Last week the world lost one of the good people
Back in the day Col was the Head LX for the Australian Ballet and undertook many tours with the ballet both in Australia and overseas.
After leaving the Ballet he was the Head Tech for the opening of the Playhouse Theatre at the then Victorian Arts Centre.
A Fitter and Turner by trade, when Col left the theatre life, he opened a workshop in Dumbalk where he built many a boom trolley, cable peg rack or any other item made of steel that the entertainment industry needed. He custom made and installed ballet barres in many a dance school or theatre. I do know that fixing a piece of farm machinery was not top of his list of favourite things to do…
Col lived a full life; he was bass player in a blues band before he joined the Ballet and his love and knowledge of music was second to none. He had a wicked sense of humour and loved to laugh. He loved his Richmond Tigers; he was unapologetic in his political views and passionate about what he believed in.
Col was a loving and proud father to Melissa, Jason and Bonnie, he was a doting grandfather to 4 grandchildren and a dear friend to so many. He lived with his beautiful wife Patsi and their children in a hamlet called Dollar up the road from his workshop, and their door was always open to their wide and varied circle of friends.
Last year Col was diagnosed with cancer and his fight at the end was perhaps thankfully short. Our world is a much lesser place with him not in it, but he is now with his beloved Patsi.
The times we are currently in are not good, and to be able to say goodbye properly at this point is not possible. His family are hopeful we can all get together in January around what would have been his birthday and talk about the man that meant so much to so many and who touched so many lives.
RIP Col you will be missed
