Known as the Angel of The Gap, Don lived close to The Gap, a cliff in Sydney, Australia. The Gap is known for suicidal attempts, and from his house, Don could spot people who were about to take their lives. He would go down to the cliff and speak to them. He would ask them, "Can I help you in some way?" Then he would talk to them for a little while and then he would invite them to his house for some tea. Don has rescued hundreds from suicide over the course of 45 years. Don was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his rescues as well as the Local Hero Award for Australia. Don and his wife were also named "Citizens of the Year." Don was also seaman in the Royal Australian Navy during the Second World War and witnessed the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay in l945. He was the dearly beloved husband of Moya, loving father and father-in-law of Jan and Bill, Donna and Michael, Sue and Claude, and Kathleen (deceased).
Cherished grandfather of Barney, Annabel, Sigrid, Cleo and Maximilian. Dearly loved by Emma and Tom.
∼The "Angel of The Gap", Sydney's Don Ritchie, has died, aged 85.
Mr Ritchie spent 50 years coaxing desperate people back from The Gap, the notorious cliff at Watsons Bay where hundreds have died or thought about taking their lives.
He helped save 500 despairing souls - usually with little more than compassion, a warm smile and a hot cuppa.
"Those who knew him knew he was a very strong person and a very capable person," Mr Ritchie's daughter Sue said today.
Federal MP Malcolm Turnbull, whose electorate includes The Gap, added: "A true hero, one of our greatest Australians. RIP."
Born in Vaucluse in 1926, Mr Ritchie died peacefully at home on Old South Head Road, Watsons Bay yesterday.
The former navy seaman turned life insurance salesman was never one to shout about his exploits.
He helped because he could.
Ms Ritchie said: "It was just something that he saw and that he had to do something about."
New South Wales Mental Health Minister Kevin Humphries recalled when Mr Ritchie was named a Local Hero in the 2011 Australian of the Year Awards.
"Upon accepting the award Mr Ritchie urged people to never be afraid to speak to those most in need," he said.
"Always remember the power of the simple smile, a helping hand, a listening ear and a kind word."
A funeral will be held in Sydney on Friday.
Mr Ritchie's family asked for donations to be made to the Black Dog Institute or to Lifeline.
Published in the
Cherished grandfather of Barney, Annabel, Sigrid, Cleo and Maximilian. Dearly loved by Emma and Tom.
∼The "Angel of The Gap", Sydney's Don Ritchie, has died, aged 85.
Mr Ritchie spent 50 years coaxing desperate people back from The Gap, the notorious cliff at Watsons Bay where hundreds have died or thought about taking their lives.
He helped save 500 despairing souls - usually with little more than compassion, a warm smile and a hot cuppa.
"Those who knew him knew he was a very strong person and a very capable person," Mr Ritchie's daughter Sue said today.
Federal MP Malcolm Turnbull, whose electorate includes The Gap, added: "A true hero, one of our greatest Australians. RIP."
Born in Vaucluse in 1926, Mr Ritchie died peacefully at home on Old South Head Road, Watsons Bay yesterday.
The former navy seaman turned life insurance salesman was never one to shout about his exploits.
He helped because he could.
Ms Ritchie said: "It was just something that he saw and that he had to do something about."
New South Wales Mental Health Minister Kevin Humphries recalled when Mr Ritchie was named a Local Hero in the 2011 Australian of the Year Awards.
"Upon accepting the award Mr Ritchie urged people to never be afraid to speak to those most in need," he said.
"Always remember the power of the simple smile, a helping hand, a listening ear and a kind word."
A funeral will be held in Sydney on Friday.
Mr Ritchie's family asked for donations to be made to the Black Dog Institute or to Lifeline.
Published in the
Known as the Angel of The Gap, Don lived close to The Gap, a cliff in Sydney, Australia. The Gap is known for suicidal attempts, and from his house, Don could spot people who were about to take their lives. He would go down to the cliff and speak to them. He would ask them, "Can I help you in some way?" Then he would talk to them for a little while and then he would invite them to his house for some tea. Don has rescued hundreds from suicide over the course of 45 years. Don was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his rescues as well as the Local Hero Award for Australia. Don and his wife were also named "Citizens of the Year." Don was also seaman in the Royal Australian Navy during the Second World War and witnessed the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay in l945. He was the dearly beloved husband of Moya, loving father and father-in-law of Jan and Bill, Donna and Michael, Sue and Claude, and Kathleen (deceased).
Cherished grandfather of Barney, Annabel, Sigrid, Cleo and Maximilian. Dearly loved by Emma and Tom.
∼The "Angel of The Gap", Sydney's Don Ritchie, has died, aged 85.
Mr Ritchie spent 50 years coaxing desperate people back from The Gap, the notorious cliff at Watsons Bay where hundreds have died or thought about taking their lives.
He helped save 500 despairing souls - usually with little more than compassion, a warm smile and a hot cuppa.
"Those who knew him knew he was a very strong person and a very capable person," Mr Ritchie's daughter Sue said today.
Federal MP Malcolm Turnbull, whose electorate includes The Gap, added: "A true hero, one of our greatest Australians. RIP."
Born in Vaucluse in 1926, Mr Ritchie died peacefully at home on Old South Head Road, Watsons Bay yesterday.
The former navy seaman turned life insurance salesman was never one to shout about his exploits.
He helped because he could.
Ms Ritchie said: "It was just something that he saw and that he had to do something about."
New South Wales Mental Health Minister Kevin Humphries recalled when Mr Ritchie was named a Local Hero in the 2011 Australian of the Year Awards.
"Upon accepting the award Mr Ritchie urged people to never be afraid to speak to those most in need," he said.
"Always remember the power of the simple smile, a helping hand, a listening ear and a kind word."
A funeral will be held in Sydney on Friday.
Mr Ritchie's family asked for donations to be made to the Black Dog Institute or to Lifeline.
Published in the
Cherished grandfather of Barney, Annabel, Sigrid, Cleo and Maximilian. Dearly loved by Emma and Tom.
∼The "Angel of The Gap", Sydney's Don Ritchie, has died, aged 85.
Mr Ritchie spent 50 years coaxing desperate people back from The Gap, the notorious cliff at Watsons Bay where hundreds have died or thought about taking their lives.
He helped save 500 despairing souls - usually with little more than compassion, a warm smile and a hot cuppa.
"Those who knew him knew he was a very strong person and a very capable person," Mr Ritchie's daughter Sue said today.
Federal MP Malcolm Turnbull, whose electorate includes The Gap, added: "A true hero, one of our greatest Australians. RIP."
Born in Vaucluse in 1926, Mr Ritchie died peacefully at home on Old South Head Road, Watsons Bay yesterday.
The former navy seaman turned life insurance salesman was never one to shout about his exploits.
He helped because he could.
Ms Ritchie said: "It was just something that he saw and that he had to do something about."
New South Wales Mental Health Minister Kevin Humphries recalled when Mr Ritchie was named a Local Hero in the 2011 Australian of the Year Awards.
"Upon accepting the award Mr Ritchie urged people to never be afraid to speak to those most in need," he said.
"Always remember the power of the simple smile, a helping hand, a listening ear and a kind word."
A funeral will be held in Sydney on Friday.
Mr Ritchie's family asked for donations to be made to the Black Dog Institute or to Lifeline.
Published in the
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