Hundreds mourn the loss of engineer, farmer, bike enthusiast and devoted family man Ron Selth
Ron Selth will be remembered as an engineer, a keen bike enthusiast and a spiritual man devoted to his family. Hundreds gathered to remember the life of the man who died in the Cudlee Creek fires.
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In a room overlooking the Adelaide Hills he loved and called home for the greater part of his life, Ron Selth was farewelled.
Hundreds of friends and members of the Hills community packed into the Adelaide Hills Convention Centre to remember Mr Selth, who died in the Cudlee Creek fire on December 20.
Mr Selth, 69, a civil engineer by trade and a passionate farmer in his free time, was a well-known and much-loved member of the Charleston and greater Adelaide Hills community.
With flowing white hair and resplendent beard, Mr Selth was described by his daughter Jasmine as comfortably passing for a homeless person.
“This was evidenced when he received food from strangers when sheltering under a bridge when he was visiting Luke in Cambridge,” she said.
“In losing dad we have lost one of the most unique and authentic people. He was unapologetically him and loved for it.”
But beneath the hippie visage lurked the mind of an engineer who contributed to the design of thousands of buildings in South Australia.
Above all, Mr Selth was described as a family man, devoted to his three children and six grandchildren.
Mr Selth’s son Luke said his father was legendary for his hugs and charity which saw his family donating to numerous organisations over the years.
“Dad was a physical person, and I mean that in the most positive way,” he said.
“Everyone here will remember his hugs which were warm, vigorous, occasionally bone crunching and frequently excellent for spine alignment.
“Today is really hard obviously but dad’s voice resonates in my mind and says love, dance, smile, be kind, take your shoes off and celebrate life.
“I couldn’t ask for a better father. He was hugely supportive, fiercely loving and always encouraging.”
Mr Selth was also a motorbike and car enthusiast, pushing whichever vehicle he owned to its limits from the time he got his licence at 16.
Mr Selth’s friend Paul Edwards said time spent together was never boring because an adventure was likely to ensue.
“Ron loved his farms and simply being there. He delighted in frugality and simplicity – why buy a new one when, with a bit of string and duct tape, you can make an old one work again.”
Mr Edwards said the community was struggling to come to grips with the events of December 20 when Mr Selth stayed behind to defend his beloved farm from the oncoming fire.
“We have every right to be upset about what he did on that fateful day, however please remember that it epitomised how Ron lived his life,” he said.
“He tackled everything fearlessly and with vigour. Ron had a wonderful and rich life living on the edge, fuelled by adrenaline.
“Apart from not being here to grow ancient with us all, I imagine that Ron regrets not being here today to tell us about his last great escapade.
“When on December 20, 2019 he tackled the furies, put up a valiant fight and went out in a blaze of glory.”
The Advertiser attended the funeral with the permission of the family.
Originally published as Hundreds mourn the loss of engineer, farmer, bike enthusiast and devoted family man Ron Selth
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