Congratulations to Tireless Key Volunteer

After 50 years of tireless service and dedication to the community starting in the 1960s, Ron Kitchingman OAM JP has recently been given the key to the City of Manningham. Ron has been involved with MannaCare for 34 years as a committee and board member.  

When Ron commenced his association with MannaCare (then Manningham Centre Association) “it was just a paddock which required community fundraising as well as Federal funding, and a contribution of land and funds from Council,” he declares.

Described as “a true gentlemen” Ron’s first venture into community work was assisting in the urgent need for getting a kindergarten off the ground – Beverley Hills Kindergarten, still operational today. Ron states, “The building on Council land was funded by creating a co-operative with residents as shareholders and money loaned by the State Bank of Victoria.”

So successful was this co-operative procedure that Ron was asked by Council to assist other community groups in establishing new kindergartens.

As well as involvement with schools and other community groups, Ron was a Councillor and Mayor of both Doncaster and Templestowe Council and Manningham City Council. He is a retired Bail Justice (1980 – 2005) and a Justice of the Peace since 1980. In 2013 as a Queen’s Birthday Award he was presented with an Order of Australia Medal.

Ron maintains very strongly, “I could not have contributed the enormous amount of time and effort to our community without the full support of my wife, Beth and our four daughters. Their understanding and support has to be acknowledged.”

Find out more about MannaCare.

Pictured: Ron Kitchingman OAM JP with Manningham Mayor Cr Paula Piccinini