A Funeral Service for Mr. Richard Hayden CALLEN will be held at the Cohuna Anglican Church on MONDAY (20th April, 2026) commencing at 11:00am
Location of Church can be found here.
A Private Cremation will follow.
We wish to encourage you to express your sympathies and condolences to the family via a post on this announcement which the family are able to access and read.
(All messages are pending the approval of staff to avoid inappropriate content).
My father-in-law, I love and miss your sense of humour – the way you could always make me laugh with your comments.
Your unconditional love for Mark, Mick, Nicole, your grandchildren, and especially your beloved great-grandson CC, will never be forgotten.
We will honour you by speaking up, standing our ground, and never letting others walk over us – just as you always did, unapologetically.
Love you always, Rick. 🤍
Rest easy Rick.
All your children and grandchildren did you so proud today, giving you a wonderful send-off.
To my nephew Mark and niece Nicole, Mick, Lisa and families, I send all my love.
Thanks so much Debbie. We loved your beautiful words you had read out at the service. Much love. Xo
Sending my condolences on the passing of Rich, a very dear friend of mine and especially Ron.
They had much fun and spent a lot of time together.
Love Lorraine Haig xx
Richard arrived in our town and before long was popping up at various places, with many of us just getting to know him and his wife passed away. It was a difficult time but the kindness of a few ensured he got to know more and more people and become active in our community. He was handy for advice when you needed to make a repair, and most generous when he would let me cut some of his roses from time to time to brighten up someones table along our street. In the recent times as his health declined he never felt sorry for himself and kept pushing on right to the very end. He has left an impression on many. To Dawn and to Brad, as his family and his dear friend, may I commend you on the dedication and kindess you both bestowed on him this last year. I know that Richard was so very grateful and experienced first hand the level of care we can all only hope for in our time of need. The pair of you are an exemplar to us all.
A.N. Gibbs.
Richard , a true Aussie Bloke – friendly, reliable & down to earth. A hard working proud family man.
Fond memories of great neighbours over many years in Werribee & Richard, a life long family friend who will always be remembered, especially the times spent when “fixing shit” in the shed or when he called me “slack”.
Thinking of Mark, Nicole & their families whilst sending condolences to all the extended family & friends.
Brad & family.
RIP to a great man I’ve known you nearly my whole life. You were missed when you moved away from next door, now will be missed so much more. xxxx
Dad always talks and asks about you, just know you were hiss best mate – 45 years of friendship even if you lived so far away.
Sorry to Mark and Nicole and families that we can’t make it but will definitely be thinking of you all and watch the stream.
Sending all our love,
The Halliday’s.
On behalf of the Men’s Bower Coffee Group, Brains Trust, and the Stanton Bus Shed Men’s Coffee Group, we offer our condolences on the sad passing of Richard Callan on a Friday morning.
Quotation
What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything? Vincent van Gogh
Richie, as he was known to all of us, was not quite a local, which often requires 40 years of residence. He certainly became a friend to many, a most interesting character, the go-to man when you sought to resolve problems with small motors, lawnmowers, or motorbikes, etc. He had his ups and downs in the early days for Richie, losing his longtime partner while still very much part of our community fabric.
Richie certainly possessed a curious and interesting mind. He was certainly willing to express his point of view. When the inevitable discussion seemed to be going nowhere, he would bring some sense to it.
Quotation
Life is my University. I hope to graduate with some distinction, Louise May Alcott.
As we all came to learn, Richie had many life experiences. One of his greatest gifts was his ability to help others, and he never wanted to be overly rewarded for his efforts. He saw his life’s goal as sharing the knowledge gained on life’s journey with everyone, and wherever possible, he did so with a smile and, hopefully, a laugh.
Our communities have been enriched by Ritchie’s presence, leaving many great memories we can all cherish from the time we spent with him.
Richie will be remembered by all of us. He will never be forgotten. In the future, when we are stuck in some debate or banter, we will think of a line Richie would have used to resolve the issue.
