The relatives and friends of Carl are kindly invited to attend his funeral. At conclusion of service the cortege will proceed to the cemetery.

Pinegrove Cemetery
Great Western Highway
Minchinbury

Carl will be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by his wife Kath, son Brett, daughter Michelle, son-in-law Clay, grandson Dylan, son Anthony, daughter-in-law Kerry, granchildren David, Adam and Sarah. Brother to Marlene, Denise, David, Wayne and Marissa. Brother-in-law to Bill and Allan. Uncle to Mark, Rene, Belinda, Darren, Brendan, Jason, Clinton, Shannon and Micole, Wayne, Geoff, Christine, Greg, Belinda, Katrina and Thomas. Also dearly missed by his extended family and many friends.

Reunited with his parents Violet and Angus Gaddes, sister-in-law Josephine and bother-in-law Vin.

Our Hearts Are With You Forever And Ever

***********************

'Yarns.'

(Carl's Eulogy written and read by his daughter, Michelle Gaddes) 8th July 2009



Today we come together to remember our beautiful father, husband, father-in-law, grandfather, brother and friend. And today we express our sincerest, but temporary goodbyes.

I would like to re-define today as a celebration and share some stories about Carl Gaddes. We celebrate the life of a tenacious, strong, witty, loving man. A man of many stories, myths and adventures.

Dad loved unconditionally and gave unconditionally. He imparted upon us sturdy values, a pragmatic work ethic, gentle encouragement and support.

He endeavoured to ensure that all phenomena ran smoothly in life. That is, he aspired to avoid stress, conflicts and preferred to make peace and sort business.

He was born and grew up in Macksville, on the mid north NSW coast. He’d claim as a child, on his way to school, that he would jump from one warm cow pat to another so that he may keep his feet warm! Of course he didn’t!

Carl worked on ‘the bananas’ at Taylors Arm during his youth. On weekends he donned ‘Elvis’ hair, wore a pink suit, rode his beloved Norton motorcycle and pulled my mothers pigtails for fun.

Dad had a diverse work history which saw him in various jobs. For example:

*He worked on a hops farm in Tasmania. Apparently he met a business man down there who gave him a ticket to England where he was to be employed by this gentleman. Instead, Dad cashed the ticket in, backed a loser at the track and was consequently stuck in Tassy for more than a year! He did make it back to Sydney and luckily never had to face his disgruntled employer!

*Dad was conscripted into the Australian army for six years but luckily missed the Vietnam draft.

He worked for EOI Oils, Peters and Pauls Ice cream factories (my faves), Krones Service Station, Cottees and Bulmers Cider Factory.

Some of Dad’s talents/strengths; and some things you might not have known about Dad:

*he could play piano (taught by the Nuns he claimed).
*he made great jam
*he could knit
*he nurtured his mother for the last few years of her life, devoting the majority of his time tending her while she was in a nursing home
*when young, he would jump from trains and onto trains like Indiana Jones, avoiding fares, but mostly acting the merry prankster, just as young boys can do…
*he swore he never shot up Yarrahappni lookout!
*he loved raw onion and vinegar sandwiches, a pot of good tea and always a cake.
*his mother clipped him over the head when he acquired his first tattoo. She was furious.
*he gave me five dollars that I may have my ears pierced when my mother vehemently did not want me to.
*he despised, totally despised carrots…
*he gave to the needy; various community members who live in the neighbourhood- offering them painting jobs, the odd twenty dollars, cake, a chat and sometimes…..COGNAC!
*he put a live rabbit in my bed when I was nine.
*he was a meticulous record keeper and an open hearted provider.
*he could strike up conversations with anyone, making friends wherever he went. A strange woman gave him an unidentified painkiller once while he was traveling down south. Luckily it was not an illegal drug.
*you could never tell him how to fix a tap. He did things his own way. And I too thank him for his lovely stubbornness.
*he enjoyed fishing. In his youth while fishing at the mouth of the Midco Meatworks he would employ the use of…..DYNAMITE! Later in life he and Brett almost died from hypothermia when they were frozen in at Lithgow where they were trout fishing. Perhaps they needed some TNT that night too, just to keep warm.
*another kind of Seinfeldian account of Dad was the time when he took his car to a dealership on Parramatta Road, Sydney. His Holden was to be serviced and he flippantly gave his keys to a man who he thought was a mechanic. This unknown fella turned out to be a car thief! He took with Dad’s car apparently and Dad was left with nothing, only the debt of the car!

He lived in his family home at Cartwright since 1985, comfortable and content.

With a satisfied mind after an enriching life filled with many experiences, he pottered in his garden, fluttered on the horses, enjoyed rugby and doted on his grandchildren.

We all have our vices. No matter what they are, we are entitled to them. As John Lennon said, ‘whatever gets you through the night, it’s all right.’ Dad’s delight was a smoke, a cigarette, which ultimately contributed to his ill health.

He often recalled the story of when he commenced smoking-

Many years ago he would say,

‘I’ve been smoking since I was sixteen.’

Some years after that he would claim,

‘I’ve been smoking since I was fourteen.’

Then years after that,

‘Been smoking since I was ten!’

In 2008 he disclosed to Clay, my partner, and I,

‘I use to pick up Dad’s bumpers when e wasn’t looking and smoke them! I was seven!’

Clay and I fell off our chairs.

Carl was a merry prankster, counterbalanced with a headstrong, intelligent personality and imbued with Indiana Jones-esque antics.

Each of us will have many other stories to tell of him also, stories which will highlight different aspects and facades of him, which goes to show the diversity of his character- unique and special to each individual who knew him.

We celebrate you / We will miss you

Love You Much

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