For those of you who couldn't make it to
David Fisher
's funeral, I thought I'd share with you my Eulogy I wrote for my dear friend David.
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David Deane Fisher – Eulogy
Firstly, I’d like to offer my heartfelt condolences to David’s family, Lorraine, Allan, Mandy, his daughter Aleesha, his family of cousins, aunts, uncles and his many friends.
Thankyou Lorraine for allowing me to speak today about David.
I’d also like to apologise to the many people who sent me messages alerting me about Davids passing, I’ve just found it too difficult to reply.
David would be impressed with the turnout today.
He’d be less impressed with how well everyone is dressed.
David’s attire for any occasion was jeans and a tshirt, or board shorts and a tank top, always accompanied with flip flops.
Although, for a few years David would get around in what we called ‘Happy Pants’. Elastic around the waist and the ankles, with like this Hawaiian pattern all over it. Made me laugh every time I’d see him in them. He’d just say to me ‘was the only thing they had in my size”
And a Cap, David was always wearing a Cap. Now you’d think this was because, like myself, he didn’t have a lot of hair upstairs, No. He had possibly the worst tattoo in Australia, A big huge eyeball on the back of his noggin.
I knew David for nearly 30 Years. We met through marriage, David had a very strong bond and close relationship with his cousin, my wife Caryanne. We’ve deeply mourned his passing together. We’ll miss him dropping by.
When Caryanne and David would get together, the conversation would always get onto the times they had together as kids. Camping with family, fishing, dune buggies, motorbikes, lighthouses, mud fights and generally running amok, as you do when you’re kids and you’re with friends. The stories were always funny, but when you’re reminiscing about good times, some stories you laugh about now, were not always laughing matters at the time. One story that was often repeated, was the time David, Mandy, Kirsty and Caryanne went for a beach walk, they spent most of the time picking those little black shelled cockles that you see stuck on rocks along the beach. They filled a bucket and headed back to show everyone back at camp the beautiful shells they had all collected.
To their surprise, the parents were less than impressed. Unknown to them, the shellfish were alive, and you can’t take a whole bucket of them. The Punishment: They had to Eat them all. A tough lesson to learn, but it could have been worse, at least they had them cooked I guess.
David was a very generous and loyal friend, as many of you all know. He had many friends here in Adelaide and in Murray Bridge. He loved the Country life, living in Murray Bridge was about the right distance away from the City and the crowds. It suited him to a tee. David wasn’t one who liked to be the centre of attention, he’d try and blend into a crowd. But, at 6”7 it’s hard to be a wallflower.
I was lucky to have spent so many great times with him.
1996 - David and I flew to Melbourne for a Crows game. The Crows weren’t too flash playing away from home in the early days, and we were going to Princes Park to see them take on Carlton. The Blues were good then so I’m not sure why we picked this game. Anyway, we got to the game just as the first quarter started. As we approached our seats, the only two vacant seats amongst a sea of Blues supporters, I noticed two little old Carlton ladies were sitting directly behind our seats. The look of absolute horror on the poor lady’s face when she realised 6’7 David was going to be sitting in front of her, it still makes me laugh today. Everyone in our area had noticed and was cheering and laughing.
David, offers them our seats, they gratefully accepted, and we swapped.
When David goes to sit down, the biggest cheer of the day goes around our area. David looks at the new bloke behind him now and says – sorry mate.
We got hammered that day by the Blues, but it was a memorable day. David was a bit of a celebrity that day, and as I mentioned before, David usually didn’t like the attention, but he loved it that day.
David was a very unique character.
We’d go fishing quite a bit and although he fished a lot, like me, he was no pro.
He called me up one morning: “lets go fishing – I’ve got bait – just grab your rods and gear and come pick me up’ So I packed the gear and headed up.
When I arrived David was excited to tell me about a little project he had been working on.
