BOYD, Colin Henry

3 Tributes

1. 

   Judy Jensen

   July 18, 2023 | Reply

   When in the company of Colin and his family, Colin’s devotion and love for Linda, Keely and Ilona was apparent. Colin always offered a warm hospitality and enthusiastically welcomed visitors to his home. Colin, you will be greatly missed and leave with us an example of an optimistic and determined approach to life! Rest in Peace dear friend!

2. 

   Toni & Des

   July 21, 2023 | Reply

   Dear Linda and family
   So sorry we couldn’t attend today
   We know we didn’t see you all that often, we have wonderful memories off the times we had all those years ago.
   Love
   Des & Toni 💐💐💐

3. 

   Linda Boyd

   July 21, 2023 | Reply

   Hello everyone
   Fir those who could not attend today’s celebration, here is the eulogy the girls and I wrote for Colin

   Thank you so much for coming today to share in the celebration of Colin’s life. We were going to provide a bit of a biography, but realised we did not have all day to tell it. He had a full and rich 68 years, and was determined, until the last, to do more. Recently he had been telling his life story to John, a volunteer biographer with Eastern Palliative Care. He only got half way so we will need to finish the job and will then upload to the Memorial page on the Templeton Family Funeral website.
   Born on 20 August 1954, on the converted verandah of the Walwa Bush Nursing Hospital, Colin demonstrated from a very early age, his thirst for knowledge, his enquiring mind, determination in doing what he wanted to do, and a penchant for engaging people from all walks of life in robust conversation.
   His regular reading was non-fiction from which he learned a great deal and loved to share with whomever would take up the challenge of discussion. He also did enjoy Alister MacLean, Dick Frances and Jack Higgins, along with real-life stories such as ‘the 12th Man’, ‘Democracy in Chains’, and ‘Running Deep; his most recent purchase which unfortunately he didn’t get to finish. He attained 7 Degrees to Doctorate level, and although the final was not published, completed all qualifications in shorter than scheduled times.
   Many stories of his youth in country Victoria were shared (on many occasions) with our family. Particularly, we remember: the need to clear out the snakes from the water tower to take a swim, walking up the hill to Dan Hore’s to work the bellows on the blacksmithing fire – both at age 4; getting the strap almost every day of his school life because he was just bored with the way Education was delivered. He learned the clarinet, played footy for Jung in Bulldogs colours (#17), barracked hard from age 6 for his beloved Hawks, undertook competitive swimming with early hours of training followed by his paper round, and he engendered great loyalty from his dogs.
   Although Colin left school at an early age, he never ceased to search for learning and a place to find himself. He was nominated to attend Lord Somers Camp in 1972 and found that place. For many years he returned to camp as a Slushie, working back to back camps, moved on to the staff departments and worked hard as head of Canteen, Swannees and Bursars. He ceased attending when he felt his presence was too much of

   a hindrance to others as his reduced mobility caused him to become more reliant on a wheelchair to get around any distance.
   Embraced as another brother to my six siblings, and another son to mum and dad, we were married in January of 1980. We moved to Portland, so that Colin could repay his commitment to teach, where we made many life long friends, some of whom are here today.
   We both taught night classes, were invited to join various community organisations because of the skills we brought with us, and enjoyed the social life that country towns offer. Colin loved to scuba dive, and he did so to spend time in the deep, collect delicious abalone, crayfish and rock fish in some quite dangerous waters. On one such time, Leon and I would throw the scrum from cleaning the abs overboard, enticing a 6ft Manta Ray to Colin’s vicinity. Needless to say Colin was not amused.
   We also enjoyed sharing many celebrations including Wine bottling at Burswood, and our friends Mick and July Morrow’s baby christenings to note but two. His cherished LandRover was used to traverse the railway line looking for old sleepers to fuel the fire following the spit roast. This was not the best timber to use for a communal fire – creosote gives off an awful smell. The Landy was also often filled to capacity to go surf fishing over the dunes at Swan Lake, or to take the Nelson River tracks on some of the Tech School camps.
   The Landy, Mk 1 and 2, took Colin and I on some wonderful guided 4 x 4 tours of inland Australia – Innaminka, Cameron’s Corner, Cooper’s Creek, Ayers Rock, Finke River. The High Plains and Dargo also counted in our favourite areas to travel – traversing the 24 crossings of the Crooked River Road, camping by the Mitchell River, negotiating the Alpine Way up to the snow fields, and generally enjoying life outdoors.
   When our beautiful daughters Keely and Ilona arrived, we tried to encourage the outdoor life with them and had wonderful times camping with cousins and friends at Eden, boating at Metung and Mallacoota where the girls were taught to bait hooks and catch fish. We were fortunate to also take them to Port Douglas, Gold Coast with the theme parks, and beyond. Keenly involved with Keely’s hockey, we took the opportunity to travel with her and the State teams to Darwin, Brisbane, Hobart, Adelaide and Canberra.

