Rex Charles "Dinny" Farrah
From Andrew Secker
Dinny Farrah died Saturday 21st April aged about 60.
He had been ill for some time and in the end the chemotherapy was too much for him.
Dinny was one of the three notorious Farrah brothers who were a strong part of OC's in the
1970s and 1980s. Dinny didn't play as much football as Peter ("Fats") and Tim
and was generally quieter, but he still had a large influence on the club. He was very
accomplished at building things, and the pine benches in the change-rooms and the timber
rail round the main bar are lasting examples of his handiwork.
All the Farrahs left OCs in the mid to late 80s. Pete went to Perth, Tim to Melbourne and
Dinny to Sydney. They were all very different blokes and we were lucky to have had all of
them - and their late father, Frank, at
times - at once. Their collective contributions over the bar and to late-night singalongs
were massive.
Dinny’s eulogy
Born 26th November 1941 at Tamworth, Died 21st
April 2001at Bellingen
Oldest brother Colin spoke on behalf of the Farrah
family.
Family friend Rebecca (who managed Dinny’s factory)
spoke the following and also read Dinny’s daughter Jane’s contribution.
From Rebecca
I met Dinny 13 years ago in a garage in Bellingen. He was my
prospective boss. An entrepreneur, a man of vision and talent. I knew I could learn a lot
from him. He was setting up a factory - we had instant rapport and quickly I was
introduced to Di and the family.
How can I cram three years of memories into three paragraphs?
There is so much to say… so many short stories… single words that paint the
essence of Rex Charles Farrah.
Dinny was an artist… He was irreverent.. His humour dry and
wicked.. He was determined. He would get a thought in his head and he wouldn’t let it
go. He loved being the thorn in Bellingen Council’s side.
Dinny loved a cleansing ale. He was an affectionate critic.. his
term of endearment for the local Christians being ‘the God botherers’. He had a
wild way of working borne of his creative temperament, which involved throwing objects
across the factory from time to time. Wood shavings and quick-eze wrappers were his
calling cards.
Dinny’s artistry and style was so complete. His fascination
with design and his love affair with timber was an inspiration to all around him. There
are many of us here today that have a piece of Dinny sitting in their lounge room.
He once told me that he believed everyone had an artist in
them…he saw that potential so often. Made it easy for you to have a try … was
infinitely patient and supportive as a teacher. Dinny was my friend and mentor. He opened
his heart to my family, particularly my late brother Martin and I will be forever grateful
to him for seeing my potential.
Dinny was so proud of his family .. he shone when he spoke of
them. I have some thoughts penned by Jane Farrah about her dad. I’m honoured to read
them on her behalf.
From Jane Farrah
Dad I’m running out of time here, trying to put a paragraph
together that sums you and what you meant to us. Did I get this
leaving-all-to-the-last-minute tendency from you? I seem to recall you advising me never
to go into the graphic arts business because of all those stress generating deadlines, so
I’ll attempt to do it over a glass of red (thanks for the tip).
The image of you will forever be in our hearts and minds –
made easier by the fact that you were such a looker (Harrriet and I were saying the day
you died what great taste Mum has). Your style – from the way you dressed to the
music you listened to, the stories you told, to the collection of damaged furniture and
toys on the roof of the house – everything you were will live in our memory and in
our lives.
We’ll never forget how supportive you were of what we were
all doing in our lives – our various projects, ventures, interests and ideas –
occasionally to the point of embarrassment. A little anecdote (block your noses): Harriet
came home from school one day asking for ideas for a school project. After a short pause
dad put the glass down and promptly launched into an hour long brief, detailing why this must
be a project about dog faeces and its impact on the local environment, complete with
statistics sourced from his own imagination and probably even gave anxious little Harriet
a lesson a short lesson on how to draw the perfect turd (she scored 100% of course).
But seriously, we couldn’t have asked for more from you. I
think we all agree that you did as much as you could to give your children knowledge,
inspiration and laughter all through our lives and mum’s, and I hope we can take that
with us.
So I’m writing this on the day before your funeral, catching
the last rays of sun before it sinks behind our mountains, the end of another day without
you. I’m so thankful to you for this beautiful house and for all that you did for us
during your lifetime. Grateful and in awe that you held on for as long as you did,
fighting that illness with everything you had. And we all send our deepest and most
passionate thanks to our mother Diana who lived absolutely by that beautiful and sacred
promise ‘till death do us part’ – she has cared so selflessly for you and
for all of us.
Dad, I hope your memory can manifest in our lives and in all that
we do.
Cheers Dad, I love you.
Jane
19th July 2008: Tom Farrah, son of
Tim, plays for the 3rds at Tregenza. Refer to photos taken for the 3rd
Grade on that day to see Tom.
|
