Sorry for not being clear. The funeral will be in Kalgoorlie.
The date is to be determined.
Sue xxx

Huggs Sue
My condolences to you and the rest of the family.
I would like to attend the final send-off, and Darren would as well if his boss will allow him time off.

I still remember the first time I saw the two of you - snuggled together on the front seat of the 'Kermit' green 4wd Ute, waiting for the Tea & Sugar to pull into camp. That was at Loongana, during the fox shooting phase. Then of course we caught up again at Forrest during the railway phase. So much time has passed since then. I'm kicking myself now because I always thought 'tomorrow' when I scrolled past the phone number or email address in my contact list. I assumed there would be a hell of a lot more 'tomorrows' to come.

It proves the old saying - only the good die young! Darren may not have always been an angel, but you could always count on him. He would go out of his way to help a friend in need. Faced with a long, slow, boring road trip as escort vehicle for something huge on a truck, Darren 'borrowed' my 2 year old son to "keep him company on the journey". Little did he know my Darren could talk non-stop for hours on end. I'm sure his ears are still ringing. :) He didn't really need company on that trip, he was just trying to give me a few hours of much needed respite.

One thing I noticed while looking at the photos posted in this forum - he has 'The Smile' plastered on his face in just about every single one of them. You know the one! It didn't matter how lousy you were feeling, he'd give that smile and you just knew some kind of mischief was about to occur that would get one or both of you in deep trouble - but you'd be laughing you head off about it in the end!

Some people have the power to change our lives - even after they're no longer a part of it. I am so thankful I knew him - he will always be a candle in my night

ok. And you are???

:O Ooops, forgot to sign off properly.
This is Shaz - the ex Mrs Ruffy. Lived in Cunderdin when your eldest was at Ag College etc.
As I said, it's been way too long :sad:

Funeral Notice.
Thursday 7th Oct at Kalgoorlie Crematorium, Memorial Drive at 11am.

:(

I'm planning to fly what Darren would call a Bugsmasher up from Jandakot. .. anyone who knows a good way to get from the airport to the funeral please let me know, am not very familiar with Kal..

Taxi is the best way . It's not that far , probably cost you $20 each way . I am sure you could arrange someone from the funeral to pick you up or drop you off.

Hey Sue

:( Damned specialist won't move my appointment to another day so I won't be able to come to Kalgoorlie for the funeral.
Which funeral director is handling things? Where should I send a wreath? OR would Darren prefer a donation to a charity rather than flowers?

Hugs
Sharon

Most regrettably and unfortunately, I am due to arrive in ypph for permanent relocation on Sunday the 10th and cannot get there any earlier :(

OzEx I will kindly ask that you represent me on this occasion :)

GG x

Will be in Kal for the Big man's send-off tomorrow.

Arrive tonight, so if anyone is interested in getting together before tomorrow for a 'small' drink in honour of Darren, post a reply.

BM

So sorry the Yahoo's can't be there tomorrow. Our deepest thoughts and sympathy to all your family.......He was an amazing guy.............'Fly high Bonza, Jonathon Livingston Seagull is with you'

The Big Man had his final public send-off on Thursday in Kalgoorlie with a service then cremation.
A few words were said by quite a few, and later at the Ex-Serviceman’s Club many drinks were had.
I think he would have been impressed with the turn out, although not about arriving in a Holden! He will be going home to Leonora in his Ford XR6 though.

Meanwhile in heaven...

'Ring ring'

'Hello God speaking'

'Yeah Boss, it's Peter down at the gate. Some bloke has turned up, and reckons he's here for the audit?'

'Audit?'

'Yeah, said he has to inspect the Angels flight line and see all the records'

'What!'

'Yeah, said he is the Regulator and has a CASA PNG pass. He is going to close us down unless we comply'... ;)

A year ago today since Darren made his last flight and it still doesn't seem real. Still remember all the happy times and yarns. RIP Darren.

Yep, RIP mate. This place ain't the same without his pot stirring that's for sure.

... yep and I've just had a cold one for ya mate. A year on and it seems like only the other day a "product testing" was in order at the aeroclub. I just know you are having a good chuckle... somewhere good... ;)

It may still be only 30th here but it is already 31st in Oz and I'm off to bed very soon. Two years have passed so fast but there is still a big Wiz-shaped hole in the lives of all who knew him. RIP Darren.

A few of the crew will be having a drink for Mr Turbine (a name we gave him well before he flew turbines for obvious reasons) after work today, absolute classic fella, RIP Mr Turbine

Nuttier than his grandmothers fruit cake, and a great bloke to boot.

You could troll all the back block pubs and brothels for a lifetime and you will never find another bloke like him.

RIP Wiz.

I can't believe its two years already..........................

Two years now and found I still have the last pm from him in my message bank.

Just never got around to deleting it I guess.

Pinky, just had a quick flick back through a few of his old PMs we'd exchanged for near on ten years. Gave me pause to remember our many get togethers, buzzing around central Australia in Daisy, s#!tstirring our mate Nappy and whenever we were able to catch each other in passing while we were both going about our respective jobs.

I know you'll call me a "big poof" from up there for saying it Wiz, but I hold those memories dear and close and miss yer like bu**ery mate.

I miss the elation in your voice when you told me the night before you were finally off to have a blat in the Cessna in the morning.

Ops.