A Good Man Trod the Boards and Led a Ripper Life
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ISSUE 156 MARCH 2012 NOW ONLINE AT: www.centre.org.au A good man trod the boards and led a ripper life Leanne Yeung aurice Ripper was a well- known character in North and West Melbourne. Together with his little dogs, plaid cap Mand great sense of humour, many of us in the community remember him fondly. Maurice’s father, Phillip, was from one of the oldest families in St Stithians, Cornwall. Maurice was the youngest of five children born to Phillip and his wife, Mabel, who raised the children by herself after Phillip left for Canada to find work as a coalminer fol- lowing a strike at a Cornish mine. Maurice didn’t actually meet his father until 1956, when he was 29. Maurice served in the British Army in World War II in Africa. Whilst there, he bounced out of a truck, hit his head and was knocked unconscious, only to be pro- nounced dead. He subsequently woke up in Maurice Ripper in his acting days (mid 1950s) the morgue, to everyone’s surprise (including Photo: Courtesy Gary Heard his!). Not long after the war he moved to Australia to carve out a life as a thespian. and a plaque erected at the church in his In the early 1950s he was a member of the memory. Australian National Theatre, gaining good People recalled how Maurice loved his reviews for his work as he travelled with the food: even in his last days, when he was troupe. He loved travel, and I am sure he supposedly ‘nil by mouth’, he savoured the enjoyed the adventures that befell him whilst swab dipped in triple-strength hot chocolate on tour. that a pair of church members had sneaked Not renowned for his domestic tidiness, Well-known local identity Maurice Ripper (1927-2011) as we remember him Photo: Gary Heard into his hospital room. but recognised for his quick wit, Maurice His dogs were the same. They had been was able to respond to a put-down or criti- his own (with his dogs), he initially found plained about children in the service, and known to turn their noses up at regular cism with a gracious but cutting remark that communal living a challenge, but the other was always encouraging of any contribu- canned dog food, but relished the ravioli would put the critic in his place. This art was residents and Kevin, who managed the sup- tions that were made. He was there in every with Italian pasta sauce served up to them most skilfully employed during his years in ported household, made it possible for him activity we ran. by Maria at Via Victoria (now the Thai res- hospitality. He worked for institutions such to keep his independence, play an active role “Now, I don’t have to tell you that until taurant at the corner of Chetwynd and Vic- as the Menzies and Wentworth Hotels in in their community and continue to enjoy the this last year we’ve been in a drought in toria streets) as Maurice enjoyed his regular the CBD, the Old Melbourne in Flemington benefits of living in North Melbourne. Victoria. However, every time we ran an Friday dinner. Road and the Melbourne Club. Maurice was also one of the most regular activity it rained! One such activity was a There’s so much more that could be said, As a mâitre d’, he would have known and reliable attendees at the Baptist Church sausage sizzle to raise funds for the work of but this poem, written in one of his diaries, many of Melbourne’s famous and infamous in West Melbourne. Gary Heard, the church Médecins Sans Frontières in Sudan. The rain sums it up: and could recount many an entertaining tale, minister, recounts: was monsoonal, but Maurice was there with Life is mostly froth and bubble, whilst maintaining the confidentiality of the “My first Sunday in this church was also us in the driveway at Hawke Street, under an Two things stand like stone: characters in the stories. He was an invalu- Maurice’s first Sunday. He came along that umbrella, encouraging us on and making us Kindness in another’s trouble. able asset to any organisation that had the night because he was facing bypass surgery laugh.” Courage in your own. privilege of being his employer. in the week to follow. He freely admitted that Maurice is well remembered for his gen- — ADAM LINDSAY GORDON For the remaining years of his life, Mau- he only came along ‘for a bit of insurance’. erosity of spirit. A year after his death, there rice lived at Abbeyfield House in Brougham “Maurice’s ability to accept people for was a turnout of about 30 people for his Leanne Yeung is a long-time local resident Street, North Melbourne. Having lived on what they are was a real gift. He never com- memorial, at which a rose tree was planted who knew Maurice Ripper for many years. also in this edition... Page 3: Bella’s sexpertise on show in her Sex Drive story and you can make it all happen Page 9: North and West Melbourne Association update. when you do some app tappin’. Page 12: Ama Lurra restaurant celebrates a birthday. Term 2 courses from the Centre. Pages 4 & 5: Editorial page including Letters to the Editor, and Community comment. Page 16: Hotham History Project and more news from Politics and Environment. Page 5 explains some of the help you can get from the North Melbourne Legal Service. Page 18: Four pages of Youth and Education articles plus a short story by budding young Page 6: A bit of Bernie blarney in his swing from bar to bar and his passion for both playing author Bronte Vipond. and coaching football. Page 22: Health and fitness tips for the young and old. Page 7: Weaving magic webs for kids. Also how you can lend a hand to improve the environment plus getting to grips with the mysteries of love. Page 24: Travel and Food takes you for a trip to Denmark, The Hot Springs retreat in Page 8: Gardening tips and information with a feast of ideas on what you can plant in the Victoria for a place to take break and there is also a savoury oats recipe that you can try. vegetable garden this autumn. Page 27 & 28: Take a stroll through some of the galleries of North Melbourne. COMMUNITY 3 • THE CENTRE 12 • HISTORY 16 • POLITICS & ENVIRONMENT 16 • YOUTH & EDUCATION 18 • SPORT & HEALTH 22 • TRAVEL & FOOD 24 • ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 27 ! ! 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