“Never gonna need bait again” he said
“Come around the back, I’ll show you”
As we headed around theback of the house, this putrid smell started to fill the air. “Oh my god David, what is that smell?”
“Don’t worry mate, come check this out”
The closer we got the worse the smell. As we turn the corner, we get to this patch of dirt, probably about 2m x 2m – it was moving! The ground was moving, actually up and down like waves.
“What the hell is in there?”
“Maggots mate!” I’m farming maggots!
David had purchased 20 frozen chickens and buried them about two weeks previous, in the middle of summer. He was thinking we’d dig them up and use them for fishing. I didn’t. Once he turned that first shovel load of dirt over, he changed his mind very quickly. We bought bait on the way.
David was one of the most responsible and irresponsible dog owners I knew. He loved his dogs and he had quite a few over the years. They kept him fit, because he spent many hours chasing them around the paddocks as they chased down the neigbours sheep and cattle. When he first moved to Murray Bridge we made some more plans to go fishing, David would usually take his dogs, he had three jack russells at the time, and he decided he’d leave them in the house this time. I knew these dogs well and warned David, Don’t mate, they’ll tear your house apart.
“Nah no worries mate, they’ll be good. We’ll only be gone 10-12 hours, I’ve left heaps of food and water and they’ve been for a big run today already, so they’ll just probably sleep and laze around”
How wrong he was.
12 hours later, David opens his front door. And like a scene out of movie, as if the CIA had upturned his entire house and contents looking for something. Everything was ripped and strewn around the place. We seriously thought he’d been robbed. Only thing was, nothing was taken and everything had bite or chew marks on it. Lounges, chairs were ripped and chewed, every remote control was destroyed, VHS tapes and CD’s were strewn about the place. Trash emptied and was everywhere, the fridge had been opened, its contents eaten and chewed. Only Davids bedroom survived as the door was closed, but literally everything else was absolutely destroyed by three little dogs.
The dogs come running out of a room, totally oblivious to what they’d done, all happy to see David. David just looks at me and says ‘Probably won’t leave them at home again’
Unfortunately, David had a rough trot in life regarding his health. It’s quite unbelievable what this bloke went through as a kid and into his adult life. With all the pain and problems David had, he never complained, he never looked for pity. He lived his life to the fullest. He cared for others, he cared for family. He used to call me when my son was sick in hospital, passing his best wishes on, He’d message me congratulations when I became grandfather, or just message me to say hello or to praise me for my latest artwork. He was a thoughtful friend. Throughout all his pain and trouble, David never lost his wicked sense of humour. It was one of the reasons David and I got along so well. He’d tell Caryanne and I not to fuss over his health, I’m ok, it’s all good mate. beachy wedding dresses
Initially, I didn’t know much about Davids health conditions, other than what I’d hear from family or in conversation. However, one night up at Davids place, we were sitting around the kitchen table playing cards, chatting and having a few drinks. Every now and then, when it went silent, I could hear this constant ticking. Sounded close, must be a clock. Minutes past, this ticking continues.
David, can you hear that ticking?
Nope, probably the clock mate.
This went on for several more minutes, until I noticed there was no clock in the room. TICK TICK TICK – what he hell is that ticking mate its driving me crazy, its coming from you isn’t it, it’s your watch or something isn’t it?
And without missing a beat David says:
It’s my Heart Pump,… bit of a pain in the arse isn’t it. Shall I turn it off?
He thought it was the funniest thing ever, I felt like I need a hole to crawl into.
David never took life too seriously, he loved a good laugh, even if it was at his expense. He was a dinky die - cast in iron ore - Aussie bloke.
He was a wonderful friend, loyal, generous, a great character.
Caryanne, and my family and I, we will miss him dearly. As I know you all will.
Goodbyes are not forever, are not the end;
It simply means we’ll miss you until we meet again
We love you mate.
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(Ps. The photo I've included was when we were in Melbourne for the Crows match and walking along Little Collins St we happened upon Davids doppelgänger.)
