Much-loved former Stanthorpe builder Ralph Peter Auliff has been farewelled in Stanthorpe.
He was described by his son-in-law Stewart Gow, who delivered the eulogy as “a larger-than-life character who lived his life the same way he approached everything – with more work than anyone else, made everyone laugh and then left early”.
“This eulogy has been made easier and at the same time much more difficult knowing that the most talented verbal sniper ever known isn’t lurking in the crowd about to destroy the train of thought with a remark so witty that we could never hope to be the author of,” Stewart told the gathered friends and family.
“In the process of writing this I often asked myself ’what would Ralphie say?’ Then I’d chuckle to myself and think ’okay, I can’t say that’ to which a gruff but warm voice would say ’you’re not standing in a church now old boy, say whatever you want’.”
Ralph Peter Auliff was born in Proserpine on a Saturday, 17 December 1949 the son of Peter and Betty, brother to Pat, Pam, and Julie.
In 1952 the family moved to Coffs Harbour, close to where Ralph’s farther was born, to become banana farmers where Ralph learnt to surf and fish and spend quality time with Julie his beloved sister. They returned to Proserpine in 1965 where Ralph would meet his lifelong friend Trevor Stanely and where he learnt his builder’s trade with Colin Fuller, carted cane and worked at the sugar mill along with many other jobs.
“He earnt the nickname ‘Whipstick’ for his slim build, his habit of shaking his head a people and quick movements,”Stewart said.
Between the ages of 19-20 Ralph and Trevor embarked on a road trip from Proserpine where they made it as far as Stanthorpe before their car broke down meeting Bruno Stefano who got them fruit picking jobs at Forresto’s farm so they could afford to fix their car.
“Whilst staying in Stanthorpe, Ralph went to a local dance where he tried his charms on some of the local ladies,” he said.
“The first two he spoke to declined his dance requests but the third, a young lady by the name of Kathy Hannigan, cheerfully took him up on his offer.
“Quite taken by Kathy, Ralph went to her family’s home the next day hoping to woo the young lady further. Much to Ralph’s consternation, the two ladies he had approached first were at Kathy’s house. Somewhat unsurprising given that they were Kathy’s sisters Anne and Bernice – what are the odds?!
“Despite the initial awkwardness their relationship blossomed. For the next while Ralph would journey between Proserpine and Stanthorpe for work and love commitments. His boss and friends at Proserpine at the site of Ralph, would regularly break into the Everly Brothers tune ‘Here comes Cathy’s clown”.
The couple were married in 1973 with their first child Colleen born in 1975 followed by Alyson in 1977 and Mathew in 1979.
“In the years after getting married Ralph worked for and became a firm friend with Gus Mattiazzi and many other Stanthorpe builders, while also still doing work for his in-laws and many other jobs earning his reputation as a toiler,” Stewart said.
“Ralph then worked for himself for a time. He was the worst boss he’d ever had, the pay was terrible, but it did give the opportunity to travel and work out west giving him many fond memories and experiences that he would often recount.
“Ralph then worked for Howard’s sawmill and finally for Bill Kerr which would see him out to his retirement.”
His son-in-law described Ralph as a community minded person, a staunch member of the Rural Fire Brigade and a devoted supporter of the Apple and Grape Harvest Festival of which he was a life member. Each festival would see him helping to erect the arches and tirelessly selling raffle tickets for an endless procession of festival queens.
“Though he would deny it and carefully made sure no one saw his caring and considerate side, he would buy a homeless person a coffee and bacon and egg roll every morning,” he said.
“After the passing of his wife Kathy in 1998, Ralph found himself alone in his house, his family believing he lived on pumpkin scones for every meal – the only thing they thought he could make. To their surprise, Ralph turned into quite the gourmet cook excelling at pickles and preserves – getting a second at the Stanthorpe Show for his relish and despising the poor old lady who dared beat him.
“Ralph never ceased to surprise, he was one of the rare people who kept a daily diary fifty odd years of accurate records. If you ever had work done by Ralph I can tell you exactly when that was – pretty much only work was recorded though. Colleen poured through the diaries looking for a date meaningful to her, where on 7 February1975 (her birth) Ralph documented “pegged out house for Girgenties, poured a slab for garage, did a job for himself at home” almost as an afterthought at the bottom of the page was “Kathy had baby”
“Another cracker that had to be looked up was a story he told where he was doing renovations in a local bank. No one told Ralph and armored truck with two armed guards were coming in. No one told the armed guards a builder was onsite using a Ramset gun to put nails into concrete that sounded like a pistol. In the ensuing chaos Ralph found himself at gun point by two very irate armed guards. Yet in Ralph’s diary was the entry “Worked at bank, nearly got shot”. No explanation, no embellishment, just another classic Ralphie moment.
“He loved the family he was born into, the family that made him one of their own – the Hannigans and the family he created and, he especially loved his grandchildren.”
