Caitlin
MY CHILD IS A GEM
(Caitlin's Speech at Roger's 60th)
When I started to think back on Dad's life, I was struck by the idea that it reminded me of the life of another great character... Forrest Gump.
OK so dad was never shot in the buttocks and he doesn't say life is like a box of chocolates, but there are some parallels that are becoming more obvious.
My dad had been a cripple. Of course unlike Forrest, he still is. But I'm sure if dad could throw away the walking stick and go galloping down the road, he like Forrest would just keep on running.
Both Forrest and dad were in Nam, they may even have met. They both had adventures on the high seas, and were captains of their ships. They both had mentally challenged friends - AND I MUST SAY, IT IS VERY NICE OF SOME OF YOU TO HONOR US WITH YOUR PRESENCE TONIGHT!
They both had influential mothers who have left a mark on their lives.
Dad and Forrest have both lost someone very close to them, as many of you know Mum and dad lost an infant son, Ryan. They also fell in love with a beautiful woman.
Forrest certainly didn't spend 18 years at university, and couldn't put PHUD after his name (or PH, D. to the rest of us). But you would have to say that Forrest and dad are legends in our time...
I first met Roger on the 5th of January 1977, in a delivery room at St, John of God Hospital, when he delivered me himself. It would not be like dad to let a chance to be a central part of my life pass him by.
To prove it dad took several realistic photos. Years later when my primary school teacher asked us to bring in baby photos, I proudly produced Dad's photos, to the dismay of students and teacher alike.
At birth, my dad and I formed an instant bond, I was definitely daddy's little girl. As a colicky baby, it was dad's deep voice, humming a simple tune that would send me to sleep.
As I grew up dad's ingenuity came to the fore. As a three year old I had rather an adventurous spirit, and would like nothing better than to wander off on the 66 acre property, not to mention surrounding properties, to explore streams and forests.
Several attempts were made to curtail this adventuresome spirit, and for some time to no avail. Later when visitors commented on the barbed wire surroundings to my out side play pen, dad would say, "Well it works!"
I don't think too many people can say that as a young child they helped their dad build a bridge – "Jump down turn around and pick up the mattock ; jump down turn around and pick the mattock up". That bridge went on to support a wine tour bus and its rowdy passengers, and as far as I know still stands today.
Dad has always been different. As a kid this was always fun - as a teenager, not so much. In fact dad's eccentricity became an embarrassment, but then, so did many aspects of this teenager's life.
But dad never gave up trying to be part of my life, and to do things with me. Almost every weekend over the winters of 1993 and 1994 my dad drove me around the state to endurance competitions, struggled with buckets of water and feed and braved weather and boredom so that I could ride and be there.
At one competition, as a sixteen or seventeen year old, I placed equal second. Because there were two of us there was no trophy prize given. I was very disappointed. This was not lost on dad, who, a week later came up with a beautiful trophy for me.
Dad's generosity often appears limitless. As an incomplete paraplegic, he has built stables, yards and paddocks for mum and me (with a little help from his friends).
Supporting the prisoner's visit programme and disabled netball, he continues to bare weather and boredom. On a limited income he has traveled to help the needy, and will be departing for a remote Aboriginal Community in the north. There can be no doubt that God works through this man.
It always amazes me when I think what dad has done, and what is more amazing is that he is ALWAYS in pain. His back may be broken, but his spirit is very much intact, refusing to let person or organization bring him down.
So the next time your with my dad, an you feel the gentle poke just to see if you will rise to the bait, look a little closer and see the warmth in his cheeky grin, the grin of a man who would rather laugh at himself than at others.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD, I think the world of you, and always have. I love you terribly, but with practice, I'll get better.