‘I get out more than I put in’: Mrs Ruth Daws OAM encourages all to be involved in local sport teams

When Mrs Ruth Daws, OAM, received the email saying she had been nominated for an Order of Australia Medal she was quite overwhelmed.

The Resthaven Paradise and Eastern Community Services client yelled out to her husband, John, “look what they’ve done!” – but, of course, it was what Ruth had done in giving her time and expertise in volunteer causes that had led to the recognition.

Sharing a birth year with Resthaven – both are celebrating 90 years in 2025 – Ruth received her OAM in 2020 for services to netball and pastoral care. They are causes that are still close to her heart and to which she contributes significantly.

‘I don’t do it for reward,’ Ruth says. ‘My reward has been gaining so much pleasure from being involved.’

Getting a team together

Ruth took up netball (women’s basketball as it was known) after she finished school in the early 1950s. She had played hockey at school and, looking for something different, she went to join the netball teams that played in Adelaide.

‘The club wasn’t a good fit for me, but I enjoyed the sport,’ Ruth says.

A member of the Tusmore Methodist Church (where she had been since the age of three), Ruth rallied the other girls within the church, and at the age of 18, formed her own netball club comprising of 12 teams.

Ruth played netball for two years, before health challenges forced her to step off the court. She then took on roles in coaching, umpiring and team management instead.

Around this same time, Ruth met her husband-to-be, John. They were both involved in the local tennis club at Tusmore. Romance blossomed, and they were married in 1955. Ruth and John enjoyed close to 70 wonderful years together before, sadly, John passed away in September 2021.

‘We did everything together,’ Ruth says. ‘We travelled a lot and enjoyed hobbies together. We had a wonderful time. I couldn’t have had a better husband.’

Ruth and John built a two-bedroom home at Beaumont. They began attending the Beaumont Uniting Church, and as there was no netball club there, Ruth decided to start one.

Over time, the Beaumont Uniting Church joined with three others in the area to become the Burnside City Uniting Church, where Ruth still attends. Ruth was President of the Burnside City Uniting Church’s Summer Netball Association for many years, only stepping down to become Vice-President in 2023. She has been heavily involved with fundraising for the club for over 50 years.

With a growing family, Ruth and John found it was time to build a larger home, still in Beaumont.

‘We built four houses in total,’ Ruth says. ‘Although he was very “handy” (and would help me out with so many things), John hated painting. For a while there it seemed as though every time the house needed painting, we would build a new one!’

Family and work commitments increased, but at its peak, Ruth says she was out at netball just about every night of the week. Around the same time, John was heavily involved in table tennis as a coach at the Payneham Table Tennis club. Three of the couple’s four children took up table tennis, and Ruth became involved in the club trips, in particular managing the Under 16 teams and fundraising for the club.

‘We would do demonstrations out in shopping centres to show off our skills,’ Ruth says. ‘People were always interested.’

Vocational calling

Ruth returned to work when the children started school, finding a job at Glenunga High School, where she worked for 22 years as Secretary to the Principal. When the time came for a new challenge, Ruth saw an opportunity with a friend from church who was running a hire company, primarily leasing out exercise bikes. They had also started to branch out into post-surgery recovery equipment, such as crutches.

‘The opportunity was there, and we decided to buy the business,’ Ruth says.

Ruth took over in 1988 and named the business Argosy Hire and Sales.

‘We started out running it from home, with all the equipment housed under our carport,’ Ruth says. ‘We engaged a computer programmer to write software for us to keep track of inventory and to invoice customers.’

Ruth’s daughter, Sue, came on board, and Ruth would do all the deliveries out to customers. When John retired from SA Water, he also helped out.

The business grew, so Ruth purchased a building on Kensington Road to operate out of. She won the contract to supply hire equipment to the local hospitals, securing the business’s future.

Ruth ran Argosy Hire and Sale for 17 years, retiring from the business when she turned 70.

‘I loved it,’ Ruth says. ‘In all my work I’ve felt most happy helping people. I’ve often felt that pastoral care is my calling.’

Ruth has fuelled this side of herself with her outreach work at the Burnside City Uniting Church, being involved with different youth and craft groups, as well as taking on the role of President of one of the church’s Fellowship Groups. She is now a Life Member of the church and regularly sings in the choir.

‘It is a wonderful fellowship – a wonderful group of friends,’ Ruth says. ‘The church is a big part of my life.’

A blessed life

Ruth attends the Burnside City Uniting Church netball training twice a week, enjoying being out in the community and socialising.

‘To go out at night to see the girls is such a pleasure,’ Ruth says. ‘I would recommend to anybody to be involved with a local club. It is a great way to meet people.’

The teams are made up of girls aged from six-years-old, through to the senior teams. Ruth encourages the girls to give back, and as a result, she often sees players who she coached when they were young, now stepping up and umpiring games, and coaching teams.

‘I was in the country a little while ago, and one of the girls I coached was there, in charge of the local team,’ Ruth says. ‘People make wonderful friendships playing netball, and it’s great to see the girls everywhere.’

When Ruth collected her OAM at the ceremony, she says she felt very humbled.

‘I’ve certainly got more out of netball and the church than I have put in,’ Ruth says. ‘I’ve had a lot of pleasure in my life. I’ve had good people around me, and a lot of opportunity. I learnt my positive attitude and determination from my parents. I’ve been so fortunate.’

‘God has looked after me. He wants us to be an example to others, so that’s what I try to do.’

‘Time is precious, use it wisely – with enjoyment included,’ Ruth says. ‘Family and friends are the most valuable thing in life. I have been very fortunate to have had the support and love of four children, 12 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren who I love very much.’

‘Thank God every day for your blessings. Be positive in all you do.”

Ruth is supported to live in her home at Burnside with assistance from Resthaven.

Ruth shares her birth year with Resthaven – both are celebrating 90 years in 2025!

We are honouring those turning 90 in our 90th year with a series of articles showcasing their stories – building a picture of life in South Australia over the decades. Click here to read more stories like Ruth’s.