Of Tragedy and Valor
David John (Rocket) Rumbelow

Couple’s 30 years of support for local basketball honored 

For about 30 years, Verna and David Rumbelow have been supporting Murray Bridge Basketball Association. 

And now,their support and dedication has been honored, with life membership. They have been attending the Murray Bridge Basketball Association stadium since their son, Greg, started playing in the summer of 1972 - and have not missed a season. Verna and David have supported their own four children, two sons- in-law, and eight grand-children who have all played,or are still playing, in the basketball Association.

 In addition, they have helped and collecting payments at the door.

David Rumbelow also helped out with maintenance work around the stadium, and has also tried his hand at umpiring. 

In addition, both have done their fair share of scoring and time- keeping whenever required, and an association spokesperson said they would be the first to put up their hands to transport players to different basketball games and carnivals out of the town area. 

Other activities include being active fundraisers for the Rebels Basketball Club, along with selling raffle tickets for the association, and they still attend the stadium.

Eulogy for Verna Rumbelow 

Read by Greg Rumbelow 

Verna Doris Rumbelow (Mum) was born on 09/11/1936 at Murray Bridge Hospital to Norman and Kathleen Burt. Mum was the fourth of a total of nine children. The other children were Ronald, Valerie, Norma, Graham, Brian, Lorraine, Geoffrey and Maureen. The family lived at Naturi and soon after moved to Bordertown where Norman gained employment on a property at Buckingham. They stayed there for a few years and then moved back to Murray Bridge because of employment. 

Mum went to school at Murray Bridge Primary School starting in 1942 and leaving in 1949 when Geoffrey tragically died and she was needed to help raise the younger children and to help her mother around the house with the day to day running of it. Brian recalls that while at school Mum was showing some interest in a boy, but this soon stopped when Mum found out he was harassing Brian. Not only did she stop being interested in him, she warned him that if he continued harassing Brian, she would beat him up! I understand the harassment stopped immediately! This is an example of the loyalty that Mum showed to her family throughout her life.

Upon leaving school, Mum’s first job was working at the school tuck shop which was owned by her Mum and Dad. She had various jobs after this, working on the Riverboat, Merle, at Scounas café and the Railway refreshment rooms. After this, Mum moved to Victor 

Harbor to work at the Hotel Victor where her sister Norma was working. Mum had trouble convincing her Mum and Dad to let her go and it was not until Norma promised to look after her that they let her go. 

Not long after moving to Victor, Mum met a young lad by the name of David Rumbelow who would become a very important part of her life over the next 50 years. I would like to say that Grandma and Grandpa Burt were pleased with this pairing, but I can’t. I can say, however, that it didn’t take long for their attitude to change and for him to become part of the Burt clan. 

Mum and Dad were engaged on her 18"birthday and they moved back to Murray Bridge where Dad worked as a carpenter for Colin Bott and Mum worked at the District telephone exchange. 

In 1955 Grandma and Grandpa Burt purchased the local General Store at Port Broughton and the family, except for Ronald who was working at Eudunda’s at Bordertown, moved there. In order to try and build up the business, the family introduced the selling of fish and chips, which proved to be very successful.

The men of the family would catch most of the fish while Mum and the others worked hard in the shop trying to make ends meet. 

On 9/6/1956, Mum and Dad were married at Port Broughton and as was the case with Mum, she did a substantial amount of the catering for the reception. Over the ensuing years, Mum would do this numerous times for birthdays, anniversaries, etc. and it is clear that she has passed these skills on to the family. Anyone who has been to any of the family get togethers can attest to this. 

On 10/3/1959 their first child was born, a son they named Gregory David at the Snowtown Hospital. Mum told me of the numerous times she would take me down and sit under the jetty for hour upon hour on hot days until Dad finished work. 

After the shop was sold to Yvonne and Dean Hobbs (Dad's Sister and Husband), Dad was employed by the PMG and within the next 2 years they moved back to Murray Bridge where Dad was transferred in the PMG. I believe that they moved because Mum felt that there would not be enough job opportunities for her son when he got older, but I believe the real reason was to be close to her family.

Dad recalls that during the early years of marriage, Mum loved nothing more than to go to the local dances and that he was the envy of the hall being able to dance with Mum as she was an outstanding dancer. 

In 1961 Annette Kathleen was born at the Murray Bridge Hospital followed by Paula Lorraine in 1963, also at the Murray Bridge Hospital. 

