Gone fishing.

Next weekend we are farewelling my Dad.

I am trying to create a slideshow and I keep thinking about ‘memories’.
It’s poignant really.

Dementia and memories.

My Dad left us in January of this year.
We had a very private and intimate service for my Dad.

And next weekend we are travelling to Mission Beach, a significant place for 3 generations of our family to say our final farewell.

My Dad was born in Innisfail and he grew up in Mena Creek, a cane farming district then populated by many Spanish cane farming families.
Dad’s father was the headmaster of Mena Creek state school.

Dad’s lifelong mate was the son of a local cane farmer.
Dad and his mate went to school together at Mena Creek state school.
They learned to swim at Paronella Park.
They rode their motorbikes around the cane fields of Mena Creek.
They fished together at Mission Beach, out past Dunk Island.
They were as close as brothers.

Mission Beach was where the cane farmers of Mena Creek kicked back and relaxed when they weren’t working in the cane fields.
My Dad had such fond memories of Mission Beach.
I think it represented for him, what was important in life…family and friendship.
So many special memories, a lifetime of memories were created between these families at this beautiful place in Far North Queensland.

During the last few weeks that my Dad was with us, even when he was so frail and distant, he spoke vividly of his best mate and them fishing together.
Often.
I think his best mate was waiting for him.
Waiting to go fishing together on the other side.

So, next weekend, Dad will be re joining his best mate at Mission Beach.
We will scatter Dad’s ashes where his mate’s ashes were scattered.
And they will be ‘gone fishing’ together again.

I hope you catch the ‘big one’ Dad.
Miss you xx