   International Travel was always on the list of wishes. When Keely was just 22 months old, and Ilona present but not yet born, we went to Vanuatu, where Colin dove amongst some famous wrecks, we plunged into waterfalls and sailed the northern shores. Colin went to Singapore with a group of students from William Angles for a culinary expo. We had the good fortune to travel to China with a student group from Melbourne Polytechnic in 2015 where he really tested out the new electric wheelchair which he found was more and more needed for him to get around any distances. The People of China would show tremendous respect for Colin and shoulder each other out of the way to help him when he was investigating ares of the city on his own, whilst I was visiting the school we partnered with.
   Our cruising began in 2014 and we had completed four, the last three with our dear friends Joan and Brian, whom we met on our second cruise in 2017. How lucky we were to be seated at the same table with these two on the first night. We clicked and have been the very best of mates since enjoying numerous short trips away, and had plans for some more.
   We fulfilled another dream in our travel to Norway, with four weeks of train trips across the country and to the north; the excitement of getting to Svalbard; and the joy in meeting most of Siri’s family. We are so privileged today to have Siri and her father Vidar with us here today. It is so very special to us that you have made this huge journey to farewell Colin, whom you met only once.
   But that was something about Colin. He made an impact with all who met him. He was treated like a prince wherever he went.
   We have not dwelt on his health, suffice to say it was a struggle- heart attack at 30, hand and neck surgery at 50 with ongoing spinal degeneration that robbed him of much of his mobility, and dealing with an ileostomy following the removal of most of his bowel in 2016 and the medial lobe of his lung in 2020. The last terminal diagnosis in 2021 was like a red rag to a bull. Colin intended to beat it, no matter what. He put up with the effects of Chemo because he believed it must have been working, but standing for an hour in the bathroom whilst the diarrhoea continued to fill the bag, and on occasion to cause the bags to leak, led me say “Look, we have had enough of your shit! That’s enough!” But it wasn’t enough – it slowed, but just kept on until it was nearly time for the next round of Chemo.

   When he lost his wedding ring one morning, he was distraught. After wearing it for 43 years, he could not get over the fact that it was gone – he thought it must have gone down the toilet during a bathroom empty prior to a day of Chemo. A couple of weeks later, a trip to Westfield was scheduled and whilst mum had a well earned massage, he visited every jewellery store, the last of which, on hearing his story, escorted him to the office tower, where he was introduced to a Jeweller – designer and manufacturer. He again was treated like a prince, quoted cost price and after mum also went up to the tower and affirmed his selection, came out with the biggest smile on his face – together with his new ring and a gold crucifix with chain that had always been on his list but only now realised. His excitement in telling this story will be remembered by us all for a long time. You would have thought he had won Tattslotto.
   On the Sunday after he died, Lonny and I went to church and had the ring blessed by Father Alasdair. That very afternoon, when I was going through some of Colin’s bags, I found the old ring in a bag he had been packing for the day at Peter Mac. We returned his original ring to him which he wears once more. I have the honour of wearing his new ring and crucifix.
   The week before his death, I managed to take him to lunch with three good mates from Lord Somers Camps and Power House. These gents had been ringing regularly for many months and it was lovely to see them face to face. Who would have thought it was to be the last time?
   I also managed to get him to the footy the Sunday prior – a dreadful game but enjoyed in the Miller Room nonetheless with the other Legends members.
   Thank you to the many doctors and nurses of the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, many of whom had come to regard Colin as a favourite – greeting him by name when he arrived and happy to share a laugh and a story with him. It really was like going into a big hug and made the journey that much easier for both of us.
   Thank you to the team at Templeton Family Funerals. Their care and attention to detail is unmatched. When Paul and Jen, were preparing to take Colin into their care, something we said signalled ‘Alexa’ to start providing us some information she thought we had asked for. When Paul (also a Hawks supporter) said quietly “At least she could play the Hawthorn Football Club theme song” – she did. It gave us a laugh as Colin was being

   transferred to the stretcher, and he was sent off in style and song. Thank you Ellese for your professionalism and care in the arrangements for today.
   Thank you Father Alasdair, Jenny and the Choir for your involvement and ongoing love and support.
   And thank you all for your continued love and support. Colin is deeply missed by us all but none more so than Jacko, Mr Wiz and Frankie, the furry friends who have looked after him through thick and thin.
   Colin loved you all.
   “Lost love is still love. It takes a different form, that’s all.
   You can’t see their smile or bring them food or tousle their hair or move them around a dance floor. But when those senses weaken another one comes to life. Memory. Memory becomes your partner. You nurture it. You hold it. You dance with it.
   Life has to end… Love doesn’t.”
   Quote by: Mitch Albom