Ralph Fletcher Jones, the engineer and designer of Warrnambool's most iconic landmark, the Silver Ball died on October 5, 2019 in Melbourne aged 94.
"Mr Jones, the eldest son of Sir David Fletcher Jones, was always amazed that the water tower he designed to boost the pressure and flow of the factory's fire protection system became an artistic icon.
He was born in Warrnambool and became an engineer after studying at the University of Melbourne. After graduating, he joined the State Electricity Commission of Victoria and helped build the Kiewa Hydro-Electric Scheme, in particular Clover Dam. He spent time in the US, completing a course in the design and construction of dams at the Iowa Institute of Hydraulic Research and later helped build the Table Rock Dam in Missouri.
When the dam was nearing completion, he returned to Australia and met his wife-to-be Joyce.The couple celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in May 2019 and had four children - Rena, Jennifer, Ralph and Karen. Mr Jones was also a proud papa to Daniel and Melinda, Alex and Tom, Libby, Bethany and Daniel, Henry and great-grandfather of Gabriel. When the couple's daughter Karen was born with spina bifida, they wanted to find out everything they could to help her. They joined the Spina Bifida Association of Victoria. When Karen was four, Mr Jones was asked to join the Rotary Club of Chadstone, which later developed the Rotatrike for children with spina bifida.
In recent years Mr Jones was chuffed to learn that the Silver Ball he had designed for the Fletcher Jones factory was undergoing a makeover. He couldn't keep the smile off his face at an event held in 2016 by the Save the Silver Ball and Fletcher's Gardens groups.
Julies Eagles, a spokeswoman for the groups and the FJ Stories group, said Mr Jones would be sadly missed."We extend our sincere condolences to the Jones family and thank Ralph for the silver ball, which has become such a wonderful and iconic landmark in Warrnambool," she said.
A number of people expressed their sadness at Mr Jones' passing on the Save the Silver Ball and Fletcher's Gardens Facebook page.
"Thank you Ralph - it wouldn't be Warrnambool without the silver ball," wrote Tonia Wilcox."
Warrnambool Standard Friday October 18, 2019.
