GRAAFF-REINET NEWS — On Wednesday, 28 March, a large number of family and friends gathered to pay respect to Richard Rubidge - a highly respected breeder of Merino sheep who passed away peacefully on Monday, 26 March, at the age of 89.
The Rubidge family are part of the human DNA of this region. Known for establishing one of the oldest and most respected Merino studs in the country, five generations of Rubidge sons have consistently bred outstanding Merino sheep on the farm Wellwood near Graaff-Reinet.
A legend is born
In January 1929 Sidney and Anne Rubidge were blessed with the birth of a son whom they named Richard Stephen - heir to the Wellwood legacy. Little did they know what an impact this baby boy would have on Wellwood, Graaff-Reinet and the Merino industry.
They could not have wished for a better son and brother. A sheepman in heart and soul, a family man, small in stature but a giant in character and personality.
A meticulous farmer
Richard took over the Wellwood reins from his father at the tender age of 21. In 1955 he married Pam Nash, and under their management and guidance, Wellwood went from strength to strength. The Wellwood stud is renowned for its consistency, meticulous breeding policy supported by excellent records over decades. Richard's sheep were his pride and joy, and of course his beloved Wellwood.
Richard was so highly regarded in Merino circles that in 1990 he was asked to present a paper at the Merino World Conference held in Pretoria - he did it with distinction.
Richard will go down in history as the only person who attended every National Merino Ram Sale from when he was a pupil at Union Junior School right up to last year, 2017 - a period that spanned approximately 78 years in succession.
A loving son, sibling, husband, father
Richard's love for his parents, his love for his sisters, his love for his wife Pam, his love for his children and grandchildren, and in later years his love for his gracious companion Dilys, was exceptional. Interesting to note that the girls in his life came from Jansenville and neighbouring Klipplaat.
During Pam's illness, he did everything humanly possible to have her healed, and when that failed he cared for her to the best of his ability until her untimely death. And so it was in the case of a valuable ram that became ill.
He erected an enclosure outside his bedroom window so that he could care for the ram night and day. And such was his caring nature that the last day of his life in the Knysna hospital, he instructed Dilys to take care of his sister, Nancy. Richard's heart was broken with the untimely illness and death of his daughter Lynette in January 2017. He always felt that a parent should not outlive their children.
An important collection
Recognising the international importance of the Rubidge fossil collection amassed through the efforts of Richard's father Sidney, Richard and Pam, together, undertook the visionary and huge task of cataloguing and reorganising the entire collection in 1965.
All these years later this is still the best-curated fossil collection in the country. For his contribution to science awareness, Richard was awarded the Stevenson-Hamilton Medal of the Zoological Society of South Africa in 2009 and honorary life membership of the Royal Society of South Africa in 2010: an award that he was justly proud of.
A eulogy
At his funeral, Richard's Godson Charles Kingwill, who delivered a touching eulogy, remembered him fondly, "Richard was a courageous man. In spite of hip replacement operations that went wrong, he never complained. He made the best of his situation and his sense of humour never failed, even throughout his suffering. His attitude must have been 'when in pain, don't be a pain!'
When I think of Richard, I think of integrity, generosity, hospitability, perfection and wisdom.
His advice was always so valuable because it reflected the competence of a farmer who farmed with a natural flair. He was both critical and observant and preferred the fairer sex to wear dresses or skirts rather than slax. He was meticulous in everything he did, including writing up the Wellwood Diaries every evening of his farming life."
Richard Rubidge will be remembered as a true legend of the region who leaves all who knew him with many fond memories to ponder.
Richard is deeply mourned by his friends, extended family and especially by Dilys and his children Bruce and Marina, Robert and Marion, Kath and Andrew, Jeff, Steve and Sue and his 12 grandchildren.
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