Many would remember Ron Guy’s Picture Framing at 90 Fryers St in Shepparton.
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A place that was always open for business, a chat, a coffee, some cheek and a lot of banter.
Owner, Ron Guy, is being remembered for his larger than life personality and welcoming nature following his death last month.
Mr Guy was born on December 21, 1927, and died on December 17, 2018, aged 90.
He was a husband to Shirley for 61 years, a loyal brother to Betty, a loving father to Joanne, Debbie and Helen, and a cherished grandfather of five.
The well known Shepparton identity called the town home his entire life, attending Fryers St Primary School and later Shepparton High School.
His skilled craftsmanship was evident at a young age, making and selling wooden coat hangers to the AIF soldiers at Shepparton Showgrounds for pocket money as a boy.
After leaving school, Mr Guy worked at Viberts Timber Yard for 27 years as a factory hand and joinery foreman, before a partnership arose with his uncle Bert Lightfoot at their signwriting and paint shop in Fryers St.
After his uncle’s retirement, Mr Guy renamed the store Ron Guy’s Picture Framing and devoted his life to the business until his retirement in 2003.
In his eulogy, his family acknowledged the respect and admiration Mr Guy received during the years through his work.
‘‘He was nicknamed the ‘Mayor of Fryers St’, he was trusted to frame many precious family memories, craftwork and sporting memorabilia,’’ they said.
‘‘This was back in the day when shopkeepers would be out front sweeping the footpath and cleaning their front windows every morning, stopping for a yarn with whoever chanced to walk by.’’
Over time Mr Guy grew to obtain an impressive display of collectibles, from stamps and coins to WEG (William Ellis Green) posters and wine.
He was known to stay back after VFL and AFL games to get a commemorative WEG poster hot off the press, which he would eagerly frame to ensure they were ready for sale on Monday morning.
His family said he would check his small change for rare or unique coins, and when he found one he would proudly add it to his growing collection.
‘‘He was a regular at the post office picking up stamps and first day covers to add to his collections, he even started collections of stamps and coins for his grandchildren,’’ they said.
‘‘His collection of wine came a little unstuck, however, back in 1974 when his underground cellar flooded during the floods and a fair few labels floated off.’’
As a young adult Ron participated in many sports including squash, cycling, boxing, tennis and most notably athletics, before turning his interests to golf and lawn bowls later in life.
A successful athlete in the 1950s, he held the state country title for the 120-yard hurdles for three years and was ranked 10th in the state for the 10000m.
‘‘Dad was a very keen sportsman and most conversations with him would be around what sport was on, who was winning and any results,’’ his family said.
‘‘His greatest memories are of carrying the 1956 Olympic torch through Shepparton and the distinction of beating Dookie College student John Landy in the Country Championships at Olympic Park ... John went on to win a bronze medal at the 1956 Olympics.’’
In a Torch Relay feature published in The News in July 2000 Mr Guy reflected on the day he carried the torch through town, something which cemented a lifelong interest in the Olympic Games.
Each of the four middle-distance runners involved in the relay through Shepparton had six minutes to travel their mile of the course.
Mr Guy said he trained for three months before the relay, carrying sandbags in place of the torch.
‘‘We had an army truck behind us and a police car ahead, travelling at the right speed ... if you were running too slowly then you got a bumper bar in the back of your knees,’’ he said.
Away from his time on the sporting field and at work, Mr Guy was an avid community man donating many hours to benefit the lives of others.
He was made a life member of the Shepparton Apex Club, Shepparton Amateur Athletic Association and Shepparton Football Club along with a member of the Shepparton Rotary Club for 20 years.
His family said it had many proud memories of Mr Guy’s community work, noting he was a generous man who always went out of his way to help other people.
‘‘Dad loved company, being out and about and helping others, as a family some of our memories growing up were the Apex Club or Rotary Club working bees ... there was a lot of camaraderie among members of these service clubs and firm lifelong friendships were made,’’ they said.
Along with this Mr Guy was also a past chairman and secretary of St Georges Rd Primary School council, chairman and treasurer of Shepparton High School PTA, member of the Red Shield Appeal organising committee and a regular blood donor for more than 30 years.
His family agreed he would be remembered as an incredibly generous person who loved a joke and a bit of friendly, if not cheeky, banter.
‘‘He was always up for a chat and a bit of cheek for visitors to his shop, many locals need only turn over a picture on their wall to have a lasting memory of his work,’’ they said.