This was a special date for Rick as he shared his birthday with his father. 

He grew up at Bondi State Forest and then Nalbaugh State Forest. 

At Nalbaugh he enjoyed the freedom of the outdoors, playing cricket, force-em-backs and hide and seek with his brother and sisters, helping his father man the fruit-fly station, going on fire patrol, riding his motor bike (before he had a licence) all through the forests and back roads, and shooting rabbits.

He went to school in Bombala, travelling in on old Joe Baker’s bus each day and finished Year 12 in 1977. 

Although he liked school many of his report cards said “could try harder”. 

From there he went to work for John Hood doing gardening and odd jobs.

He joined the public service, Social Security, in Canberra and shared a flat with his brother Stephen for a while. 

Many stories have been told about Ricky stumbling home in the wee small hours.

He was quickly promoted through the ranks until he was made paymaster of Social Security. 

The paymaster was required to do all the banking with Teller 1 at the Commonwealth Bank and it was here that he met his future wife, Carol.

They were married on September 5, 1981, and after returning from their honeymoon to a new job that meant being at a desk all day and looking out over the car park, they soon decided to make the move back to Bombala.

Rick applied for a job as storeman with Monaro Electricity and Carol transferred to the Commonwealth Bank.

Unfortunately Rick didn’t get the job so went to work at the pine mill. 

This storeman’s position came up again 12 months later and this time he was successful.

Rick spent 11 years with Monaro Electricity and during this time his children, Lisa, Paul, Terry and Lucy were born.

Monaro Electricity was offering redundancies and Rick saw this as the perfect time to go into business for himself and set up Rick’s Computer Service. 

Although slow to take off, the business became quite successful and many households and businesses in the area have a computer supplied by Rick.

Being in business for himself gave Rick the flexibility to be able to help with school events and excursions. 

He was elected as a parent representative to the Bombala 

Public School, school council and held this position for seven years.

In 2000 he was a part of the committee that started Little As. He taught many children to throw a shot put, a discus or javelin and how to mark your spot for the long jump. 

When a cage was needed for discus he canvassed local businesses for donations and with help the cage was built.

When it came to going to carnivals he was always there to take his children and any others that needed a lift. 

This lead to Rick and Terry officiating the shot put and discus at the Primary Schools athletics carnival and the High School athletics carnival. 

As the children got older and started playing more sports he was always involved and there to help in any way (set up the goal posts, score games). 

While Carol took Paul and Terry to schoolboy’s football he could be found at netball with Lisa and Lucy.

While the children played basketball he stayed home and cooked tea. 

This allowed Carol to become involved and coach. 

When grand final time came he was always there to cook the hotdogs.

When a sporting academy was looking to be formed in this area Rick and Lisa put up their hands to be part of the working committee that founded SERAS and Rick stayed on as a board member.

In 2005 Carol bought Bombala Fabrics. 

Rick helped in the shop on occasions if Carol went to work at the NAB. People started to expect him to be there all the time to help with their computers but the premises become too small so in 2009 they purchased Spoljaric’s Furniture Store and merged the fabrics, furniture and computers into one.

When it looked as though the Bike Show would fold he stepped up and joined the committee to keep it going. 

He worked tirelessly to promote the event, print all the posters, sell the raffle tickets and anything else that needed doing and then when the day finally came all the family pitched in to make it a success.

He joined the management committee of the Exhibition Ground as a part of the bike show and he was happy to help out with the working bees each month.

In his spare time Rick enjoyed being outdoors. 

It didn’t matter if it was work or play as long as he was outside. 

His father instilled in him a deep passion for fishing which he has passed on to his own children. 

It didn’t matter if it was in the ocean, off a wharf, local water holes or in our own river as long as he could wet a line.

Golf has another passion of Rick’s developed with his parents. 

Doug and Jean both enjoyed playing golf and Rick joined them on many occasions. 

When he was first married Rick was a member of the golf club and played most Saturdays but as the children came along this became more difficult and he eventually gave it up.

He continued to play socially and this year rejoined the club and was really enjoying playing nearly every Saturday.

There is a bit of pyromaniac in all of us and Rick was no exception. 

Many hours were spent burning off the dry paddock grass until one got away on him and nearly burnt down the Coolumbooka Bridge. 

The fire brigade had to be called and it was suggested that maybe he should have delayed the call and we might have got a new bridge. 

Rick tried to teach all his children practical life skills and give them the confidence to tackle any challenge that came their way.

His grandchildren, Enrique and Sophia, were a constant source of enjoyment. 

Rick loved to spend time with them and they will always remember their adventures at Grumpy’s farm and in the shop.

Rick’s life was cut short far too early and he will be deeply missed by all his family and the community.