Keilor resident Ron Carmichael, 85, talks to Priscilla Mocca about life, love and community.
What do for a living?
I’m now retired but I was a beverage engineer.
How long have you lived in Keilor?
Close to 45 years.
What’s your connection to Brimbank?
I’m a charter member of the Brimbank Central Rotary Club and have been involved for the past 40 years. My main role was to run the art show, which I did for 21 years.
I also started up the Probus Club of Taylors Lakes in 2013, which is a Rotary project for active retirees. There are 92 paid members now and we do many different things throughout the month, such as dinners, walks and helping other elderly people. We have a general meeting on the forth Monday of every month, at 10am at Taylors Lakes Hotel. Everyone is welcome to come along.
How did you and your wife meet?
Melva and I lived in North Sydney in our youth, and we were part of a church group. Someone who fancied themselves a matchmaker in the group thought we’d go well together and told me so. I was 15 years old, and it was her 16th birthday.
She’s an identical twin and I saw her crossing the road with her sister. I don’t know why I chose her but I did and I dashed over to say hello. We’ve now been married for 62 years.
How many children do you have?
We have three children – one daughter, who is 57 years old, and two sons, who are 55 and 53. We also have six grandchildren.
Biggest lesson you learnt as a parent?
Three great ones actually – it’s better to be nice than nasty, there’s always room for compromise and always keep plenty of love in your heart.
Melva and I are still a loving couple after 62 years from sticking to this advice.
What do you like about Brimbank?
It’s not too built up but it’s still close to everything.
There’s good roads and freeways to take us everywhere.
What would you change about your suburb?
I don’t think anything – there’s still plenty of trees around and the new developments seem pretty reasonable. In all these years, I’ve never wanted to move.
What is your earliest childhood memory?
Being struck by lightning – we lived in a country town and I was standing on the back step … my brother was rushing to bring in the firewood when I was struck. He said I had a glowing red halo; he thought I was on fire.
I wasn’t a very good student but I was awarded top of the class in year five, when I was 10 years old. It encouraged me greatly and helped me perform better. Science went on to play a huge part in my life and I topped our school of 1000 in science, which shows recognition of anything in life is a very important thing. We should always respect people for the good they do.
Probus Club details: 9336 7091
