Ronald Ernest Ellis

His mother Emily was one of thirteen children born to Henry & Emily Daw, who arrived from England 1862. The Daw family travelled by bullock dray to Warcowie Station, near Hawker to live, then onto Saltia which was a thriving little township, after tragedy struck them with the drowning of their daughter Jane they moved on to Carriewillia, Pandurra and then started a boarding house at Lincoln Gap, they also became the licensees of the Standpipe Hotel and later the Gibson's Camp Hotel.

Ron grew up surrounded by family he had many Aunts, Uncles and cousins.

Ron's father Ernest, fondly known as Ernie was originally employed by the Commonwealth Railways in the construction of the East West line; then he became a guard stationed at Tarcoola.

Around the time of Ron's birth he shifted back to Port Augusta to ensure the education of his children, he then commenced employment as a storeman and packer at Young & Gordon's, and bought their family home in Jervois Street. Ron's mother passed away at the age of 47 in 1932, and his father passed away in 1954.

at 74years of age. His mother's death was a traumatic event in Ron's life; he was only twelve years of age. His dearly loved older sister Joyce took on the roll of mother and housekeeper keeping the family together.

Ron enjoyed growing up in Port Augusta, with many family outings and gatherings. He loved to tell the stories of his childhood memories to his children and grandchildren, his wit kept everyone amused, he also decided to write some of his memories down.

One childhood event he recalled in his writings on the family history was the celebrating of Guy Fawkes Day. Ron had been born on the 5th of November which was the day that everyone celebrated the historical event of "Guy Fawkes" attempting to blow up Parliament House in England.

We would like to share one of Ron's Stories with you.

"Guy Fawkes day was upon us; it was highly popular at that period of time. All the preparation was in hand, family members invited for a wonderful night's celebration. A huge bonfire on the beach, made up of anything that burned, topped with a dummy Guy Fawkes. Stacks of fireworks, including crackers, pin wheels, roman candles, flares, jumping jacks, double bangers and ten great ship's rockets, enough to blow the lid off parliament house, everyone had arrive by 4.00pm. Tables laden with food, tea and coffee laid on soft drinks for the "Tin Lids". Fabulous!

At 6.30pm, all moved to the beach in preparation for a spectacular event, chairs and blankets for the women and kids. Too early to fire the bonfire as yet not dark enough. Crackers and rockets going off far and wide, people every where with children, several bonfires already burning, reflecting across the still water.

Grandfather had set two 5 foot pieces of pipe in the beach, facing out over the sea, these to cradle the rockets prior to firing. It's now nearly dark, time to fire the bonfire. Grandfather does the honours with his tar torch, every one having a whale of a time and so the evening wore on. Eight ships rockets had been sent aloft including four star shells. A wonderful night the bonfire is now reduced to embers and beginning to effect peoples eyes, so we all retreat to the confines of the backyard. Meanwhile the boys (unknown to the family) had pulled the pipes from the beach and set them up at the side of the house in their haste they hadn't set them deep enough.

These rockets are quite dangerous in inexperienced hands.

Imagine people sitting sedately in the back yard, children still letting off a few fireworks when suddenly a great fiery missile comes boring around the corner of the house with a roar and four foot of flaming tail. It skidded off the side of the house hit the fence at several spots did about two orbits in the yard. Women and kids all heading inside fast, they were all wised up to what steps to take in an emergency (long and fast). In the meantime the rocket had finally skidded off the top of the stone fence and was making a bee line across the gulf, straight for the West Side Jetty.

The people on the jetty must have seen it coming, because they took off en-mass, and the poor old rocket hit the end of the jetty with a resounding explosion which echoed across the water, it was a sight to see. All the coloured stars flying around the jetty amid a big pool of smoke yep best Guy Fawkes night us kids ever had!

Grandfather didn't see the humorous side to it, up to that moment no one had ever heard him swear until he blasted the boys. Well, it was an education program as they learnt a few more words not known in their vocabulary at the moment. "So be it"."

This is a testament to Ron's wit and his personality.

