Roger grew up riding his bike before the 'compulsory helmet' law. One day riding without a helmet in Doncaster (near Caringal Ave), a passing police car decided to pull Roger up & give him a fine. That was fair enough, but when he went to ride off home, they stopped him again, and said he wasn't allowed to ride without a helmet, and he had to walk. Of course, a stand-off ensued, since Roger felt it was unfair to force him to walk, since he'd already copped the fine. A increasingly heated discussion followed, then another cop car turns up (this time a paddy wagon). By now Roger is standing up on the pedals, shouting at the cops that the're just a bunch of revenue-collectors, and they should be out catching real crims.

This went on for some time, with a few neighbours coming out to watch the sport.
 An impressive scene, I was assured.

I'm not 100% sure how it ended, I think the police were called away (to do some real work), Roger promised not to ride without a helmet....until they were safely out of sight.

Despite suffering a childhood injury with scissors that gave Roger a distorted pupil, he had excellent eyesight. 

One Saturday while riding his pushbike around, Richmond, Roger spotted 'Batch' (Mr Batchelor, a Monaro-driving, Napoleonic class teacher) and 'Hammett' (the young female librarian) together, walking out of the Hilton on Wellington St.

First thing Monday morning, Batch summoned Roger to his ‘crows nest’ office, locked the door and threatened him with a raft of threats inclduding to fail him in whatever subjects he could, if he told anyone. Needless to say, Roger didn't heed the threats, and it was way too late anyway since he'd already told plenty of us. The session in Batch's office simply added extra spice (and credibility) to the story.

The Ulehla family car for many years was a white LH Torana (maybe someone can add a photo?). This car shared many qualities with Roger himself; solidly built, incredibly reliable, and with some surprising hidden abilities. Roger found out that 'Torana' is an aboriginal word meaning 'to fly', and decided to share this knowledge with the four of us in the car at the time, driving through Coburg (near Dave Mielak's place). But Roger knew actions speak louder than words, so rather than simply announce this trivia, he demonstrated by launching the car over a railway crossing. All 4 wheels left the ground, heads hit the ceiling, we landed with an almighty thump and continued on. Only after his passengers asked "why ?" did he explain "torana means to fly in aboriginal" - a fact I'll never forget as a result of Roger's lesson.

At one stage at RMIT, Roger must have been burning the candle at both ends. He told me he fell asleep with his head on the desk during a particularly tricky but dry mathematical lecture on 'the finite element method'. When he woke up, the lecture theatre was completely empty, apart from Roger and the lecturer (world renowned expert Joe Tomas), who had waited patiently after the lecture for Roger to wake up, staring at the top of Roger's head. I don't remember who said what, but it seems Roger was able to learn even when asleep, since he went on to pass the subject.

Roger was the youngest in our family of four children and very much loved. Our mum and dad were both born in Czechoslovakia but settled here in Melbourne and their family grew. One of my earliest memories is of being so excited that I had a baby brother.

I remember the day Roger came home from hospital. He was such a pretty baby and we all doted on him. We didn’t have much in those early days, but we had a rich childhood and Roger was the icing on the cake. We would go for walks in the parks and gardens around Melbourne, and sometimes visit our cousins.

He was such a sweet little boy and when he started school, all the teachers loved him. He was also a brave kid, mum reminded me of when he was about three and injured his eye and had to have surgery. He never complained.
Afterwards, he had to wear sunglasses which we all thought was pretty cool, because there weren’t many three year olds wearing sunglasses at that time.

Roger was a very caring person and when he was young he thought of becoming a vet. He did well at school, first at St. Ignatius primary, he had many friends there, some of whom are here today. In those primary school days we shared a bedroom and I loved reading bedtime stories to him. He was more likely to hear Day of the Triffids than Peter Pan though. Maybe that’s what led him to enjoy Sci-fi novels later on.

After primary school he went to St. Kevin’s college, he was so easy to get along with and enjoyed new friendships there, again, some of those friends are here today as well.

