You’d be forgiven for thinking Ron Chesher didn’t sleep in his 95 years, but after a lifetime of serving his community, the champion of surf lifesaving in the shire is finally at rest.
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Ronald Clarence Chesher OAM – AKA Mr Big – worked for both the Far South Coast branch and his beloved Moruya club. He died peacefully on October 16.
Mr Chesher served in New Guinea, came home, helped found the Moruya club (which was abandoned during the war), Rotary, the Chamber of Commerce and the golf club, and joined the RSL.
He did all of this while running Moruya’s supermarket – which he turned into the first automated supermarket on the South Coast.
He was club president in 1947, stepped down to be captain in 1948 and became president again in 1949 – a role he held for the next 25 years, before retiring in 1974.
Women weren’t accepted as surf club members then, but he had the love and support of his wife Heather all the way. Mr Chesher remained involved in the community institutions he helped found up to the very end of his life – he and Mrs Chesher were recognised this Australia Day for their mammoth contribution, as Moruya’s Citizens of the Year.
Nephew Col Chesher said at the time that Mr Chesher was unstoppable. “He’s 94 years of age, and still wants to chair our meetings,” he said. “He’s one of those people you cannot keep down.”
Fellow club member Max Hogno moved to Moruya in 1965 and says Mr Big was quick to recruit him to the branch.
“I was only in town about a week when Ron came across and said ‘I am taking on the presidency of the branch and I need a secretary’.
“Ron was president when I joined the club and had already set a benchmark for club officials,” Mr Hogno said.
“He was very down-to-earth, very committed – one hell of a bloke.
“He was always Mr Big.
“Ron in his youth was a nine stone fullback for the local A-grade rugby league team - small in stature, big of heart.”
Mr Chesher was a life member of the club.
“He had not had the best of health of recent times and I sure all members like myself were devastated, although we had been expecting (his death),” Mr Hogno said.
Branch spokesman Andrew Edmunds passed on condolences to the family and club.
“Ron was a key member of the surf club history and was recognised with life membership at club, branch, state and national level,” he said.
“May he rest in peace and will be sorely missed.”
