Eulogy for the late Martin van Riet by Dave Walker
One of the most remarkable chaps that I have ever met was Martin van Riet but I am putting the cart before the horse. Very few folk may know that he had dedicated his life to caring for his aged mother during the last years of her life. In fact, Mrs van der Riet attended some of the festivals way back and my word, a memorable soul indeed! Although Martin had been participating in our annual fly fishing event since 2005, during the last few years of his Mom’s bed-ridden life, his only annual holiday was when he came to Rhodes to participate in our festivals.
He was a fund of information on “things technological”. To us hillbillies, it was a revelation, new frontiers we’d never heard of and almost had difficulty in conceiving. For example, I have fond memories of sitting in the pub of an afternoon, listening while Martin regaled those present with descriptions of, for example more recently, a pair of spectacles with which one could watch movies, a far cry from sitting on squeaky folding chairs at the cigarette-stinky ”movie houses” in the days of my youth..
Bell’s Whisky changed direction in their marketing strategy in about 2008. I decided that we would continue under our own steam and duly did so for several years. In fact, it was an absolute pleasure not to have the sponsor’s rep’s dictating what liquor we might or might not sell during the event!
Time went by and during the 2011 festival, while chatting about sponsorship, Brian Hammond, a long-time friend of Martins, suggested that I should approach him for the purpose which I duly did. In true corporate fashion, Martin undertook to “see what he could do”. On his return to “the bright lights”, he duly bent the “powers-that-be” and “Miss Money Bags” ears’ at Epson. A fine seven-year relationship was established with absolutely no strings attached and an absolute pleasure. Epson provided us with embroidered fleece jackets for participants as well as the printing of our annually revised guidebook. We reciprocated by branding the event accordingly.
In closing, “remarkable” is truly an inadequate description of a fine man who had retired to live the dream, farming at Bathurst, who left us so suddenly and unexpectedly. He was generous, humble, had great patience and could best be described as a real “mensch” who will be sorely missed by those who knew him.
I mourn his departure with sadness, remain in awe of his exemplary dedication to his late Mom and joy on recalling fine memories.
Nigel Vaughan, Louise Hammond, Martin van Riet and Brian Hammond
Happy Memories by Nigel Vaughan
It was a shock when I received Dave’s email telling of Martin’s sudden passing. Having recently opted out of the rat race he was looking forward to embark on a new career and had moved to Bathurst to fulfill a dream of becoming a farmer. This pandemic has shattered many dreams and it is so sad Martin had become another victim.
He and I only met once a year at the festival and for years we travelled together to all corners of the Rhodes universe. Each time we would pick up where we had left off the previous year and this formed the basis of a lasting friendship. During our travels we talked angling, politics, the past, new technology and birding – we were never short of subjects. He was a keen birder and his knowledge and enthusiasm was impressive. I shall always remember his description of small unidentifiable flying objects as LBJs – little brown jobs.
We never travelled without binoculars, books and computers.
To some Martin may have appeared taciturn but I found myself comfortable in his company and he had many facets to his personality. Martin’s total dedication to his ailing mother was admirable; he spared no effort to make sure she was cared for.
We will remember him for his support of the festival over the years that he was with Epson. I will remember him as a friend and travelling companion, a compassionate person whose friendship I will miss but never forget.