Former Shepparton resident Ro Marriott has been remembered as a talented writer, loving mother and grandmother and a proud Logie winner.
Shepparton-born Mrs Marriott died aged 88 in Bendigo on June 30.
Rosemary "Ro" Veronica Marriott grew up on a north Shepparton orchard and showed an early love for words, poetry and books. At 10 years old, her poem Soapy Suds about the drudgery of washing dishes was published in the Junior Age.
Her son Kim recalled that as a teenager his mother wrote to British author Georgette Heyer after the war when Britain was still on rations.
“Mum sent fruitcakes and in return received signed books,” Mr Marriott said.
Her love of the written word earned Mrs Marriott her first job as a copywriter at Shepparton's 3SR radio station, where she met her future husband George at a Christmas party.
Mr Marriott said his mother's parents did not approve of the relationship as his mother was only 17 years old.
“They were relieved when Mum moved to Melbourne to take up a job with (radio station) 3XY. However, love conquers all and they got married the moment she turned 21 and she could legally marry without her parents’ permission,” he said.
George and Ro Marriott went on to have three children — Carlton, Kim and Leah. Carlton sadly passed away at just 16 hours old.
“Mum was heartbroken and feared that she would never have children,” Mr Marriott said of his mother.
“Then I came along followed by Leah. She loved both of us fiercely and she and Dad passed on their love of books,” he said.
He said his mother loved dinner parties and would passionately discuss politics, religion and feminism.
“She was an ardent feminist, one of the first members of the Women's Electoral Lobby,” Mr Marriott said.
In the mid-1970s Mrs Marriott started work as a copywriter at Shepparton TV station GMV6 which led to a career making documentaries covering a wide variety of topics including salinity, the paddle steamer Adelaide and various Goulburn Valley locations and issues.
Mrs Marriott and her GMV6 colleague Ian Cruise won a 1985 Logie Award for their documentary on aged care, Autumn Faces.
Her daughter Leah Whiffin recalled another, more controversial film made by her mother.
“The one I liked most was a safe sex video commissioned by the Brunswick Council for use in schools. It never saw the light of day because the local Catholic diocese considered it too risqué,” Mrs Whiffin said.
She recalled her mother as a strict English tutor.
“Mum’s command of the English language was second to none. I remember when I was in high school she got my English report. She got out a red pen and circled all the mistakes, gave it an F and wanted to send it back to Mr Jones the teacher. Fortunately she didn’t,” Mrs Whiffin said.
In her retirement, Mrs Marriott wrote media copy for Member for Shepparton Jeanette Powell and Monichino Wines, joined the Goulburn Valley Writers Group and published her own poetry.
In her later years Mrs Marriott and her husband George moved to Bendigo to be closer to family.
Although her final years were blighted by Alzheimer's disease, her son said his mother showed great courage.
“She had seen this firsthand as both her mum and her elder sister died from this disease. When she knew that she had it, and would suffer the same lingering death, she was incredibly brave. I didn’t ever hear her complain about how this was unfair. She just persevered and laughed with one of her favourite quotes: ‘Growing old is not for sissies’," Mr Marriott said.
A thanksgiving service for the life of Rosemary "Ro" Marriott was held in at Bendigo Funeral Centre Chapel on July 5 followed by a private cremation.
She leaves her two children Kim and Leah, husband George and two grandchildren, Min and Sasha.
Most Outstanding Contribution by a Regional StationWinner: Autumn Faces (GMV6, Shepparton[3])
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