Roger could also be depended upon. In fact, when I started going out with Stephen mum would send Roger along as a spy/chaperone. I was so embarrassed that I had to bring my little brother with me, but Stephen and all my friends loved him and didn’t mind at all. And you know he never dobbed on me, even when Stephen gave him money to go buy some lollies so we could have a smooch.

After St. Kevin’s, Roger went to RMIT and graduated as a mechanical engineer. He was a problem solver and enjoyed the challenge. When he was at Uni he had to submit a design project and explained to me that he was designing a toilet that stopped any splashes occurring. Typical Roger, so considerate.

After Uni he started his engineering career with a friend of ours, Jim, who owned a packaging company. Jim was so impressed with Roger, his work ethic, his ease with people and his reliability to get the job done. From there he went to Holden and his love affair with cars and motorbikes blossomed. He was still living at home and I still can’t believe that mum and dad would let him have motorbike parts laid out on his bedroom floor.

He then started his own business and developed a reputation for excellence in the industry. So much so that when he went to Japan to meet with Toyota, the senior executive was trying to pair him up with his daughter. They called him Roger-san. He was very much respected by his peers.

But Roger was all about family. When Stephen and I started our family we saw the loving, generous Roger in all his interactions with our boys. In our family celebrations he would be there. Listening to a piano or guitar recital, bringing awesome presents at birthdays and being such a patient and kind Godfather to our youngest, Daniel.

Roger was a wonderful uncle to all his nieces and nephews, Kate, Michael, Andrew, Daniel, Lucy, Charlie, Malaya and Zac all have their own special memories. I know in recent years Michael and Andrew would ask Roger for car advice. They would email photos of the latest steal, too good to miss and Roger would gently point out the 20 things wrong with the car, but always end on at least one redeeming feature just to make them feel better.

One day Roger brought home the most gorgeous girl named Debbie and we saw such joy in Roger as he and Debbie started their family. It has been so beautiful to watch Roger become such a wonderful, devoted dad and we would have many conversations centered around Audrey, Cooper and Dashiell and their little personalities that were beginning to develop.

I asked Stephen what I should say about Roger, and he said “You know, he was just such a great guy!”. He was a loving son to our Mum and Dad and the only one not to give them any trouble. He was the best little brother to Bobby, George and me.

Roger, we look forward to finding all your beautiful qualities in your children as they grow up surrounded by the love of our families.

Always in our hearts,

Nada

For about two years solid we would go to the movies every Friday night at the Hoyts in Highpoint. Roger new the security gaurd (Joe) that stood at the front entry to the cinemas, who also happened to work at Holden.
Joe would let us in every week no questions asked.

One night we went to see a movie that was not all that appealing to both of us so after 5 minutes we ditched it and the two of us snuck into see Star Trek Inserrection together.
He loved Star Trek!

Whilst working at Holden Roger would often bring home spec cars he would call 'sleepers' these were plain Holdens that were experimental and had special engines under the hood. He would often give me the keys to take for a spin but i always felt more comfortable when he was behind the wheel of these awesome machines. He was a great driver.

Seeing Roger's school photos today brought back many memories.

I met Roger at High School at St Kevin's. We got to know each other again after a school re-union a few years ago.

I'm not sure how it happened but one day in Form 4 (Year 10) we started talking about Star Trek ( there was only one then) and he regaled me with funny stories about Captain Kirk. I laughed so much I couldnt move. We then went to different class rooms. I kept laughing to myself through class just thinking about Roger's stories and got kicked out. Only to see Roger in the corridor, also kicked out - and we just kept laughing, sitting on the floor.

I'm laughing now remembering it. 

Roger and I worked together on some projects for Toyota over a number of years. I remember always looking forward to Monday mornings to find out what Roger had been up to the previous week end. He had a passion for life and making the most of every moment.

As Roger was the project manager, there was always spread sheets and budgets to consider and dead lines to meet. Watching Roger in the offices of Toyota was like watching a caged lion. It was only when we got out of the office and into the workshop to work on the cars that Rogers smile grew larger. He loved it.

