Don Ritchie
| Don Ritchie OAM | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Donald Taylor Ritchie 9 June 1925 Vaucluse, New South Wales |
| Died |
13 May 2012 (aged 86) Darlinghurst, New South Wales |
| Residence | Old South Head Road, Watsons Bay, New South Wales |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Occupation |
Royal Australian Navy Costing Clerk Life insurance salesman Humanitarian |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Spouse(s) | Mona Ritchie |
| Children | Jan, Donna, and Sue |
| Parent(s) | Leila Ritchie (Mother) |
Donald Taylor"Don" Ritchie, OAM (9 June 1925 – 13 May 2012) was an Australian who officially rescued 160 people from suicide as of 2009 over a 45-year period, although his family claims the number is closer to 400. Ritchie resided next to The Gap, a cliff in Sydney, Australia, known for multiple suicide attempts. In 2006, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his rescues,[1] the official citation being for "service to the community through programs to prevent suicide."[2] Ritchie and his wife Moya were also named "Citizens of the Year" for 2010 by Woollahra Council, the local government authority responsible for The Gap.[3] He received Local Hero Award for Australia in 2011, the National Australia Day Council saying: "His kind words and invitations into his home in times of trouble have made an enormous difference ... With such simple actions, Don has saved an extraordinary number of lives."[4]
Ritchie explained his intervention in suicide attempts saying, "You can't just sit there and watch them."[5]
He enlisted into the Royal Australian Navy in 1939 as a Seaman during World War II aboard HMAS Hobart and witnessed the unconditional surrender of the Japanese Imperial Forces in Tokyo Bay on 2 September 1945, officially ending World War II in the Pacific. After the war he was a life insurance salesman.[5]
Ritchie died on 13 May 2012, age 86. He was survived by his wife Moya and their three daughters.[6]
See also
References
- ↑ Benson, Kate (1 August 2009). "An angel walking among us at The Gap". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 17 June 2010.
- ↑ "Australian Honours". Government of Australia. Retrieved 17 June 2010.
- ↑ "Suicide watchman saves scores at death spot". The Independent. Independent Print Limited. 13 June 2010. Retrieved 17 June 2010.
- ↑ "Confront suicidal people, Local Hero says". Sydney Morning Herald. 25 January 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
- 1 2 Gelinau, Kristen (13 June 2010). "Australian 'angel' saves lives at suicide spot". msnbc. Archived from the original on June 17, 2010. Retrieved 17 June 2010.
- ↑ Walker, Chris (14 May 2012). ""Angel of the Gap" Don Ritchie dies, aged 85". Wentworth Courier. News Community Media. Retrieved 14 May 2012.