Tributes flow for Richard ‘Dick’ Kimber, letter writer, adventurer, West’s Footy club founder

A Red Centre father and former teacher, who also started a footy team, is being remembered as a prolific letter writer, adventurer, and more after his death. Read the tribute.

Richard "Dick" Kimber on a camel trek between Mt Liebig and Papunya.

A Red Centre father and former teacher, who also started a footy team, is being remembered as a prolific letter writer and adventurer after his death.

On September 16, Richard “Dick” Kimber, 84, died in Alice Springs, surrounded by family and friends after a long illness.

Son Steve Kimber said his dad lived an extraordinary life, traversing Central Australia (sometimes on a camel), writing letters, and being such a passionate AFL supporter he started a footy club.

“He started Melanka back in 1970, which became West’s Football Club. He was their first captain and coach, and kicked 10 goals in their first ever win,” he said.

The inaugural Melanka Aussie rules footy team, started by Richard 'Dick' Kimber in 1970.

“He played his last game when he was 66-years-old, but he ran water for years and years and was still running laps when he was 70.”

Others remember Dick for his time spent at the Alice Springs post office and his letter writing, Steve said, which he stuck to despite the advent of email.

“He loved to write letters to everyone about all sorts of fields, from linguistics to archaeology, and Indigenous and European and Central Australian history,” Steve said.

“He sent my sister and I two or three letters a week when we left to go to university or even overseas.”

Richard "Dick" Kimber on a camel trek between Mt Liebig and Papunya.

A collection of his letters can be found in the National Library of Australia, after they put a call out for the nation’s letters.

Born in Freeling, South Australia in 1939, he was actively involved in Brighton Surf Lifesaving Club before coming to Alice Springs in 1970 – where he fell in love with the landscapes and the vast skies.

He married his wife Margaret Friedel in 1975, and had two children, Steve and Barbara.

Richard "Dick" Kimber. Picture: Supplied

A younger Richard "Dick" Kimber. Picture: Supplied

With Margaret working a scientist, Dick decided to become a “house husband” in 1980, resigning from his work as a teacher at Alice Springs High School.

He worked as the first sacred sites officer in the NT, and also authored the Man From Arltunga: Walter Smith, Australian Bushman, in 1986.

He contributed to more than 100 publications throughout his life.

Dick was awarded an Order of Australia in 2001 for his anthropological work in Central Australia – which he had conducted since the early 1970s.

His body of work within Central Australia saw him researching for the Central Land Council, working as an artist co-ordinator at Papunya Tula, assisting the Strehlow Research Centre, and more.

But to Steve, his dad remained a humble man who always had time to listen to people.

“He was very inquisitive and generously shared his knowledge with people,” he said.

“He’s left and amazing contribution to Central Australia and has touched so many people’s lives in different ways.”

Originally published as Tributes flow for Richard ‘Dick’ Kimber, letter writer, adventurer, West’s Footy club founder