Mum stayed at home looking after the children until 1967 when she took a job working for Hall Sanford Egg Factory in Adelaide, which meant that she had to travel to Adelaide each day. 

In 1971 Lisa Jane was born at Murray Bridge Hospital and although Mum never went back to a paying job as such, she worked extremely hard in the glasshouses as well as helping Dad with fencing. All of this while raising her family. 

In 1972 I took up the sport of basketball much to the disgust of Dad and I remember playing an A grade game against a Tailem Bend team. During the course of the game, one of the opposition players decided that I might look better wrapped around one of the steel support poles at the stadium. Mum was sitting on the second tier of the grandstand holding her youngest baby daughter in one arm, when she jumped from the stand and slapped the offending player in the face. The player in question never returned to play basketball! Once again Mum was showing her intense loyalty to her family. 

In 1983 Grandpa Burt died and Mum took on the responsibility of looking after Grandma, making sure that she kept her independence and continued to live in her own house. Mum would cook the meals, do the washing and with the help of her family take Grandma everywhere, including sporting events while continuing to look after her own family and house. Again showing loyalty to her family. It was during this time that I can tell everyone that Mum and Dad actually split up! They had an argument about something and Mum walked out vowing that she would never return. She would live with Grandma! Being the eldest child, I felt it was my duty to get them back together again and thankfully after 23 minutes I achieved this! 

Nine years ago Mum contracted Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and through strength and determination she successfully overcame it. 

Over the years, Mum has accomplished so many things in so many ways. Mum is a life member of the Murray Bridge Basketball Association. The Rambler Football Club holds a very special place in Mum’s heart being involved firstly with her brothers, then Dad, then myself, sons-in-law Darryl and Kevin and now grandsons Matthew, Bradley and Mark.

The Rambler Netball Club is also very dear with daughters Annette and Paula playing and now granddaughters Melissa, Alison, Natalie, Nicole and Brittany, all of whom have played for the club. The Rambler Cricket Club again with Dad and myself playing for a number of years and now Bradley and Mark. 

I believe that both Mum and Dad would have the record by a country mile for the Basketball Association for most number of games ever watched, having watched virtually every game that their children and grandchildren have played! 

Mum welcomed every one of the son and daughter-in-laws into the family and treated them as if they were her own, showing no favouritism to her own children. So much so that she would say if the in-laws ever had any problems they could come and live with her! 

Her grandchildren became a very important part of her life. She had no favourites and treated them all equally. She had a huge influence on their lives, helping to bring all of them up, babysitting them at a moment’s notice and always being there for the important occasions in their lives. Mum’s influence can be seen in the way the children are growing up and developing into the wonderful people they are today.

Mum lived her life as an example to us all. Her generosity to her family, her undying support in times of trouble and the ability she had of making each one of us feel special. She will always be remembered for the love she gave us and that she always put her family above all else.

Eulogy for Greg Rumbelow 

Read by Alison Rumbelow 

Dad has always loved sport. Whenever he was feeling down, you would get him talking about his sport and it would make him feel better. Dad’s face always lit up when he talked about sport and today we just want to touch on some of his achievements. Dad has so many sporting stories, however to mention them all would take all afternoon. Other people including Dad’s past teammates, opposition players, spectators and family members have often told us of Dad’s natural flair for sport and also his fierce competitive streak. 

As I’m sure you are all well aware, Dad played football for Ramblers. He played Junior Colts for the club and was later recruited by Norwood. He played U17s for the club and then in his first year of under 19s captained the side. One of his favourite memories at the Norwood Football Club was the day he torped the footy through for a goal from the centre. In order for Dad to play for Norwood he had to move to Adelaide. He however found that he didn’t like being away from his family or the country and returned home to play senior footy for Ramblers. Dad played centre half forward and was known for his strong ability to kick goals. Dad’s highest score for a game was 13 goals and he managed to do this twice, both times against Mannum. It was during this time that Dad played in both the 1979 and 1980 A grade premierships which were part of the legendary 4 in a row. He sustained many injuries throughout his career and would often laugh about a broken nose, broken fingers and lost teeth.

When Basketball started in Murray Bridge Dad and his sisters were amongst the first to play. They all played for the Rebels Basketball Club and this is a tradition that still continues with members of our family today. Dad also played mixed softball with his sisters and when he was older played lawn bowls with his dad, my Uncle Kevin and Uncle Darryl. They were known as the ‘Rumbleons” and went on to win a premiership. 