Ron attended school in Port Augusta and on leaving school went to work at Young & Gordon's where his father worked. Then World War Il broke out and like many others he enrolled to fight for his country. Ron was enlisted into the Services on the 14th October 1941.

While in Adelaide, he attended a church dance given for the service personnel; this is where he met his future wife, Daphne Clisby. Daphne (Ron always called her 'Daph') worked in an ammunition factory during the war making detonators, it was a whirl wind romance, and they became engaged on the 1st of January 1942 and had planned to marry in Adelaide that same year. As soon as the Jap's came into the war, there was panic and the Government stopped all service leave. Ron was sent off to Laverton air training base and, despite difficulties of travel at the time, especially between states, Daphne followed him to Victoria.

Ron met her at the railway station having booked a hotel where she could change, and they were married in Scots Church, Melbourne on the 4® April 1942, just the two of them. Travel restrictions kept Daphne in Melbourne for several months until she found a way out illegally, via Mildura, back to her family in Adelaide. Ron had been posted overseas. This whirl wind war marriage lasted nearly 63 years with the death of Daphne in March 2005.

Ron became a flight engineer a member of No.1 Air Ambulance Unit which evacuated the wounded behind the front lines of the Middle East to Algiers, to Sicily and across Italy to the outskirts of Naples. He recalled Churchill visited the troops while he was at Castel Benito in Triplis and later King George VI.

Ron returned to Australia in 1944 and he and Daphne reunited at Port Pirie where Ron was stationed until his discharge in 1945.

Daphne herself a twin, gave birth to twin sons, Barry and Wayne at Port Pirie on the 22d April 1945. Brenton was born at Calvery Hospital, Adelaide in May the following year 1946, and Merilyn at Port Augusta in September 1949. This was his family.

Daphne moving into her Augusta Terrace Trust home thought she had arrived at "the last place on God's earth" after city life. They soon settled in and she developed a love of the bush and country picnics and camping holidays.

Ron had been doing fitting and turning in the Air Force and he gained work with the Commonwealth Railways back in Port Augusta as an assistant in the blacksmiths shop, undertaking study and then working his way up to fitter in charge of the Budd Cars, the passenger cars that ran between, Pimba, Port Augusta and Port Pirie.

Ron was the handyman type and drew the plans for their home in Dartmouth Street, which they were able to build with the help of a war service loan, paid off on his retirement from the Railways. It was a happy home; they shared a fondness for animals. They built a stable for Merilyn's horse, and over the years they had a kangaroo, chooks, rabbits, Galah, cats, dogs, a duck and ferrets.

Ron loved working on cars, he always seemed to have a vehicle in the yard tinkering away at and loved his Van Guard's. The boys all following in his footsteps "tinkering", and they all became tradesmen like their father. The boys can tell numerous stories of "when they borrowed dad's car", and how he was greatly relieved when they got their own modes of transport, motor bikes and cars.

This relief didn't last too long, next thing his yard was filled with not only the boys' vehicles but also their mates' vehicles. Ron's well cared for and beloved "work tools" were now being misplaced, lost, lent or left in the dirt or rain.

Ron had always enjoyed good health throughout his life; it was only the last few years that his health was not good. He liked his 'rollies' (smokes), a good cup of tea, and the occasional beer. He loved going fishing and shooting and off camping with the boys and Uncle Harry Williams who had taught them all so much about the bush. Ron had never learnt to swim, which was quite a mystery, having lived in Port Augusta by the beach all his life and having his own fishing boat.

Ron began to have a few problems with his toes on one foot, this he completely ignored, "as you would", especially when you hated going to a doctor. When he finally went off to the doctor things weren't looking too good, and as a result of this he had to undergo the trauma of having his leg amputated, and several months at Hampstead to rehabilitate.

Daph and Ron were fortunate to have Barry living with them; during their twilight years Barry kept the home together and cared for them. Ron dearly missed Daph as she had always loved and fussed over him up until her passing. Ron's health steadily started to decline, this was when the move was made to have him live at Flinders House at Quorn. Ron received wonderful care from the management and staff of Flinders house and the nursing staff at the Quorn Hospital. The family sincerely appreciate their dedication and wish to thank everyone who contributed to his well being.

