KOOWERUP RSL sub-branch president Ron Ingram was singled out for special praise by McMillan MP Russell Broadbent when he officially launched the new Avenue of Honour along Rossiter Street on Sunday.
He said Mr Ingram had been the driving force behind many local memorial projects since taking the reins of the sub-branch and the avenue – oak trees honouring the 40 district Diggers who did not return from World War I – was the latest of those.
Then he delivered the back-hander.
“When you think about it, he’s a bit of a blow-in,” the MP smiled.
“He’s only been in the area for about 50 years, but to try to gain some credibility, he married Lynette Esler. You don’t get much more Kooweerup than that family.”
No-one could question Mr Broadbent’s Kooweerup credentials, having been born and bred in the town. He worked the crowd like it was old home week – even catching up with his one-time baby-sitter Joan Davey.
Asked if he was a bit of a handful back then, Mrs Davey shot straight back: “No, he was an angel – still is.”
For more on the Avenue of Honour opening, turn to pages 18-19.
