Another of the many unsung heroes from "the year of '69". Rick and Marys' contributions to the many lives that they touched throughout the world has been enormous and a story worth telling. Our condolences go to Mary and family on behalf of myself and my wife Vee, as well as being the current convener of "the Year of '69" reunion committee.

We lost our friend and brother-in-law of over 50 years and are left with memories of the good times we have experienced with this knowledgeable, caring and loving man.
His quiet nature and ability to remain calm under any situation was a talent to be envied.
While the greater part of his working career was spent overseas caring for other people, at the crossroads of life, when retirement finally hit, we enjoyed several overseas adventures together.
His knowledge and discussion on world events and politics was always well informed and fair.
His love and care for family and friends was always evident.
We will remember Ric as a good example of how we should live.

Noi, dad, grand dad, special man loved by all., and especially me. I am missing you brother, father in law. I’ve known you since I was 14 - 46 almost my second dad, I have experience so much life with you, travelling the world with you and family, from Vietnam for Ben’s wedding, then Canada for Kate's wedding family mooning, you visiting us in England then travelling all over UK… you were never far and you never will be you are in or hearts forever..

My Dear Mary and Family,

Your phone call the other day shocked me to the core. While we both realized that Ric was ill we didn’t realize the seriousness of his predicament and in typical Ric style he didn’t give too much away. Carole and myself wish to offer you our condolences over your heart felt loss of your lifelong companion.

As you are aware we first met Ric in those formative years of our medical careers when we gravitated towards each other in our own little group within the faculty year. That group of half a dozen sustained that friendship for the rest of our lives. Partners were chosen and families were created and nurtured and life was lived. At times we drifted a bit as each of us did our own thing but there was always that underlying bond that kept us in touch. It has always amused me that it seems that these occasions are when we find out the more interesting details of what our companions actually got up to during the thirty to forty odd years since we first met. The recent so-called “retirement years” have once again drawn us together more closely as we wind down life’s adventure.

Before closing a few words about Ric. He was the quiet one in the group. Probably morally the best of us with a great thirst for knowledge and a seemingly magnetic attraction to libraries. Opinions were sincere and measured and he aways demonstrated a great sense of right and wrong. Quiet and unassuming he may have been but he was always ready to give his own considered opinion. He was never one to try and steal the limelight which leads me to his greatest attribute that of his stoic nature a feature of his personality that I find so admirable. Yet at the same time he demonstrated an outgoing nature and a thirst for adventure which resulted in working in the most unusual vocations and some geographically remote places around the world.

We will miss him terribly.

Vale Ric

John and I met Ric and Mary shortly after their return to Adelaide in 2005. Within a week of each other we joined the Seacombe Gardens Meditation Group. We met weekly, attended the Community Days and enjoyed when we met for meditation in one another's homes. Ric valued his meditation practice and he was a supportive member of the group. He was kind, considerate and thoughtful with a sense of humour that lurked under his quietness. We were sad to hear of his passing and we will miss seeing him at meditation and on our occasional meetings on Brighton beach. John and Rosie Hamilton