Ron Ward came to Western Cove in 1986 and purchased a house built in the 1970s.

He is a member of the Uniting Church in Kingscote and had a ministry of taking local children to church on Sundays in his van. Sometimes up to five or six would go. He also joins in Uniting Church evangelizing efforts such as a campaign to offer the Gospel of Mark at every house on Kangaroo Island.

Until 1976 Mr Ward was a professional fisherman in Spencer Gulf followed by work at BHP Whyalla as a rigger. Chronic fatigue syndrome forced him into early retirement in 1984.

Ron uses his fishing rod on the beach in front of his house, and sometimes takes his boat onto Nepean Bay, usually catching salmon and mullet.

He converted from atheism to Christianity in 1954 at the age of 22, and has two sons and two daughters who live on the mainland.