris adored Ron and dreamed of the day they would be flower girls at his wedding. Of course who he married didn't concern them, just as long as he did. Imagine their despair when they outgrew flower girl status! How were they to know that Ron was so special that a girl had to fly out from Scotland to marry him. Janet arrived from Scotland in 1964 for a 2 year working holiday.

She certainly knew her own mind - she wasn't interested in going out with men! However, dinner at her girlfriend's mother's home ended quickly & Janet was whisked off to Mrs Hope's house to see Ron's films of Suva. Whoever Ron was! I don't know whether Janet ever got to Suva, however within a few weeks Ron & Janet began to go out, the 2 year working holiday turned into a 27-year happy marriage commitment - which of course was hard work - yet, good fun too. For Maggie & Chris their dream of the "wedding of the year" came true.

Ron & Janet were married at Hawthorn Presbyterian Church in 1966. Ron was 42 when Kirsty was born and although he was a little scared to hold such a fragile beauty - she, and later Heather, tugged at his heart strings. Nothing was too much trouble for him. He took them to the beach on holidays, followed them wherever they went in sport and even allowed them to support rival football teams.

Kirsty and Heather will never forget the day they went to the beach in Dad's Holden and while they were swimming, watched it roll down the incline onto the rocks. Kirsty will always remember driving with Dad to her wedding and saying half way to the Church "can't we turn around and go home?" to which her Dad replied "No way, I've worked hard to get rid of you!" And being scared and clutching Dad's arm as she walked down the aisle.

Heather, we would all wish your Dad could walk you down the aisle in a few week's time - and he would want to also. Please remember on that special day that he'll find a way to be there in spirit and don't forget he'll be sending all his love.

Ron loved family, the wider family and was open to friends and with all the people he met. Whether in Forest Avenue or at Kirsty's home in Canberra, he knew everything that happened in the street. He was warm, friendly, sincere, generous, loyal, always had a good word for everybody, loved to natter and to stir and enjoyed bowls with his mates.

It's because we love so deeply that grief burns a hole in our heart. It's because Ron has given so much of himself to all of us so generously that who he is, lives on in our hearts.

So today as you harvest your own rich crop of golden memories of Ron, take time to softly sing:

Memories

"All alone in the moonlight

We can smile at the old days

We were beautiful then

We remember the time

We knew what happiness was

Let the memories live again."

Murray Symonds, who wrote the "cricket" portion [above] upon Ron's death, went on to add,

"In fact, it may surprise many that Ron took on the role of the Honorable Minute Secretary of the Club. His brother Ian for a time was President. On showing the Minute Book to Ron recently he was somewhat surprised & pleased to recall many of the amusing incidents that befell the Club, & discuss what had happened to many of our team mates. Cricket & his love of all sport made it very easy to chat to Ron, as a neighbour of over 50 years standing, we will miss him."

LINK to Home Page (Preamble)

Thomas Hope (great grandfather)

Richmond Hope (grandfather)

Edgar Hope (father)

Ian Hope (brother)

Lindsay Hope (brother)