Dear Ron you may now lay at rest with your beloved Daphne for all eternity.

Port Augusta local Paper 'The Transcontinental' published the following article of Ron and wife Daphne on the 3rd of April 2002 which reads:

to 60 years of marriage

Ron and Daphne Ellis celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last Thursday.

Theirs was a war-time romance which began at a party in Adelaide during Ron's tauning with the Royal Australian Air Force. Daphne Clisby was an Adelaide girl, who worked in an ammunition factory during the war, making detonators.

They met in September and became engaged on January 1, 1942, planning to marry in Adelaide that year. But, the Japanese intervened.

"As soon as the Japs came into [the war), there was panic, and the Government stopped any service leave," Ron says. He was sent to Laverton air training base and, despite the difficulties of travel at the time, especially between states, Daphne followed him to Victoria.

Ron met her at the railway station, having booked a hotel where she could change, and they were married in Scots Church, Melbourne. Travel restrictions kept Daphne in Melbourne for several months, until she found a way out, via Mildura.

Ron became a flight engineer, a member of No 1 Air Ambulance Unit, which evacuated the wounded behind the front lines of the Middle East. His unit followed Rommel for more than two years through the Middle East to Algiers, to Sicily and across Italy to the outskirts of Naples.

They were memorable years. Churchill visited the troops while Ron was Castellbenito in Triplis, and later, King George VI.

Ron returned to Australia in 1944 and he and Daphne reunited at Port Pine, where Ron was stationed until his discharge in 1945

Daphne, herself a twin, gave birth to twin sons, Barry and Wayne, at Port Pine in 1945. Brenton was born at Calvary

Hospital the following year, and Merilyn (now Jeromin) at Port Augusta in 1949.

Ron had been a fitter and turner in the Air Force and gained work with the Railways at Port Augusta as an assistant in the blacksmith shop, working his way up to fitter in charge of the Bud cars, the passenger cars that ran between Port Augusta and Port Pirie

He retired at the age of 60.

Daphne, moving into their Augusta Terrace Housing Trust home, thought she had arrived at "the last place on God's earth"

"But it's nice now," she adds Daphne quickly developed a love of the bush, and she and Ron often took their family on country picnics and camping trips.

Ron is the handyman type and drew the plans for their present home, in Dartmouth Street, which they were able to build with the help of a war service loan, paid off on his retirement from the Railways.

It was a happy home. Ron and Daphne share a fondness for animals. They built a stable for their daughter's horse and they had a kangaroo and a goanna that they could pat. Somehow, whenever they left the gate open, more creatures seemed to appear - a rabbit, cats, a big duck, and one day, a chameleon, or thorny dragon climbed up on the verandah.

At nearly 4'11" (147cm), Daphne reckons Ron "thought he could handle me better than a bigger woman"

• At age 85 to

Ron's 81. she laughingly calls him "my toy boy"

"I took good care of him, anyway," she says

"Definitely," Ron replies. "I wouldn't want to be without her"

All four of the couple's children live in Port Augusta Ron and Daphne planned to celebrate their anniversary with a family gathering on the weekend

Daphne Ellis - Obituary

Daphne was born one of identical twin girls on the 6* October 1916 in Adelaide, her sister died shortly after birth. She was only very young when her mother died. With such a big family to raise her father remarried shortly after, this was the only mother Daphne ever knew and the only Nan her children knew. Her father also died as a relatively young man leaving the responsibility to his wife.

Her life was a fairly sheltered life with her older sisters Evelyn and Audrey taking her under their wing. Her father was a very strict man and they were brought up and attended the Church of Christ regularly. Daphne played the organ for the church and also taught Sunday school, her only outings were church gatherings or socials or the occasional picture show. Although she didn't attend church in her later lite she always read a passage from the bible every night before she went to sleep. This was her time with her Lord.

Daphne worked in an ammunition factory during the war making detonators. She met Ronald Ernest Ellis and their wartime romance began at a party in Adelaide during Ron's training with the Royal Australian Air Force. They met in September and became engaged on January 1st 1942, planning to marry in Adelaide that year. But the Japanese intervened.

