5th_australian_generation_and_beyond

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5th_australian_generation_and_beyond [2020/06/13 16:40] – judith5th_australian_generation_and_beyond [2020/08/10 17:04] (current) – [Richard John M-P] judith
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 Richard John (12 June 1945 - 8 December 2001)((information was supplied by Ilma M-P with the help of some family members and John Andersen. Photos supplied by Tom & Therese M-P)) was remembered in his eulogy as a 'family member, friend, pilot, prawn spotter, Torres Strait Island trader, and  ... Palm Island businessman.... an adventurous, kind, swashbuckling and at times crazy kind of bloke ...[who could] tell the greatest stories ... Always positive, always working hard ... People were drawn to him. He was a terrific host, loved his wine and his dinner parties and was an excellent cook'.\\ Richard John (12 June 1945 - 8 December 2001)((information was supplied by Ilma M-P with the help of some family members and John Andersen. Photos supplied by Tom & Therese M-P)) was remembered in his eulogy as a 'family member, friend, pilot, prawn spotter, Torres Strait Island trader, and  ... Palm Island businessman.... an adventurous, kind, swashbuckling and at times crazy kind of bloke ...[who could] tell the greatest stories ... Always positive, always working hard ... People were drawn to him. He was a terrific host, loved his wine and his dinner parties and was an excellent cook'.\\
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-This vibrant man was born at his parents' home in Leura in the Blue Mountains. As outlined in his parents' entry, when Richard was young the family moved first to Southport then to Bundaberg. When he was around 12 or 13 years old, the family moved to Cairns. Apart from a brief, unhappy period boarding at Brisbane Boys' College, he went to Cairns High School where he excelled at Maths and English.\\+This vibrant man was born at his grandparents' home in Leura in the Blue Mountains. As outlined in his parents' entry, when Richard was young the family moved first to Southport then to Bundaberg. When he was around 12 or 13 years old, the family moved to Cairns. Apart from a brief, unhappy period boarding at Brisbane Boys' College, he went to Cairns High School where he excelled at Maths and English.\\
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 Richard as a baby{{:baby_richard.jpg?200|}} and toddler {{:toddler_rcihard.jpg?200}} When a child, he suffered from glomerulonephritis, a disease of the kidneys.\\ Richard as a baby{{:baby_richard.jpg?200|}} and toddler {{:toddler_rcihard.jpg?200}} When a child, he suffered from glomerulonephritis, a disease of the kidneys.\\
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 Richard M-P with his elder brother: in July 1948, {{:tom_richard_july_1948.jpeg?200|}} and c.late 1950s. {{:richard_and_tom.jpg?200|}}\\ Richard M-P with his elder brother: in July 1948, {{:tom_richard_july_1948.jpeg?200|}} and c.late 1950s. {{:richard_and_tom.jpg?200|}}\\
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-On leaving school, Richard's adventurous spirit saw him going west to become a jackaroo, first on Dotswood Station near Charters Towers. His boss at Dotswood had a profound effect on Richard and they formed a lifelong friendship. He then moved to Warwombie and Wongalee near Hughenden. It was while working there that he met his future wife, Ilma Murphy, then a teacher in Hughenden.\\+On leaving school, Richard's adventurous spirit saw him going west to become a jackaroo, first on Dotswood Station near [[wp>Charters_Towers|Charters Towers]]. His boss at Dotswood had a profound effect on Richard and they formed a lifelong friendship. He then moved to Warwombie and Wongalee near Hughenden. It was while working there that he met his future wife, Ilma Murphy, then a teacher in Hughenden.\\
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 Richard turned 20 in 1965, a year after Australia introduced compulsory national service for 20-year-old males, and the year before conscripts could be sent to fight in the Vietnam War. He was rejected on health grounds as his kidneys were damaged from his childhood illness. He also had an irregular-shaped iris which required him to wear sunglasses in the bright sunshine. At the time he regretted not having the opportunity to experience Army life overseas.\\ Richard turned 20 in 1965, a year after Australia introduced compulsory national service for 20-year-old males, and the year before conscripts could be sent to fight in the Vietnam War. He was rejected on health grounds as his kidneys were damaged from his childhood illness. He also had an irregular-shaped iris which required him to wear sunglasses in the bright sunshine. At the time he regretted not having the opportunity to experience Army life overseas.\\