Although Dad enjoyed playing many sports, Dad's true love was Cricket. One of Dad’s favourite stories about his cricket career was the fact that he played his first A Grade Cricket Match for Ramblers when he was5 years old. Pa was the wicketkeeper for the team and Dad would always come and watch him play, however one day the team was short of fielders. Dad keenly stepped onto the oval and filled a spot on the boundary. 

Dad played schoolboys cricket, won the association bowling aggregate for B grade when he was 13 and captained the A grade side when he was 19 years old. Dad was a fast bowler and at 20 went and played for the Adelaide Cricket Club. Even though Dad considered himself a bowler, he was chosen by the selectors as a batsman. Dad was first selected in C grade. This only lasted one match and he was bumped straight up to B grade. He stayed here for five more weeks and then was promoted to the A grade. 

Dad created a club record during his first A Grade Match. The first bowl that he faced he hit for a six and then when the team went into field, he took a wicket with his first ball. Dad won man of the match in every game of the season bar one and was also named Most Valuable Player for the entire club which proudly won him a lounge suite!

Dad would also often tell us the story of when he hit a ball for six off Adelaide Oval number two. The ball went across Morphett St and into the Adelaide Golf Course in North Adelaide. This was outstanding, let alone the 

fact that the next ball he faced he did it again! 

Dad was an impatient batsman who couldn't resist a short ball however Dad always felt that after he got out he would make them pay when they faced his bowling. 

Unfortunately, Dad had to cut his sporting career short at the age of 21 when he was diagnosed with arthritis and was told that he would never play any sport again. He always maintained his interest in sport and when we were old enough to begin playing he took on a coaching role. 

Dad coached Rambler’s U15 football team, U15 cricket teams and more basketball seasons that I can remember. As a coach Dad always believed that each player was a valuable member of the team and that they wouldn't learn to play sitting on the bench. He was always there at every sporting match. Not only for us but also his nieces and nephews. It was not uncommon for him to be at the basketball stadium on grand final day at 8:00 in the morning and leave at 7:00 at night. Whether it was standing in the rain at the Woodside netball carnival, 40 degree heat on a Summer Saturday afternoon at cricket or at Nicole’s numerous tennis and netball grand finals he was always there for us, encouraging us and giving us tips on our game. 

But it wasn’t only sporting moments that Dad was there. He would be there for all the important occasions in our lives, whether it was graduation, school concerts or parent teacher nights. He sat through many dance concerts just to see Nicole and I perform, or through two hours of Mark’s high school drama night just to hear Mark say one line.

We always knew that we were loved. Not by the big things, but by the little things Dad did. Things like putting petrol in my car, a new Rambler Football shirt for Mark left on his bed as a surprise, ice-cream every Sunday after shopping for Nicole, Mum’s favourite chocolate biscuits for every Saturday and lolly treats after school every Wednesday for his nieces are some of the ways that Dad showed to us that we were special to him. 

I also think it is important that I mention that Mark was told about our Dad’s passing during his football game last Saturday. Mark continued to play on for Dad and we all admire him for his strength and courage. This is exactly what dad would have wanted.

Eulogy for Greg Rumbelow 

Read by Mark Rumbelow 

Dad was born at the Snowtown hospital on the 10th of March in 1959 to Verna and David Rumbelow who were living in Port Broughton. Dad was Nan and Pa’s first child and only son. 

Nanna and Pa moved to Murray Bridge in 1961 where they then went on to have Dad's sisters Annette, Paula and then Lisa. Dad was very excited when Aunty Lisa was born. He rode his pushbike from home to Ramblers Oval where football practice was taking place. Apparently Dad dumped his bike at the goal posts and ran yelling across the oval “it’s a girl! it’s a girl!”. This is one example where Dad's passion for his family became apparent. 

Dad went to school at Murray Bridge North Primary School. At primary school Dad was always involved in school activities. He was house captain for sports days, captained and played schoolboys cricket and we had also better mention that he was proudly Captain of the Primary School Ballroom Dancing Team! 

Dad began High School in 1972 where he attended Murray Bridge High. Dad was always a hard worker. Whilst he was at high school he along with his family worked their glass houses on Bywaters Road, before school, after school and on the weekends. Dad used part of his time in the glass houses to build his strength and buff up for footy. He could carry 4 full buckets at a time where the other members of the family often used trolleys to move the tomatoes and cucumbers to the packing shed. He used the profits from his own glass house to buy his first car.

