One of our very faithful sponsors, Mr Ron Southall, passed away recently. He was 91 years of age.

Mr Southall had been a sponsor of residents at Raphael for more than 50 years!

He was a very private person, devoted to his family and special friends.

I never met Mr Southall personally, as he didn’t attend our functions, but reliably, after receiving his annual sponsorship renewal reminder, a cheque would arrive in the mail from him.

He had taken a special interest in Bharat, a long-term resident of Raphael.

Mr Southall was one of the partners in a very successful local business in Ballarat which ran until he became unwell, and his loyal business partner retired. He was very well respected by all the people who worked in the business over the years. 

We thank Mr Southall most sincerely for his unwavering and long-standing support for ‘the relief of suffering without discrimination’, after the example of our founders, Leonard Cheshire and Sue Ryder.

May He Rest in Peace. 

Dorothy Carpenter, Ballarat Support Group