"As soon as the Japs came into the war, there was panic and the Government stopped any service leave." Ron was sent to Laverton air training base and, despite difficulties of travel at the time, especially between states, Daphne followed him to Victoria.

They met at the railway station, having booked a hotel where she could change, and they were married in Scots Church Melbourne on the 4th April 1942. Travel restrictions kept Daphne in Melbourne for several months until she found a way out, via Mildura back to Adelaide.

Ron became a flight engineer, a member of No. 1 Air. Ambulance Unit, which evacuated the wounded behind the front lines of the Middle East. His unit followed Rommel for more than two years through the Middle East to Algiers, to Sicily and across Italy to the outskirts of Naples.

Ron returned to Australia in 1944 and he and Daphne reunited at Port Pirie where Ron was stationed until his discharge in 1945. Ron had been a fitter and turner in the Air Force and gained work with the Commonwealth Railways at Port Augusta as an assistant in the blacksmith shop, working his way up to fitter in charge of the Bud cars, where he remained until his retirement.

Daphne herself a twin gave birth to twin sons, Barry and Wayne, at Port Pirie on the 22° April 1945. Thirteen months later Brenton was born at the Calvary Hospital on, 24" May 1946. Then Merilyn was born in Port Augusta on the 27" September 1949. This was to be their family, four children in four years were more than enough to handle.

Daphne, moving into their Augusta Terrace Housing Trust home, thought she had arrived at "the last place on God's earth". But soon developed the love of the bush and sea and often took their family on country picnics and camping trips.

Ron drew the plans for their present home in Dartmouth Street, which they were able to build with the help of a war service loan and pay off on his retirement from the Railways.

It was a happy home; they shared a fondness for animals. They built a stable for Merilyn's horse, and over the years they had a kangaroo, chocks, rabbits, galah, cats, dogs, a duck and ferrets.

Daphne lived for her husband and family, but boy were those boys a handful. The stories they tell: Wayne (when he was little) remembers tipping all the washing powder out and filling up the box with dirt, his mum had boiled the old copper up to wash and then covered everything in dirt. He doesn't say if his bottom was sore afterwards.

Barry, Wayne and Brenton must have overheard someone say that the chooks needed more shell grit for the eggs. So thinking they were helping filled the chooks crops up with stones, the result being they all died. Also, the baker old Matty Carter always cursed those snowy-headed Ellis boys who always played a trick on him when he delivered the bread - or locked him in so he had to climb the fence to get out.

As teenagers the boys still got up to mischief, shooting their air rifle through the wire screen of their bedroom window or parking their motorbikes in her lounge.

When the grandchildren came along, they idolized their little Nana (she only stood 4'11"), and it was always great excitement when they were nearly as tall as Nana, then the great grandchildren followed suit.

Stephan will always remember with love, the time that he lived with his Grandparents, their care and the values they taught him. Also, the times when his cousins visited to play and the mischief, they managed to get into.

Michelle, Petrea and Leah all loved to get into Nana's wardrobe and try on her clothes and shoes. Petrea was excited when Nana's pale blue wedding dress fitted her.

Daphne dearly loved the whole family and managed to buy Christmas, and birthday presents and always an Easter egg for everyone.

Clayton on receiving his Easter egg thought it was too lovely to eat and kept it in the freezer for five years just to look at.

Christopher remembers that Nana always had a cold compress on hand when he visited, he always managed to hit his head or do some damage to himself.

She was very proud of Naomi's achievements in her nursing career in Sydney and enjoyed keeping the rest of the family up to date with her progress. Sadly, Naomi was unable to be here today but made a special visit earlier in the year.

There was always a never-ending throng of family visitors to the home. No matter when or whoever visited they were always greeted with a cup of tea, biscuits and cake, or home-made scones and a good chinwag.

Daphne's life revolved around all her family, and they will miss her dearly.

We all have our own thoughts and memories of this dear lady, and these will remain in each of our hearts forever.

God bless and keep her safe, in the hands of the Lord.