Life’s race well run
Life’s work well done
Life’s victory one
Now cometh the rest,
EH Parker
Farewell, Richie, from all of us, on your next part of your journey to join many others that you love and respect. There will be plenty of reunions.
God a week and 1 day, feels surreal, walking out and not hearing you speaking to dad is something I’ll miss, coming up and you would spoil me rotten it’s hard coming to terms you’re gone but I know you are pain free and worry free, 3 short years I knew you but felt like longer all the story’s of your family, going to the milk store to get your dad the local sporting bets and a pack of smokes or when you got in trouble by the law those story’s I will cherish, I miss you more then words can put it I keep reminiscing about our time together feels weird without you here but I’ll try to manage, I love you pop and never will stop so when it’s my turn to come up to the pearly gates I will see you there and I’m looking forward to it pop, god has you so behave!
Rest Easy Richard.
Pleasure getting to know you when working for shire/NDCH
Thoughts with Richard’s family 🩵
This is so hard to do , because I feel so lost without my big brother my best friend . Every morning I get up and just stand and look into your room and think how am I going to get through today . And you saying ha sis what are you doing today .. when it was hot I know I would have to get out early because you would heat me off . I miss our talks about when we were young . The last 12 months has been a very special time I have loved living in Cohuna , it’s going so hard to leave . I know will be back to visit all our friends . I miss you flicking with the tea towel , putting ice down my back you made me a spider . Thankyou for welcoming my family into your home . I’m glad you’re now with Sue , mum and dad no more pain or suffering. Sad we never got to do our road trip I don’t need to go on the bus Adam’s (the big fella )is going to take me . Rest easy my darling brother love you for ever Sis xxxxoooo
Uncle Rick,
The heartache of losing you feels unbearable.
Fifty-one years of having you in my life will never feel like enough.
My heart is overflowing with memories of the time we shared — in Werribee and Cohuna — moments I will treasure forever, yet they still don’t feel like enough.
When Mum moved to Cohuna, it was hard… but you made every visit so full of laughter. You loved teasing your sister, and I was always right there beside you, taking your side — much to Mum’s frustration. I can still hear myself saying “Muuuuum!” as you laughed. Those are the moments I will hold onto forever.
Thank you for trusting me to drive you both back to Cohuna — that time together means more to me than words can ever express.
It was truly heartwarming to see just how loved you were — the incredible friends who stood by you, looked out for you, and cared so deeply for both you and Mum. It says everything about the kind of man you were.
You will never be forgotten.
You will be missed more than words could ever say.
Rest peacefully, Uncle Rick.
I love you forever.
Love always,
Kymbo, Dave & Melina 💕
Pop was the best grandfather anyone could ever ask for. He had a way of making everyone laugh and always put a smile on people’s faces. He would always have a nickname for everyone he met, and I had two: “Brains” and “10 Mil.”
Every time we visited him, he’d have a ton of stuff for us—things like watches, clothes, and clocks.
He was always doing something, like fixing a lawnmower for his mate, because he just loved helping his family and friends.
I’ll miss the times he would call me up and say, “Mate, my bloody flashlight on my phone won’t turn off,” and I would have to walk him through how to turn it off.
He loved his fishing and camping, and he enjoyed teaching his grandkids his ways—like how he ties fishing hooks, how he knots lines, and how he fixes watches. Just simple things he enjoyed sharing.
I will make sure his legacy lives on forever. He will be deeply missed by everyone.
Love you, Pop. I miss you so much.
Ritchie was a very special man with a huge heart he was the first person to put his hand up and help, he could fix anything or give it a go.
Ritchie will be so sadly missed in our house, no blue Ute out the back and no tinkering in the shed “fixing shit”, or showing us the latest item he had bought on Temu!
Ritchie loved his family and his mates and we all loved Ritchie x
Sending our love to Mark Mick Nicole Dawn and families