It was in this car that Aunty Annette and Aunty Paula convinced Dad to take them to the Drive In on a Saturday night. Unfortunately when the movie had finished and it was time to come home, the car had run out of petrol and he MADE the girls push the car out of the drive in whilst making the drive in staff wait until they could close the gate. It was during his time at high school that Dad became life long friends with Mick Wheare and they spent many countless hours together. 

Dad left school after year 11 and began working with Pa building houses around Murray Bridge. This seemed an unlikely career choice considering Dad's previous carpentry attempts. During high school wood work lessons dad decided to make a coffee table. The table needed 4 legs and after he had cut the 16" leg and was unable to get 4 the same length he  decided to cut his losses and turn the table top into a tray. Pa breathed a sigh of relief when Dad won a position at the Bank of Adelaide which is now known as the ANZ bank. 

One story that Dad always told was how the other Bank staff played a prank on him on his first day. At 10:00 on the Monday they instructed Dad to step out onto the main street, ring a bell and yell out “The Bank of Adelaide is now OPEN!”. Needless to say, Dad received a few weird looks. Rest assured he continued the tradition of inducting new staff members in the same manner. Sending staff to find “verbal consent forms” and “scales to balance the ledger” were among some of his other favourites. 

Dad met Mum at the bar of the Rambler Football Club. Dad served mum a “hanno special” and she was hooked. Mum enjoyed watching Dad play football and the great atmosphere that was the football club. Dad proposed to Mum on the 3rd of January in 1981 which coincidently was also his treasured Aunty Maureen’s 31st birthday. 

Later that year Mum contracted chicken pox which was later reported in the Rambler Rooster News that she 256 spots and Rumbles had counted every one! They were married on the 19" of December in 1981 with Mick Wheare as his best man and Backas as his groomsman. 

On the day of the wedding Dad almost didn’t make it to the ceremony. He and Ian, both keen horse racing followers, decided to go to the races. Unfortunately they decided to take Uncle Kevin’s car which could be a little unreliable at times. On the way back to get changed for the wedding, Dad managed to get the car stuck in first gear in the middle of  a large intersection. The two guys then had to get out and push the car and almost became a road statistic. Fortunately they made it on time. 

Mum and Dad lived at Mannum for a short time before Dad was transferred to the branch at Loxton. At Loxton he became involved with the Loxton North Football Club as a team manager and chairman of selectors and also coached a women’s A grade basketball team. Mum and Dad had some great times where they made many life long friends. 

They then shifted to Angaston where Alison was born in 1985. During his time at Angaston Dad met Phil Houston where they then went on to share a 20 year friendship. Mum and Dad stayed in Angaston for a couple of years and then returned to Murray Bridge where I was born in 1989. Mum and Dad returned to the Riverland where Dad worked at Berri for 18 months but they then returned to Murray Bridge to stay and Nicole was born in 1993. Dad retired from the ANZ bank in 1998. He had had many enjoyable years during his time with the bank, making many valuable friendships with both his co-workers and customers.

After his retirement from the bank, he went on to work for Chemplus, Graham and Brian Martin, Stuart Padman and then Leading Edge Jewellers. Dad was always a conscientious worker, taking pride in doing his job to the best of his ability. He thoroughly enjoyed working with Des and Deb and all the staff involved with the jewellers and was fondly known for his cheek and quick wit. 

Through out his life, Dad enjoyed spending time with all members of his family. Dad enjoyed his role as a big brother and his sisters respected and looked up to him so much that he could talk them into doing anything he wanted. My Aunties fondly remember playing cricket in the front yard where Dad would bat all afternoon and they would happily be his fielders. Dad could also convince them to play world championship wrestling with him where he would take on the role of “Haystack Calhoun” and my Aunties would be the “Tag Team Midgets”. I also know that when dad was younger and his little sister Lisa would get into trouble with Nanna and Pa, Dad would always sit in her bedroom and comfort her because he hated to see her cry. 

Dad was always the person that family members went to for advice and he was always the first one there in times of need. He fondly remembered times spent with uncles,  aunties and cousins and loved big family gatherings. In his younger days Dad spent a lot of time on his uncle’s farms. One of his many experiences included crashing his uncle’s brand new ute into the fence and spotlighting one night where the only rabbit that he killed was one that he ran over with the truck. 

Dad was proud of being a member of the Rumbelow family and the love for fishing that is associated with this name definitely ran through his blood. Dad often went fishing and thoroughly enjoyed going out on the ocean in his uncle’s boats.