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 Richard had always had a love of flying. Encouraged by his father and his father's former RAAF compatriots, some of who were still pilots with the local airline Bush Pilots, Richard decided to become a pilot. While Ilma continued teaching, Richard looked after their young son and learnt to fly. He acquired his licence in 1970 and started flying. Ilma’s father was close friends with the manager of Amagraze, a cattle and prawn buying and processing company in Cairns, so he introduced Richard to the manager and, as they say, the rest is history.\\ Richard had always had a love of flying. Encouraged by his father and his father's former RAAF compatriots, some of who were still pilots with the local airline Bush Pilots, Richard decided to become a pilot. While Ilma continued teaching, Richard looked after their young son and learnt to fly. He acquired his licence in 1970 and started flying. Ilma’s father was close friends with the manager of Amagraze, a cattle and prawn buying and processing company in Cairns, so he introduced Richard to the manager and, as they say, the rest is history.\\
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 +{{:richard_flying.jpg?300|}}  Richard where he loved to be, an undated photo.\\
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-Amagraze operated prawn trawlers and they contracted Richard to fly in the Gulf of Carpentaria to find the prawns and notify the trawlers where the ‘prawn boils’ were to be found. A ‘prawn boil’ is a discolouration of the water caused by the prawns emerging from mud. Richard and a friend formed a company, purchased a Twin Comanche long range aircraft, and formed Outback Air. Over the next 28 years, Richard took the skill of finding prawns from a chance operation to a highly-skilled and technical process. He was able, using water temperature, phases of the moon, and previous wet season rain falls to predict where boats should be positioned for optimum catches. Richard was recognised as the best ‘prawn spotter’ in the Gulf. Typical of Richard, he was happy to teach the younger pilots and spotters his skills.\\ +Amagraze operated prawn trawlers and they contracted Richard to fly in the Gulf of Carpentaria to find the prawns and notify the trawlers where the ‘prawn boils’ were to be found. A ‘prawn boil’ is a discolouration of the water caused by the prawns emerging from mud. Richard and a friend formed a company, purchased a Twin Comanche long range aircraft, and formed Outback Air. Over the next 28 years, Richard took the skill of finding prawns from a chance operation to a highly-skilled and technical process. He was able, using water temperature, phases of the moon, and previous wet season rain falls to predict where boats should be positioned for optimum catches. Richard was recognised as the best ‘prawn spotter’ in the Gulf. Typical of Richard, he was happy to teach the younger pilots and spotters his skills. One means by which he did this was to write 'Aerial spotting for prawns in the Gulf', published in //Australian Fisheries//, 36:6 (June 1977) - you can read it here [[https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-745239182/view?sectionId=nla.obj-745982819&partId=nla.obj-745248145#page/n13/mode/1up| prawn spotting]]. \\ 
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 After a few years, Richard and Ilma bought out their partners who were keen to move south. Ilma gave up teaching to take on the day-to-day running of the company. By this time, Outback Air leased five aircraft and had its own engineering set-up. Richard inspired their pilots. This was demonstrated when QANTAS’s recruiting department congratulated him on the fact they employed more pilots from his small family company than any other single charter operation. On the home front, in the mid-1970s, Richard and Ilma had a daughter.\\ After a few years, Richard and Ilma bought out their partners who were keen to move south. Ilma gave up teaching to take on the day-to-day running of the company. By this time, Outback Air leased five aircraft and had its own engineering set-up. Richard inspired their pilots. This was demonstrated when QANTAS’s recruiting department congratulated him on the fact they employed more pilots from his small family company than any other single charter operation. On the home front, in the mid-1970s, Richard and Ilma had a daughter.\\
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-{{:richard_face.jpg?200|}} An older Richard. {{:richard_m-p_cchristening2.jpg?200|}}Proud grandfather Richard with one of his four grandchildren.+{{:richard_in_formal_wear.jpg?200|}}Richard the //bon vivant//  {{:richard_face.jpg?250|}}  An older Richard. \\ 
 +{{:richard_m-p_cchristening2.jpg?250|}}Proud grandfather Richard with one of his four grandchildren.
  
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  • Last modified: 2020/06/13 16:40
  • by judith