Helen Trustum
Richard William George Beattie, known to everyone as Dick, died on Sunday, October 18. He was 94.
Dick was born on February 22, 1932, at Stockton, to Stan and Mary Beattie.
His father was a boilermaker with BHP and his grandfather, Edward Beattie, was a boat builder. His great-uncle Gordon Beattie built the passenger ferry that ran between Yamba and Iluka.
Dick went to primary school at Stockton and then Newcastle Boys High School.
He later studied at the University of New England in Armidale before completing his honours degree at the University of Sydney.
His first teaching position after graduating in 1954 was at Casino High School. Not long after he started, he had to organise students to walk through town and over the low-level bridge to what is now Queen Elizabeth Park, so they could welcome Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh.
More than 10,000 children stood in the rain to wave to the Queen as she passed by. Some had come from as far away as Kempsey.
While at Casino, Dick met Leila Roberts from Bentley, who worked at the library in the Casino School of Arts. The couple became engaged when he was transferred to Young, and they married in 1956 at St Mark’s Anglican Church, Casino.
They spent two years at Young before Dick was appointed mathematics master at Kyogle High School in 1958.
Dick and Leila had four children – John, David, Margaret and Tim.
In 1976, the family moved to Condobolin, where Dick was principal and Leila opened a florist shop. They lived there for 10 years.
In 1986, they returned to Casino, where Dick became principal of Casino High School.
Dick was impressed with Casino Beef Week, which had started only in 1982. Stud cattle owners would bring their animals to the school and talk to the students.
In December 1987, Dick and Leila moved into their house in Laurel Avenue, Casino. Dick retired from Casino High School in 1989, after 35 years in education.
For many years, Dick and Leila had a farm at Bentley called Manifold Farm, taken up in the 1920s by Leila’s father, Don Roberts. The farm is now owned by the Johnston family.
For more than 30 years, Dick and Leila contributed a great deal to the community.
Dick was a life member of Apex and of the Casino Lions Club, and the couple was involved with junior rugby league and Meals on Wheels, and delivered books to housebound people.
In 2003, Dick received the highest honour in Lions – a Melvin Jones Fellowship for Dedicated Humanitarian Services from the Lions Clubs International Foundation.
A highlight for Dick and Leila was a trip to the United States on a Lions exchange in 2008.
Dick was named Richmond Valley Citizen of the Year in 2009.
Dick and Leila loved their annual caravan holiday at Evans Head, and for 35 years they headed to the beach every year.
Rest in peace, Dick. You won’t be forgotten.
Funeral details here.