I first met Ron on the Moomba to Sydney Pipeline in 1974. At the time he was assistant to Shortie Cunningham on the Australian Pipelines Construction section from Mount Hope to Bowral, south of Sydney. That project has always been, and still is, referred to as the ‘mainline’.

In 1968, Ron established his own company, R J Black Welding Pty Ltd, where at one stage he laid a 6 inch main through Sydney University. Years later, he was asked by a young engineer if he had been to University. He answered “Yes, I went through Sydney University.” Luckily no further questions were asked as to what degree he had attained.

The Northern Territory pipeline was another project where Ron was General Superintendent under Canadian Project Manager Bob Perry. During one of the site visits he and Bob landed in the helicopter in the car park of the Barrow Creek Hotel. When they enquired at the hotel as to what was on the menu the bar girl said “hamburgers”. When Mr Perry asked if there was anything else her reply was “what do you think this place is…The Hilton?” Ron said “Welcome to the bush Bob!”

In 1983, Ron was appointed Construction Superintendent on Korean construction company ICC’s central spread of the Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline project. It was during the construction period that a world record for automatic welding of a 26 inch diameter pipeline was achieved. Credit for this achievement was attributed to both Ron and Vern Donovan, who was Ron’s welding supervisor.

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Ron maintained a regular crew of pipeline inspectors, generally known as ‘Blackie’s Army’, as they were always issued with khaki uniforms. Amongst them was Keith Potter, Graeme McAinch, Mike Hennessey and Phil Meyers.

The pipeline industry was well represented at his funeral. Ron leaves his wife Judith, to whom he was married for 58 years, his son Keith and his daughter Michelle, as well as two grandchildren. He will indeed be missed by many pipeliners as well as his loving family. A true gentleman has passed away.