Vickress, Ronald (Ron)

Ronald (Ron) Vickress (1925 - ) is a returned serviceman, teacher, and writer. During World War II, he served as a Visual Signalman in the Royal Australian Navy aboard the corvette HMAS Pirie from 1943 to 1946. A significant moment in his service was being present in Tokyo Harbour on September 2, 1945, where he witnessed the official signing of the Japanese surrender, marking the end of the war.

After the war, Vickress embarked on a career in education and the arts. He earned a Bachelor of Letters in 1963 and a Master of Education with Honours in 1978, both from the University of New England (UNE). From 1972 to 1985, he was a respected lecturer in English and Drama at UNE and the Armidale Teachers' College. A prolific writer and a passionate advocate for theatre, he has written, directed, and performed in dozens of plays, novels, and stage works, with some of his plays premiering at the UNE Arts Theatre.

Vickress has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to community service and social justice. He was an active participant in the anti-Vietnam War movement and a supporter of Indigenous rights. In the New England region, he has been a long-serving trustee for the Guyra War Memorial Hall, a member of the Guyra RSL sub-branch, and the Guyra Probus Club. In recognition of his extensive contributions, he was named Armidale Regional Council’s Senior Citizen of the Year and received the UNE Alumni Community Award in 2023.