Ron Finnerty is in Australia for five weeks before heading off to India and Nepal for three weeks.

His first stop was Melbourne for the Australian Open. 

“I watched Serena Williams and Roger Federer play,” he said. 

The 79-year-old is quite the tennis fan, playing three times a week in Coventry. 

“I’ve never been to Wimbledon though,” he said.

After Ron left Melbourne his trip took a turn for the worse. 

He travelled to Sydney by bus and after arriving at Central Station caught a taxi to his accommodation. 

“I paid the fare and left my bag in the taxi while I knocked on the door to make sure I had the right place but the driver took off,” Ron said.

“I gave him a shout and he motioned for me to wait, that he would come back, but he didn’t.”

The taxi disappeared along with all Ron’s luggage. 

“I spent two or three days trying but I haven’t been able to get it back,” he said. 

“I’ve all but given up on it now. The police couldn’t help me and the taxi company said unless I knew the driver’s name or car number, they couldn’t help me either.”

He suffered a heart attack 20 months ago, after returning from backpacking across five countries in South America.

“I’m fine now, but I’m on medication and all my pills were in my luggage so I’ve had to see a doctor and get that all sorted out,” he said.

Ron said being a Pom he was struggling with the heat in Parkes this week. 

“I’m ok up to about 80 degrees [fahrenheit – 26 degrees Celsius], but it’s been over a hundred while I’ve been here, I think I’ll go to the pool this afternoon!”

From Parkes, Ron will travel to Orange for a few days.

“I like country towns,” he said.

Then Ron is off to Lightening Ridge to find a new opal for his ring.

“The one I have is starting to wear.

“Then I shall work myself up the east coast to Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour, then make my way to Sydney in time to go to India.”

This isn’t Ron’s first visit to Australia or Parkes for that matter, he was last here 10 years ago.  

“I’ve been to Australia nearly 20 times over the last 50 years, it’s like a second home to me,” he said. 

Ron turns 80 in October and is planning a trip to Churchill, Canada, to celebrate his milestone.

“It’s a small place where there are polar bears,” he said.

“I want to see them before they are extinct. I love my animals.”

Ron is a seasoned globe trotter.

His last overseas adventure was to North Korea in June.

“I went with a group of five, as soon as we arrived at the airport all our bags were searched,” he said.

“We had two body guards with us all the time, and there were two more body guards watching the body guards!”

“They watch you the whole time, it’s very restricted.

“I took 40 photographs and ended up with five or six, they took them all off me.”

Ron said he feels sorry for the North Korean people. 

“But I suppose they don’t know any difference. It was uncomfortable, but an experience.”

Before retiring Ron worked as inspector on Rolls Royce aircraft for 16 years. 

He doesn’t own a car, opting to ride a mountain bike for transport.

“That helps me save money for travelling,” he said.

“Australia is one of, if not the dearest place to travel to now.”

Ron first caught the travel bug after corresponding with pen friends.

“We stayed at each other’s places,” he said.

“I have travelled all over Europe, staying with pen friends.”