It was a cool, drizzly day on 13 October for the funeral of Dennis Blanchfield at Quaama Cemetery. He must have been well-remembered and liked, judging from the crowd.
Dennis’s brothers Jim, Danny and Brian all still live here in Quaama.
I didn’t know Dennis; he left Quaama well before my time. But I heard the expression “wild child” a few times in the days around his death in Canberra on 5 October.
Celebrant Nell Reeve’s eulogy painted a picture of a life lived with colour and joy. Dennis smoked, drank, drove cars and bikes fast. He left a good job in Bega to follow his love and marry Ollie in Captains Flat. Jodeen’s brave address made the love between father and daughter palpable.
Jodeen chose the music for him; it was clear that Dennis was a country music fan. The coffin was lowered to the sound of whipbirds, bellbirds and Unchained Melody.
First published in The Triangle community newspaper, November 2014