I was lucky enough to travel to Japan with Roger. We worked very hard but also enjoyed our selves when work was finished. It was typical that Roger made the most of every moment. I remember that we had a large day of work on the Saturday and finished late. Our Japanese chaperone took us out to dinner and then returned us to our Hotel so that we could rest up before the Sunday site seeing tour we were booked on at 8am. Five minutes after I returned to my room the phone rang and Roger was on the other end. He said “sleep is over rated” get changed, were going out tonight, I have found an Australian bar 5 minutes walk from here. It was great fun and I remember that we returned to our rooms an hour before the site seeing tour started. It was the hardest day of site seeing I have ever spent.

I also remember that Roger would never let me drive during the testing of cars. He was a bad passenger and had to be in the driver’s seat. The only time I got to drive was when we had a car on the dyno and the test ran into lunch time! He also loved his food.

I will always fondly remember my time working with Roger. He was unique!

This week I found out that Audrey has just started at the same Calisthenics club as my daughter Ellouise. I will cast a keen eye to Audrey’s progress at each end of year concert and think of you mate.

Your friend Hilbert.

Roger gained his motorcycle license before getting his car license. As everyone knows, he took to bikes like a duck to water, and rode enthusiastically pretty much everywhere. I remember first jumping on the back outside my parents house, only to find myself doing 140kmh in a quiet suburban street about 10 seconds later. The trick was, he sometimes forgot that cars aren't quite as nimble as bikes.

One day he'd borrowed George's red Diahatsu convertible (seen in the attached photo) and was hammering down the Eastern Freeway, citybound in torrential rain. In the far left lane, a slow car suddenly loomed out of the mist in front of him, so he swung the wheel to change lanes. This sent the Diahatsu into a spin, veering across 4 lanes of freeway, across the median strip and stopped in the outbound emergency lane, a couple of car lengths from a stopped car. Miraculously, he didn't hit a thing, and the only damage was to his pride. Roger said he'd never forget the look of shock & disbelief on the face of the driver of the Falcon he passed in front of while facing the wrong way, who was suddenly confronted with a car facing him head-on at 100kmh, only a few meters from his bonnet.

So I guess there's one more stranger out there who will never forget Rog either.

Roger once told me how he went to a dentist for some root canal work. On finding out the anaesthetic cost over a hundred dollars, he decided to save a few bucks and go without. I can still remember his answer when I asked what it was like, he said "the pain was exquisite", and I knew from his face and tone of voice he wasn't joking. I'm pretty sure he did this more than once, not bailing out after the first session.

The only time I ever remember Rog showing any sign of fear was when he discovered a spider in the back seat of my car - I don't think I ever saw him move so fast again. Nothing else ever shook him, not police, certainly not hairy corners on winding roads, not road rage drivers, nothing.

Hi, Roger was part of my life for app 12 years during which time he was married to my sister Luisa. We spent many great times together and I have many great memories.

For the last 2 years of his time in our family he was Uncle to my first Son Nicholas. In growing up, Nicholas would ask about Roger as the man in all the photos we had from the years gone by. 
We often spoke of him when remembering all the wonderful times we shared together.

Roger was a big inflience on me personally and our family. He had a huge presence and I wouldn't be the wine drinker I am today if not for him.
Ironically my favourite wine today is Paul Osicka having drunk many bottles with him. I will never forget the the laughs & great conversations we shared over a red. 

He loved my mums cooking and we would have our regular dinner nights each Tuesday, often going through two bottles of red and then playing a game of Trivial Persuit or Scrabble. He was hard to beat!

One Wintery day the two of us drove up to Beaconhills GC to play golf with two other friends. I recall him being concerned about it raining and not wanting to play in the rain but I re assured him it wouldn't rain, so off we went.
 
It rained cats n dogs for 12 holes and as he was standing on the 13th tee ready to drive the ball when the rain got even harder and he just started to laugh so much he couldn't swing the golf club. At this point we looked at each other and decided to abandon the round, go into the lounge, have lunch and dry off.

Another time the 4 of us were on a river cruise on the Murray and I was peering over the edge as my new Ray Ban sunglasses slid off my head & sunk. We all laughed so hard when Roger said "look there goes a trout with your sunnies on"

To see his face again today and his family brought back many memories and they were all good! May he rest in peace.