Yesterday several hundred people, including a huge number of motorcyclists, gathered in Wollongong to farewell Martin van Meegen. After proceeding under police escort from City Coast Motorcycles in Keira Street, the procession wound up at the chapel in Belmore Street for the funeral service. Available parking was maxed out with the police turning a (very) blind eye to motorcycles parked on footpaths and in parking spots that would normally incur a fee to park there. The chapel was filled to overflowing as we heard tribute after tribute to a man who was an institution in Wollongong’s motorcycling fraternity.
We heard eulogies from Martin’s brother, his son, the manager of CCM and one from his partner, Bev, that was read for her by the celebrant. The common theme was Martin’s love of motorcycling and motorcycle touring, his meticulous approach to everything that he did, his sense of humour and, most of all, his love for his children and grandchildren.
If anybody had any doubts at all about the respect that was felt by the local community towards Martin, yesterday would have removed them.
Yesterday was the first time that I had been to Parson’s since the funeral, over four years ago, of another Wollongong icon, Maxie Pinch. In a similar situation, Maxie was also taken from us too soon and many remarked upon the sadness of the day and the reminder it was of that other sad day.
It was good to catch up with many friends and acquaintances, some I have not seen for a long while. It made me wonder why (as I often do) we only seem to spend time with our extended set of friends, at funerals. Life IS busy, granted, but if it is so busy that it crowds our quality time with our friends, then it is probably too busy.
Much as funerals depress me, I was glad that I went. And it reminded me again of the need to tell people that we appreciate them while they are still alive rather than waiting for their memorial service to say the things that we like about them.
My late grandmother had this poem attached to the door of her fridge.
Do it now
by Berton Braley
“If with pleasure you are viewing
any work a man is doing,
If you like him or you love him,
tell him now;
Don’t withhold your approbation
till the parson makes oration
And he lies with snowy lilies on his brow;
No matter how you shout it
he won’t really care about it;
He won’t know how many teardrops you have shed;
If you think some praise is due him
now’s the time to slip it to him,
For he cannot read his tombstone when he’s dead.
More than fame and more than money
is the comment kind and sunny
And the hearty, warm approval of a friend.
For it gives to life a savor,
and it makes you stronger, braver,
And it gives you heart and spirit to the end;
If he earns your praise – bestow it,
if you like him let him know it,
Let the words of true encouragement be said;
Do not wait till life is over
and he’s underneath the clover,
For he cannot read his tombstone when he’s dead.”