11.08.2020. It is with sadness that we record the passing on one of life’s true gentlemen – Russell Vickers aged 84.
Russell was based in Stratford where he quarried a source immediately adjacent to Mount Taranaki. He joined the IOQNZ in 1982 and attended every annual conference up until 2016.
He was President from 2001-2003 and received several accolades along the way in recognition of his unwavering support of the IOQ: – 2001 RD Hassed Memorial Trophy and an Honorary Fellow in 2006.
Russell also was also instrumental in arranging with the Royal College of Heraldry for the New Zealand branch to have its own coat of arms which features on the IOQNZ Award.
He contended that without the ongoing support of wives or partners many of the members may not have featured as prominently – as a result one of Russell’s enduring legacies is the payment of corsages to be worn by partners at the Annual QuarryNZ Conference Awards Dinners. In honour of his late wife, the Russell and Marie Vickers Family Floral Fund was set up to ensure the corsage tradition is maintained for future conferences.
In 2012 when the IOQNZ published the “Profiles in Stone – Stories by NZ Quarrymen” one of the chapters featured Russell Vickers – “Elderly Machine Operator” – a story cleverly told by the authors Foord and Clayton.
Russell Vicker’s death means the end of a long battle with leukaemia, but still comes as a shock to us all. Our thoughts are with his family at this time.