Uncle Ron, 5 May 2007
A character, a joker, a singer, my uncle. Who enjoyed a beer and loved a laugh, who brightened up life, whose positivity and optimism shone out as inspiration to me in his fight with cancer. He passed away on 5 May 2007 and I was fortunate to be able to return home for a huge funeral attended by some 700 family and friends. Countless stories were wonderfully recounted about his character. Below is the speech I prepared for my dad, which he delivered for his brother.
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Welcome and thank you for coming. I’m Harry Bymolt, Ron’s brother. With us today are Ron’s father and mother, Harm and Alice and sister Nanda, his wife Ann, and children Ross, Glen and Sonya).
1953 was the year a vicious storm lashed Holland. The dykes burst and hundreds perished. It was the year that Ron announced his arrival.
We all have our own memories of Ron, but as family we’d like to share some of the moments and memories that coloured his life.
Even as a 4 year old Ron had a good heart. One morning he decided to visit his Oma for coffee in the next town some 5 kms away. So, on his little scooter he trundled off with his neighbourhood girlfriend, completely unbeknownst to his mum. Well guess what? That little 4 year old made it to his Oma’s house those 5kms away. But when he got there and announced he’d ‘come for coffee’ he was instead scolded. His Oma was scared that if she gave him cake and chocolate he might try this stunt again. Meanwhile, back at home, his mum and everyone else were worried sick and searching high and low for little Ron.
In 1963 Opa was worried the political tensions in Europe would boil over into another war. The Bymolt family emigrated from Holland on a 6 week voyage to New Zealand. Ron was 9 years old and I was 11. Six weeks at sea was a long time for anyone. We passed the time practicing soccer on the deck, though just as often we tried to kick the balls over the very high security fence so we could watch them disappear like dots in the ocean. When we tired of that we thought nothing of leaving economy class and scampering up to the first class swimming pools on the top deck.
In 1968 my sister Nanda was married to Tim. Ron was 15. I was the best man and Oma and Opa were parents of the bride so Ron might have felt a bit left out. In fact by the end of the day no one could remember Ron being in any of the photo celebrations. He at last confessed that he was camera shy and hid around the corner for every photo. The photos had to be retaken. Nanda and Tim were fuming because they were planning to leave on their honeymoon the next day but had to dress back up and do it all again.
Ron of course had many interests and many talents. He loved boating, fishing and waterskiing, he played competitive tennis and kept birds. I remember him as being a pretty skilful soccer player too. Tim, Ron and I all played together as a family connection for years.
Ron also enjoyed local fame in music and singing with his bands Crossroads and Unfinished Business. How did this passion for singing start? A family secret is that Ron began singing duets in Talent Quests to Everly Brothers tunes. The other secret is that I was Ron’s duet partner, until my voice broke. But Ron forged on, his passion becoming a side career and recording a couple of CD’s with his bands.
Did you know, after Ron’s first cancer operation he resumed all his interests and hobbies as though nothing had happened.
At work he was a character who knew everyone’s name. Once or twice a week he’d pop into my work and by the time I was warned Ron was there he had reception cracking up with a few funnies he had up his sleeve. Then he’d march into my office when I was flat out and say ‘hey bro!’ then, ‘where’s the coffee’ and I’d drop everything to hear what’s new. And when he left people would say to me, ‘my my, you brothers are like chalk and cheese’!
Ron was always the life of the party. Family gatherings were no exception. He could imitate anyone and no joke was off limits to him! He would have us reeling in laughter with his sharp wit and punchy delivery lines.
We are going to miss the positive energy that Ron touched us all with. He lived with that positive energy and optimism right to the end in his battle with cancer. He kept saying ‘I’m gonna beat this bastard’. And I think the way he took on the biggest challenge of his life with such strength and positivity can be an inspiration to us all.
Ron, we miss you with all the love in our hearts. But I hope too, that one day soon we will be laughing together again, when we think of you and all that you brought to our lives.
God bless you
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