Dad was such a special person. His kindness, thoughtfulness, caring and gentle nature endeared him to all who knew him. His strength and courage in times of adversity were an inspiration to us all and he was admired for the brave face that he always wore. His generosity to his family, his undying support and the ability he had to make each of us feel special will never be forgotten. He will always be remembered for the love he gave us and that he always put everyone ahead of himself. 

Our family would like to thank Dad’s specialists Leo Maher, Les Cleland and Larry Ferguson and other health professionals for always ensuring that he received the best care possible. We would also like to thank Dad's local doctors Mark Nicholls and more recently Martin Altman for their special care and kindness that they showed to Dad and our family.

Obituary David RUMBELOW 

Published by Murray Valley Standard on Jun. 28, 2016.

Rumbelow David John Much loved father and father-in-law of the late Greg and Jane. Adored pa to Alison, Neil, Mark, Nicole and Jarrad. Those we have laughed with, learned from, leaned on and loved most leave us with the very best memories.

Added 24/06/2016:

The funeral service for David Rumbelow is to be held at Minge Chapel, Swanport Road Murray Bridge on Thursday 30/06/2016 at 1.00pm. The cortage will proceed to Le Messurier Oval for a final lap of honour before travelling to the Murray Bridge Cemetery for the committal service. The wearing of red and white is encouraged. 

Funeral notice for

RUMBELOW, David John

Publication: Centralian Advocate

Date Listed: 25/6/2016

RUMBELOW, David John THE RELATIVES and FRIENDS of the late Mr DAVID RUMBELOW are invited to attend his Funeral Service to be held in the Minge Chapel, 63 Swanport Road, Murray Bridge on THURSDAY, June 30, 2016 at 1 p.m., followed by his burial in the Murray Bridge Cemetery. 

Eulogy for David Rumbelow  

David John Rumbelow, the youngest member of his family,  was born 28 March 1933 to Mabel & the late David John Rumbelow  (Senior). His father had tragically passed away 3 months before David was born and was given the same name as his father in his  memory. He became known as Rocket.  

David was brought up by his mother with assistance from his uncle  Lionel. As a consequence, David became close to Lionel’s son Graham and they grew up more like brothers than cousins.  

In his growing years, David played football for Encounter Bay as well  as taking up fishing. David accepted a carpentry apprenticeship  whilst working with Graham.  

He met his future wife Verna Burt who was working at The Crown  Hotel Victor Harbor.  They briefly moved to Murray Bridge where David worked as a  carpenter and Verna took on employment at the District Telephone  Exchange.  

The couple subsequently moved to Port Broughton and were  married there soon after on 9 June 1956. 

David was a hard working person, employed at the local Post Office  and Telephone Exchange as well as working in his In-law’s  Delicatessen & Takeaway Store. David continued with his love of  fishing through supplying freshly caught fish which were cooked and  sold in the store. David also engaged in bar work at the local pub. In his idle time, David enjoyed playing football and cricket with the local  teams. 

Ownership of the shop subsequently changed to sister Yvonne and  her husband Dean Hobbs however David continued to help out with  supplying fish as well as making deliveries.  

David’s son Gregory was born in 1959 at Snowtown Hospital and  soon aŌer the family moved to Murray Bridge to continue in Post Office work.  

A daughter Annette was born in 1961 followed by further daughters  Paula in 1963 and Lisa in 1971.  

David was very dedicated and hard-working, taking on jobs as truck driver, barman, electricity meter reader, general maintenance  worker, fencing contractor in addition to maintaining glasshouse  crops.  

David was devoted to supporting his family as well as assisting  anyone who needed a hand. David freely gave his time supporting many sports throughout his lifetime and was an  invaluable member of each sports club he was associated with. In  recognition of his voluntary work, he has been awarded Life  Memberships of the Rambler Football and Cricket Clubs, as well as  the Murray Bridge Basketball Association. David particularly enjoyed  supporting his children, including assisting as sports trainer with Ramblers and Norwood Football Clubs whilst Gregory was playing  there. David rarely missed watching many of his 12 grandchildren participate at sporting events and he was a familiar face in the community.  

David was devastated when Verna passed away unexpectedly in 2003. His heart was further broken when son Gregory passed away 4 years later.  

David passed away 21 June 2016 at Royal Adelaide Hospital  surrounded by his large family, from his children to great grandchildren. David holds a strong presence in everyone's hearts.