OBSERVER: Vale Ron Field
Theatre identity Ron Field passed away peacefully in his 100th year on January 20.
Born in Wandsworth, England, on October 7, 1925, Ron’s passion for theatre was discovered when he left home at 15 and lived in a boarding house full of actors from the local theatre. He was invited backstage, saw how everything worked and wanted to be part of it.
He volunteered for the Royal Navy on his 17th birthday and served until World War II ended in 1945. Slightly injured at the end of the war, Ron was sent to a naval hospital in Sydney where he liked what he saw, returning to Australia in 1949 as a ’10 pound Pom’.
On arrival in Australia, Ron pursued his love of theatre, becoming Stage Director of the Arrow Theatre in 1950, then at the Union Theatre Repertory Company, then the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust.
In 1959, Ron was appointed Manager of the Union Theatre, University of Melbourne, where he met his future wife, Margaret, and then became Administrator of the Union Theatre until his retirement in 1984.
A visit to his wife’s family inspired Ron to choose Swan Hill as a good place to retire. He purchased a house and immediately became involved with the Swan Hill Theatre Group, producing and directing 34 productions from 1985 to 2008.
Swan Hill audiences were treated to two productions each year, 15 musicals, sixteen plays/dramas and three pantomimes.
Accordingly, Ron is said to have had a profound influence on the lives and future aspirations of hundreds of local people. The majority of his productions involved the youth of Swan Hill. In acknowledgement of his fine work, in 2012 Ron was awarded Life Membership of the Swan Hill Theatre Group.
Ron oversaw every aspect of all productions and was fortunate to have a large pool of talented actors, musicians, choreographers, wardrobe and backstage personnel to present standout productions.
Said to have been devoted to perfection, Ron expected the same from all involved. If producing a show, it was not unusual for Ron to be working at 4am building sets, much to the consternation of the neighbours.
Ron was involved in the first production of Summer of the Seventeenth Doll in 1955, forming a life-long friendship with the playwright, Ray Lawler. On the 50th anniversary of this production, Ron produced/directed the play for the Swan Hill Theatre Group, aged 80.
In 2016, Ron followed relatives Bryan and Beverley Mackenzie to Drysdale, where he lived comfortably and independently until his health declined and he moved into the Drysdale Grove Nursing Home last year.
In accordance with his wishes, Ron was privately cremated and his ashes will be interred in the rose garden at the Swan Hill Cemetery on a date to be announced. All who wish to attend will be most welcome.
Cheryl Threadgold