General News
25 July, 2025
RICKY DAWSON: Big man with big heart
I admire Ricky for many reasons, but most of all, for his loyalty to his compatriots.
When he ventured into establishing his own business he didn’t forget his roots. He found work for many of his associates.
Rick’s parents Dick, a woodcutter, and his mother Marj, moved to Maryborough from Heathcote to find work.
Rick attended PS 2828 followed by attendance at the Maryborough Technical College.
He completed form four, a necessary requisite for an apprenticeship.
He commenced his training at Hedges & Bell in printing and was employed by them for 10 years.
To extend his skills Rick, with his family, spent 18 months in Melbourne working for Progress Press.
On returning to Maryborough he teamed up with Barry Oakely at Oakdale Printing, sub-contracting for The Book Printer for 10 years.
He also worked for Peter Tate producing coloured covers.
In 1989 he ventured into his own business with Peter O’Flaherty and Rob McGuiness.
Brian Castinelli has also been a great supporter through school books.
Rick’s son, Ben, now runs the company and has been there for 32 years.
Daughters Kadi and Helene have made valuable contributions.
Rick’s brother Brian has followed his father’s footsteps as a woodcutter in Bung Bong. His sister Helen married John Hughes and lives at Timor.
Apart from his business achievements Rick has many other aspects to his life, in particular football and horse racing.
He started his football at Rovers in the under 14s coached by Waspy Williams Snr, as a tall, thin ruckman.
He graduated to senior football rapidly and enjoyed a career of over 300 games. The highlight of his career was the district league premiership under Dick Zimmer in 1978.
In between he had one season as assistant coach of Primrose.
Rick commented that player payment was a pittance.
Pat Kirk, a larger than life character, took on the coaching job for five years without seeking any payment.
Rovers, during Pat’s time, played with a flair and excitement that was rarely matched. Several of its players had long and distinguished careers.
Bob Allison, the doyen of country coaches, fated Colin “Snowy” Elliot pound for pound as good as any footballer in the country.
Dick Zimmer was cool and balanced, the late Mario Guareschi was unstoppable.
He shunned a possible VFL career to raise three sons with his sweetheart Gaynor.
Other standouts in Rick’s mind are Ray McGuiness (an unfulfilled talent), “Ferocious” Melbourne and the explosive Brian Walkley.
With his close friends Gordon Summner and Tony Vidala, they shared 25 percent of the racehorse Daacha.
After winning a maiden at Bendigo he graduated to the big time winning at group level highlighted with winning the group one Sydney Cup.
For the winning jockey Brett Prebble it was his first big race win in what was to see him at the pinnacle of jockeys.
The syndicate collected over $25,000 each for this one race.
Ricky purchased a boat with his winnings which is put to good use at