A life of love, leadership and legacy

Born: March 5, 1937

Died: December 19, 2025.

Ronald Arthur Lawrence, affectionately known as RAL, was born in Deniliquin on March 5, 1937, the son of Arthur and Evelyn Lawrence. He had an older sister, Patricia.

Ron attended Deniliquin Intermediate High School from 1945 at a time when most teenagers finished school at 15, having attained their Intermediate Certificate.

However, Ron was one of two students who completed their Leaving Certificate in 1953. A born leader, he was school captain from 1950 to 1952.

While at school he had various jobs, including a bottle washer and soft drink maker at the Deniliquin Butter Factory, a bus boy at Roy Nankivell Service Station, shelf stacker at Richards Café and Fruit Store, and grocery delivery collector and shelf stacker at Page’s North Deniliquin Grocery Store.

In 1951 the Rotary Club of Deniliquin initiated an award for Student of the Year, with Ron Lawrence as the first recipient.

His prize was a plane trip to Melbourne, where he was hosted by Williamstown Rotary Club.

Ron was a keen footballer, winning the North Deniliquin Football Club best-and-fairest in 1952 before playing more than 90 games with the Deniliquin Football Club Reserves.

He was a committed clubman, serving as secretary of Deniliquin Football Club in 1957, a position previously held by his father Arthur and grandfather George.

When he finished school, Ron was called up for National Service, serving in the airforce, after which he was offered a position of accountancy clerk with local accountants T J Fawcett and Co.

It was during this time he met the love of his life, young bank teller Rae Nolan.

While they knew each other through the finance business, it was at local dances that Ron and Rae became more acquainted, dancing the nights away.

They were married on December 29, 1962 and had three sons – Craig, Kevin and Greg.

The boys grew up and added three daughters-in-law to the family – Sharon, Jodie and Leesa – who blessed Ron and Rae with five grandchildren – Jordan, Jesse, Grace, Hanna and Stan.

In their early years together, Ron and Rae had a short stint in Melbourne where he finished his accountancy studies.

They then returned to Deniliquin where Ron started his own accountancy practice, opening his first office in Cressy St in April 1966, then in 1971 he bought land in Whitelock St and built a modern office space.

Ron was a well-known and successful local accountant for 23 years, eventually selling the practice in 1989, after which he shared his exceptional financial skills as office manager at Navorina Nursing Home for 13 years.

Apart from Rae and his family, Ron’s other loves included Deniliquin Golf Club, Collingwood Football Club and horse racing.

He was also involved in sports the children were playing, including football, little athletics, basketball and golf.

At Deniliquin Golf Club he was an active member for six decades, including handicapper, vice president, member of the club history committee, and Board member for a number of years.

Golfing achievements included four holes-in-one, winning the Picker’s Cup twice with Rae, a best score of 73, and playing in winning A and B-grade pennant teams.

Ron was a passionate Collingwood Football Club social member, with many family car trips to Victoria Park, Waverley and the MCG.

He was a member of the Victoria Racing Club and organised many trips to Flemington for Derby week.

He loved the history of horse racing, the bloodlines and the jockeys.

The Spring Carnival was his favourite time of year.

At home, he was king of the barbecue, and his fillet steaks were legendary.

Ron loved Deniliquin and was an incredibly generous man to a lot of people in his home town. He accomplished much that people did not know about.

Ron had a good life – he worked hard, travelled, golfed, read, danced to his favourite music and was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend. He loved, and he was loved in return.

Ronald Arthur Lawrence will be fondly remembered.