Vale, Reg Ferguson, the beloved local radio announcer and “Duck”.

Current and former staff of Western Broadcasters stations, 2DU and ZooFM, gathered with Lourdes House staff and Board Members, as well as those who had known Reg in his many community service roles, clubs, and his beloved Dubbo Ducks.

They were all there to farewell a man who was described by friend Mike Twohill, who delivered the eulogy as: “Committed, determined — some may say ‘stubborn’ — and loyal. A legend!”

In more recent years, Mike smiled, “fiercely independent” might better have defined Reg as he maintained his life in the community following the death of his beloved wife and best friend, Wilma, in 2022.

“Her passing left a gaping hole, one he tried valiantly to fill with the valued assistance of domestic carers,” Mike said.

He added that that Reg was one of the first people he met when he arrived in Dubbo 52 years ago. Mike was with Telecom; Reg at 2DU. Their common interest — communications!

Mike reflected on Reg’s lif,e which began in Paddington on April 16, 1934. His Dad, Arthur was a horse trainer, a passion inherited by the sports-mad youngster; his Mum, Gertrude Moran. Sadly, Reg lost his father when he was just four-years-old.

Reg had an older sister, Pat and, when Gertrude married Arthur Ford 10 years later, the teenager welcomed a step-brother, Kevin (deceased).

Reg was educated at De La Salle in Ashfield and at Oakhill College, before completing his La Sallian schooling in Orange and then Dubbo.

The young lad commenced his working life at 2DU as an assistant accountant in 1952. Two years later, he took on the role as Accountant and also began to convert his love of sport into a broadcasting career.

He advanced from sports caller and presenter to Company Secretary with Western Broadcasters in 1956, and a decade later, he was promoted to Station Manager.

Reg held this prestigious position as manager of the region’s only radio station until the arrival of ABC and then Star FM, leading the transition from the electronic to the digital age, facing the various challenges with the support of a dedicated and skilled staff.

“During the ‘50s and ‘60s, Reg called horse races, trots, and rugby league, a ‘duty’ he fulfilled after swimming with the Ducks every Sunday morning!” Mike said.

“He maintained his interest throughout his long life, and oversaw the arrival of broadcasters like Terry Bootle, Kevin James, David Attwood, Gerry and Ray Collins, Phil King, and James Knight until Geoff Mann took on the Sport’s Presenter’s role in 1991”.

Reg met Wilma Stephens when she was nursing at Dubbo Base Hospital, and they married on March 5, 1960. Their two children, Susan and Craig, celebrated the couple’s 60th wedding anniversary with five grand-daughters, who read the Prayers of the Faithful at the Requiem Mass. Nicole, Luci, India, Molly and Isobel have extended the family with twin ‘grandies”, Baye and Milla arriving six decades after Reg and Wilma tied the knot. Sadly, Reg will not be around to lay out the welcome mat for the next baby due shortly, but he had the privilege of watching the little one growing in the womb.

Reg and Wilma lived in a number of family homes in Dubbo, starting in Bailey St before expanding to new ‘digs’ to accommodate their changing needs.

‘Reg always sad the Bailey St community was like an extended family. The community provided support for he and Wilma and childhood friendships that have lasted a lifetime for Sue and Craig,” Mike said.

Their next home was in Jubilee St and then Fairview St.

“They like that location so much they moved next door into a bigger home!”

In 2014, the couple moved into Horizons Village in West Dubbo where they joined another caring community which provided support, friendship and lots of morning and afternoon tas, barbecues and Happy Hours!

Reg always loved and invested in horses that ran on .

“Needless to say, his love didn’t translate into winnings. He said he would never be able to retire on those,” Mike laughed.

Reg’s only real claim to ‘horsey’ fame was that one of his nags, Dusky Moon, was sold to the famous Stibbe equestrian family and represented the Netherlands Antilles in eventing at the 2004 Centenary Olympics in Athens.

Community service and commitment to his Catholic faith are the two standouts in Reg Ferguson’s long and distinguished life.

“In June 2009, he received a Papal recognition, known as the ‘Cross of Honour’ from Pope Bendict XVI,” Mike said.

“The citation was a ‘reward of gratitude for Reg’s contribution to the life of the Church in the Bathurst Diocese’,” Mike added.

In 2014, he received an Order of Australia Medal.

“He was a Life Member of Apex and the Dubbo Ducks Swimming Club, serving for 35 years with the former where he accepted roles as President, Secretary and District Governor.

As a valued member of the Sunday morning lap-swimmers, known affectionately as the Ducks, Reg tried to maintain an unblemished record of attendance, many times delaying other commitments until the Sunday morning ritual had been completed,” Mike said.

Reg was one of the authors of the Duck’s Golden Jubilee Book “Ducks, Chooks and Foxes” and served as the unofficial keeper of knowledge in the club he joined in 1985.

Reg Ferguson’s legacy will live on at Lourdes Hospital and in the many Apex-inspired initiatives around Dubbo city.

His leadership of Radio 2DU and the station’s heart-felt involvement in every major event from the Festival of Sports, Dubbo Cycling and Gold Cup Sprint Races, the league, union, racing and trots coverage, the visits of the Queen and others from the Royal family as well as distinguished political, business and community leaders who came to the City.

In recent years, the sports-loving broadcaster, was on hand when 2DU broadcast the Olympics Torch Relay celebrations in 2000 that featured Dubbo’s only home-grown athlete, boxer Brian Tink, the glittering return of Commonwealth Games dual gold medallist, cyclist Megan Dunn (now Reakes) and the arrival of CIty-Country, NRL teams, the All Blacks rugby union stars and Andrew Ryan with the mighty NSW Blues win in 2005.

A wonderful man who gave his all for others.

Farewell and thank you, Reg Ferguson (OAM).