Before I read my poem I would like to say a few words

What has happened to our family is a tragedy. It doesn’t matter how you put it or how nicely you try to word it, it all comes down to the same thing. We lost our dad, our mum her lover and best friend, our grandparents their son and the rest of you a friend.

But all is not lost because dad spent almost 50 years living on this earth enriching the lives of everyone who stands here today plus many more who couldn’t make it. And by the size of this crowd I would say that’s a pretty huge achievement

Over the last 2 weeks I have found myself saying over and over again that my dad is the greatest y I know and every tie I say it I mean it from the bottom of my heart

Oh he wasn’t perfect, I’m not trying to clam he was and e and dad butted heads on many occasions

Or dad and I, I should say because if he was here right now he would have corrected me

By the thing is and this isn’t just a recent thing I’ve realized it’s something I realized quite a while ago. All the good things dad did and the huge influence dad has had in my life far out way anything he might have done wrong to the point that I can’t even remember any of the bad things anymore and haven’t been able to for the longest time.

My dad Kim loved me unconditionally as his daughter as with all of us kids and all the people that he knew

He was the center stone of our family and we will forever remember the feeling of being curled up in his strong warm arms telling us how much he loved us by both touch and words

I think if there is anything that us kids have got out of this situation it is, Dad we will try our hardest to make you proud like you have made us so proud of you and using your strength and kindness as a guide we will look after one another as we know you would have looked after us

And I hope you Summer, Rhys, Grace, Jacob, Bonnie and Mum will not fall down and mourn for him and let this hinder your lives because dad would not want that. He would want you to remember him and cherish the wonderful time we were blessed to have him.

He kept us smiling even right up until the end. He would want you to move forward knowing how much he loves us and make the most of every minute we have left here on this earth just like he did.

So in saying that I want to read you all the poem that I wrote the first might I found out dad was sick and that I read to him the day before he died and remember that this poem is only a very small part of what my dad means to me.

and

My dad is the greatest bloke I know

My dad is so strong I’ve seen him lift a rock the size of a large esky above his head and throw it at a snake just to protect me

My dad taught me that if your going to do a job you better do it properly and to never leave anything half undone

My dad taught me how to drive a tractor once I could reach the pedals and didn’t even growl when I accidentally knocked over a fence post with the slasher

My dad made sure I was always fed and clothed and made sure I got a good education or at least tried to

My did laid on the cool floor with e in the summer time and cuddled me while we watched T.V.

My dad let me shave his face even thought there was a high chance that I would accidentally cut him

My dad tells me he loves me on a regular biases and is not afraid to show his affection in public

My dad organized for me to have horse riding lessons even when we couldn’t afford it and worked extra hours to pay for it

My dad drove 2 hours to buy me a puppy for my 12th birthday and looked after it on the first night when I was to busy have a sleep over with my girl friends

My dad taught me what was right from wrong so that even when I found myself in the worst situations I held my values close to me

My dad put up with all his daughters PMT and even remembered what typ of sanitary items we each liked and went to the shop and bought them for us

My dad knows how to do everything and takes the time to teach you how to do it too

My dad has listened to each of my zany art projects and found and shown me how to use the right tools to get the effect I wanted

My dad is the toughest man I know but is not afraid to shed a tear when he is happy or sad which taught me strength of character

My dad is a very proud an but is not afraid to apologies when his is wrong which taught me integrity

My dad tells e when he is proud of me and is not afraid to give credit when it’s due

My dad always thinks the best of people and gives them a second chance to prove themselves

My dad is not afraid of house work and has an uncanny addition for food shopping which taught me nothing is beneath me, everyone must pitch in and that you can do anything regardless of stereo types

My dad trusts my ability so much he let me operate on an ingrown toe nail after reading a book in the library even though he should have seen a podiatrist and guess what it worked!!!

My dad is by far the greatest an I have ever known, he is my hero, my teacher and my friend. I feel privileged to call him my father and so luck to have been blessed as his daughter