Celebrating Andy: 21 January 2006
2006 began with reflective activity... well, it involved an enormous amount of activity, and a great deal of reflection, review and consideration of the past and its impact on our lives now.
In Canberra, preparing Dennis's former family home for sale and dealing with its contents meant going through the past and future with Liz and Cat and Simon there, and Nick by phone.
In Tomerong, great organisation led to a very special occasion hosted and organised by Bindi and Bianca near what would have been their dad Andy's sixtieth birthday. The invitation read:
This event is to commemorate what should have been Dad's 60th year and to share stories of Andy with special people in our lives who hadn't the chance to meet him.
A copy of the invitation can be downloaded here.
Andy had loved organising entertainments and so the day was organised with a program of entertainments at the barbecue which was Andy's first great project at Tomerong and the scene of many past family events.
A multimedia event and a great success... at many levels.
It was a hot day, hot enough for crayons to melt and make a crusty spread.
Everyone pitched in to get set up, some also wisely taking opportunities to rest in the shade.
It was good that the invitation was for arrival at 4.30pm for a program beginning at 5. When the sun went, the warm evening was delightful.
PLEASE READ THIS NEXT INSTRUCTION CAREFULLY!
You may click on any of these small photos below for an enlargement.
The enlargement will open in a new window.
- after looking at a photo, please close that new window to return to this album page.
There are many images below, which will take quite a time to load via a dialup connection.
The enlargement of photos may not happen smoothly until this initial download is complete.
Consider making a beverage of choice, take a break from the computer, while you wait!
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Ev thanked so many for all their support and care over the years and for coming today.
Ian Hoult spoke and passed the time capsule to the Pettigrew juniors.
There are pictures of the capsule and Ian's account of this ritual exchange
on this page (click here).
Dennis spoke on behalf of all present in thanking Bindi and Bianca for the wonderful event,
noting their many other achievements and recent appointments
and gathered Ev, Bindi, Matumba and Banjo, Bianca and Julian together to the stage.
Suzie had made 60 lamingtons.
At the end of the evening, we all sang Happy Birthday to Ian
and to Alan, who had also just turned 60.
... and to conclude this page,
a photo of Andy playing banjo with Lin's Jessie on mouth organ, in 1991
(click on this photo to enlarge)
