A SWAN Hill community figure who was instrumental in the establishment of Pioneer Settlement has died, aged 94.

Born on November 7, in 1926, Thomas "Ross" Mellor OBE, died suddenly, but peacefully on February 20.

Ross was a councillor with the Borough of Swan Hill from 1958 to 1965, taking up the mayor role in 1960, further remaining a councillor with Swan Hill City Council until 1973.

Ross rec...