Celebration

On Wednesday last week we went to the wake arranged to celebrate the life and shared experiences of Roger, our friend, who had died on 23 May due to prostate cancer.

The wake took place at the popular Gryphons caffe bar in Griffith ACT, appropriately on what would have been Roger's 71st birthday.

It's a place we've been to as a family as well as in the company of friends including Roger. It's a place we all liked.

About 20 of Roger's friends attended the informal occasion. Most were former work colleagues from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA); some were from the local model railway enthusiasts club; some were social friends; Roger's former wife, a couple of spouses of former work mates and the son of Trish, the special person, former TGA colleague who opened her house to Roger when he relocated from Karuah for medical treatment. Trish unfortunately was unwell and could not attend. Most friends were locals but one couple travelled from Albury in norder to attend.

Appropriately given the current CoVID-19 practices some of Roger's UK family including his older twin siblings, Peter and Therese were able to follow most of the proceedings by laptop.

For a couple of hours we met new people, renewed acquaintance with former work-mates, drank, chatted, ate some nice finger foods and shared our memories of Roger. Aaron who worked closely with Roger and who supported Roger in multiple ways through Roger's illness, spoke about Roger and some shared experiences, some of which I also shared: watching real football, playing Pitch & Putt golf. One or two others also shared their experiences of Roger. Most of us learned something about our quiet, dry-wit friend. Mostly there were far more laughs than tears but I admit that Aaron's speech caused me a couple of deeper breaths and lump-in-throat swallows. I didn't think I could have said anything coherently. Stewart, Trish's son and major organiser of the event, lead a chorus of "Happy Birthday" with cheers then there were some more short reminisces about Roger.

A moving but definitely not negative event that Roger would have enjoyed even if he wouldn't have admitted to enjoying. That sort of sums up the bloke I knew and liked. Quietly humorous, a dry cynicism, more knowledgeable about lots of things than we ever realised. Paraphrasing Terry Pratchett, an author we both liked, never admit to being clever while letting others think they are more clever than you.. 

A mate we all will miss