Janice Creenaune meets Ron Witton, an Austinmer resident who has retired from being an academic at UOW and now uses his language skills to translate and interpret Indonesian and Malay for many migrants and their families.
Ron Witton performs a crucial service in our community for those needing their Indonesian and Malay documents translated. He also interprets for Indonesian and Malay speakers in such places as the court system. His language skills enable new arrivals to achieve their own goals and futures.
“It seems a long time ago now, but I was fortunate to happen to make a life-long Indonesian friend at Sydney Uni, where I was studying. He got me interested in Indonesian and Malay Studies.
“I travelled to Indonesia and continued my studies in the field, both in Australia and the US.
“Both he and I were best men at each other’s wedding and remained firm friends for life. I achieved my PhD from Cornell University in the US in Development Sociology.”
Ron’s studies led to a variety of appointments in the academic world and adult education, and he has taught at universities in Australia, Indonesia, Fiji and elsewhere. In 1983 he was appointed to the University of Wollongong’s Centre for Multicultural Studies. He later taught students in the Law Faculty how to use interpreters, and taught research skills to other students.
Ron explains that Indonesian and Malay came from a common language.
“Simply put, Sanskrit, Arabic and Portuguese all played a part in developing the language, but in colonial times, they were colonised by two different counties. Indonesia was influenced by Dutch and Malay was influenced by English.”
He has enjoyed teaching the language and explaining the history of the two languages with their complicated language-borrowing.
In retirement Ron has helped to promote various language initiatives, assist with community justice initiatives and interpreted in courts, tribunals, hospitals, police stations, legal offices and government departments.
He stresses the important distinction between translating and interpreting. When translating, he deals with the written language by assisting immigrants and students to translate documents, including birth and marriage certificates, and occasionally a death certificate.
“Often it is by email, but it can be legally complicated with commercial documents, tax files and pension details.
“Interpreting, on the other hand, is verbal interaction and sees me in courts, hospitals and also in schools to help parents of new migrants.
“People need to be able to understand legal matters, and this is especially so for the elderly, whose English language skills are often less developed.
“Interpreters and translators need to be accredited through exams held by NAATI (the National Accreditation Authority for Translation and Interpreting) and this is done through exams. Independence is demanded above all with no conflict of interest being a possibility.”
Nowadays, Ron works part-time, and his interpreting is often by phone or audio-visual link.
“I get a lot from helping others.”
Ron is also involved with the 1st Austinmer Scout Group, the longest continually functioning scout troop in the Illawarra. He assists with the rental and maintenance of the troop’s hall in Moore Street.
“The hall is one of the few community-built scout halls and still remains extremely well used.
“This year is the 100th Birthday of 1st Austinmer and the hall was built three years after the troop was founded. A remarkable feat.”
The hall is used by many local community groups for a wide variety of activities, including many a local birthday party. The free book library on its front veranda is very popular. Email Ron at rwitton44@gmail.com for hall bookings.
Janice Creenaune is a volunteer for PKD (Polycystic Kidney Disease) Foundation Australia. Email janicecreenaune@gmail.com for further information.
