A living Footscray legend has marked a major milestone.
Ron Palmer, who has racked up a lifetime of honours in recognition of his selfless community spirit, celebrated his 90th birthday last Tuesday.
The lifelong Footscray resident joined the RAAF at the age of 18, serving for three years in the Pacific area during World War II.
His honours include an Order of Australia and the Australian Centenary Medal, and he has been named Footscray citizen of the year and the Premier’s senior citizen of Victoria.
Mr Palmer has been the chairman or president of the Footscray RSL, West Footscray Rotary Club, Footscray Historical Society, Footscray Yarraville City Band, the Footscray branch of the Australian Labor Party and a host of other local organisations.
He is a life member of the Footscray RSL, Western Bulldogs Football Club, Footscray Yarraville City Band and Footscray Community Arts Centre as well as the Gilmour College for Girls and the ALP.
He said there was an entirely straightforward explanation for his extensive community involvement.
“I wanted to do it,” he said. “I was proud to be born in Footscray; it has been my life.”
Mr Palmer is passionate about “re-greening” the west, leading numerous environmental campaigns across parks and gardens, including Cruikshank and Footscray parks, and at Stony Creek.
He said he had seen huge changes in Footscray over the years.
“I’ve seen so much change in the area,” he said. “I’m not decrying the fact, but it’s very different to the Footscray I was born in.”
Mr Palmer said his passion for the area had never slipped, but his involvement in so many activities was finally beginning to wind down.
“I’m nearly blind now,” he said. “I was always on the run, but time waits for no man. I’m still involved and certainly interested in how the city is going.”
Playing an essential role behind the scenes has been Marjorie, his wife of 57 years.
Mrs Palmer said her husband had always been involved in his work “because it needs doing”.
“He has always been active and now our boys are the same,” she said.
Those “boys” include David, who has taken over running the Yarraville Carols in the Gardens, started by Mr Palmer and the Footscray-Yarraville City Band in 1994.
