Ronald Newman Witham (CBE) was Gympie’s mayor from 1941 until 1970.

Ron Witham was born in Woollongabba on 8 June 1902 and came to Gympie in 1924 as a relieving pharmacist but stayed on. He went on to buy a pharmacy in Mary Street near the Fiveways, that later became Meldrum’s Pharmacy. (the building is Meldrum House in lower Mary Street).

In 1929 he married Miss Jessie Rankin (a Gympie woman) and were blessed with a daughter and two sons.

Ron became interested in public affairs and in 1936 was elected as an alderman with Gympie City Council (the youngest at the time) and in 1939 he topped the election but was considered too young to be a deputy mayor.

In 1941, after then mayor, Luke J Thomas passed away, and the deputy was not well, Ron Witham became mayor of Gympie.  – a position he held until his retirement in 1970.

Ron’s involvement in the community was legendary. He had 10 years as president of the Chamber of commerce, and 50 years in the Red Cross, including being on the executive of the Australian Red Cross. He was a trustee Blue Nurses, foundation president of the Gympie Rotary Club, president of the Repatriation Committee, District Commissioner of Boy Scouts and life member of many clubs in the city.

In 1966 he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen’s Birthday list.

We are fortunate to have several news footage videos from the time featuring Mr Ron Witham. Click on the link below.

• Gympie Centenary Celebrations
• Opening of the Gympie Aerodrome
• Opening of the Scottish Drive-In
• Gympie Youth Week

Visit here to view all the Channel 7 footage and articles from the Gympie Times.

After 29 years with Gympie City Council, Mr Witham decided to retire from public office in 1970.

Mr Argus – Manager Gympie Times, Mr W.H. Kidd – Chairman Widgee Shire, Ald. Ray Wilbraham – Gympie City Council, Hardie Buzacott – Manager 4GY, Harold Becker – Town Clerk.

Standing: Maud and Eric Grice, Des and Madge Rickards, Ray and Lillian Wilbraham, Tom and Leola Madill, Bea and Alec Mahsung, Kath and Denis Little, Bill Stalley, Mrs and Mr Spencer (?) – Health Inspector. Seated: Harold Becker, Thelma Kidd, Ron and Jessie Witham, Jim Kidd, Win Stalley, Maureen Becker

The Gympie Times often ran articles dedicated to Mr Witham.

In 1976 Mrs Jessie Witham passed away. In his later years Ron enjoyed his garden in his house in Lawrence Street. In 1992 Mr Witham moved to Brisbane due to illness and passed away 8 June 1992.