Trying not to cry because he's gone, but to smile because he lived...

Sadly, Adam's father Peter died on 29 October, close to midnight.

Not long after returning from the Hunter Valley, Peter had a fall and was rushed to hospital. He seemed to come good after that, but was still kept in hospital. He was transferred to a palliative care suite at Bacchus Marsh on Tuesday 21 October, and Cooper and I spent that Friday afternoon with him. Peter held Cooper on his knees and had a good conversation with him "(ooo) and then.. (coo) .. really. .. (goo ga)... then what happened?...". That was the last time that Cooper was held and cuddled by Peter.

Over the next few days Peter's health declined, and Sarah and Alison arrived for a pre-arranged visit, and Peter's children Melissa and Scott and Melissa's two-and-a-half year old son Brandon came from Perth. The family had time to spend with Peter alone, even though Peter was sleeping most of the time, and on the Monday night when Adam thanked him for everything and told him he was proud of him, Peter said "What are you talking about? I'm proud of you". When Adam told him that he just wanted him to know, Peter said, "Don't be silly, I'll see you tomorrow". The next day, Peter woke when we arrived and said hello, waving his hands and fingers at us. For the rest of the day, he barely woke, and on Wednesday, he didn't wake at all.

Sadly, on Wednesday night, Peter passed away. The funeral was held at the Police Academy Chapel in Glen Waverly, which seats about 700 people. Being such a prominant person in the Ambulance service, the chapel was nearly full.

Farewell Peter 2008

I spoke on behalf of the family and was glad that I hadn't looked to see how many people were there until I got to the podium. I shared some favourite memories of Sarah and Adam, such as when Sarah was little and went to a pony club, the kids there were encouraged to decorate their ponies to celebrate the pony’s birthday. Sarah was sad that she didn’t have a pony there to decorate, so Peter let Sarah put a saddle and bridle on him and dress him up as her birthday pony, letting her ride on his back.

When Adam was growing up, he tried to run away a couple of times on his bike. One time Peter walked the streets of Melton looking for Adam, and when he found him, just picked up his bike and started walking home. Another time, Adam rode his bike a bit further away, and Peter drove around in the ambulance looking for him. When he found Adam talking to a bus driver he just picked up the bike, and put it in the back of the ambulance before taking Adam home. Not too many words passed between them about it, but it was by his actions, that Peter showed Adam how important he was to him.

The service ended with friend and colleague Don Ormiston playing Amazing Grace on the bagpipes, and a guard of honour led by the Ambulance Service that Adam proudly stood at the head of in his ambulance dress uniform. As the hearse passed through the guard, the Ambulance helicopter did a fly-over.

Peter was someone we will never forget. He meant so many things to so many people, and it was his love of life, and eagerness to live it to its fullest, that inspired and encouraged us to be best that we can be.

Rest in Peace Peter.
10/09/1953 - 29/10/2008