The local community was saddened to learn of the death of much-loved sculptor Richard John Yates on January 12. His family have kindly shared some memories of his life. They describe Richard as a humble man and a ferocious talent, a rare combination.
Richard was born on July 3, 1965, in Casper Wyoming, USA, and was the third child of Gladys and Richard Pittman. Richard has an older sister, Denise and had an older brother he never met, Kelly, who died in 1964. Following Richard’s birth in 1965, his family moved to Washington and then to California, returning to Casper, Wyoming, when Richard was 10 years old following his parent’s divorce.
In the years following, Gladys remarried Ed Yates in 1978 and Richard took his surname. Richard’s fondest childhood memories were of the times he would spend with his grandpa, Ted Pittman. On the coldest of Wyoming mornings, Ted would wake little Richard early to give him a shot of schnapps before they would head off on what was one of many a fishing trip.
Richard was what you would consider an all-American boy who loved spending time with his friends, being a boy scout, fishing, hunting from the age of 12, listening to music, playing baseball and football and cruising in his beloved 1967 Camaro. He always had ambitions of being a policeman and in 1987, Richard realised his dream and became a Deputy Sheriff for the Natrona County Police Department. Then in 1989, Richard became a business owner, opening Yates Army Navy Surplus Store. As a keen outdoorsman, Richard loved speaking to his customers and loyal clientele about their hunting or sporting goods needs for 11 years.
In 2002, Richard immigrated with his family to Castlemaine, Australia. He loved the history of the goldfields region and developed a passion and a case of ‘gold fever’ in later years for prospecting in the area. In 2005, looking for a hobby, Richard dragged a fallen poplar tree into his shed and tried his hand at carving. He had recently seen a performance of a Maori Haka and was inspired to carve a Maori influenced Totem Pole. He had not quite finished this piece when he was diagnosed with leukemia.
After the diagnosis of such a life-altering disease, Richard viewed life very differently. His hidden talent led him to never return to his day job and pursue this artistic path. He built a studio and created realistic sculptures, relief carvings and functional art inspired by his Wyoming heritage coupled with a love of iconic Australian history.
Only one of the many highlights of Richard’s career as a sculptor include being invited to participate and exhibit at World Wood Day, held in Fujian Province, China in 2014. Following this, Richard created a life-size bronze bust of the former prime minister, Robert Menzies. The unveiling of the statue was attended by Prime Minister Tony Abbott and the work is now on permanent display in Canberra’s Parliament House.
In 2015, Richard was commissioned to create Mo the Miner. This was the first of five sculptures he created for the Chewton Sculpture Trail.
In 2017, Richard was named the official wood carver for the Royal Australian Navy and was charged with sculpting a number of Battle Honour Boards.
Through the years, Richard endured an epic 18-year journey of major health challenges. He experienced leukemia, two bone marrow transplants, lung disease, a heart attack and many other health issues. Through it all, Richard managed to remain positive and had a smile that rarely left his face and a laugh that could be heard from afar.
When times were tough, he leaned on his wife Karen and they immersed themselves in their bibles. Becoming members of the Maldon Baptist Church, in the last few years of Richard’s life, his love of Christ grew. All the accolades for his amazing work pale into insignificance when compared to his love of Christ.
His greatest legacy was his passion to share the word. Richard started sharing ‘Daily Wisdoms’ via text message in 2022 with a select few and exactly two years later, he had exactly 157 people subscribed to receive his daily messages of wisdom.
There was not a hospital stay that Richard did not pray or talk with fellow patients, tea ladies, cleaners and or nurses. His last Daily Wisdom on Wednesday January 10, 2024 read “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let your heart not be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27.
In addition to his wisdoms, Richard began evangelising on the streets of Maldon and Castlemaine. He loved talking, laughing, praying and handing out gospel tracts to those he met. Richard’s unshakable faith gave him immense peace, knowing where he was going after his time on earth.
Richard died in Castlemaine on January 12, 2024, at the age of 58 surrounded by his adoring family.
Beloved husband of Karen. Cherished father and father-in-law of Hayley and Josh, Zach, Matt and Cayla, David and Lauren, Andrew and Stell. Adored Poppy of Alex, Nolan, Natalie, Ollie and arriving in February, baby Cleeland.
