Our friend, GraemeT, will be leaving our world

[mental4astro]

My friend, and good friend of IIS, GraemeT (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/member.php?u=8914), is gravely ill in hospital. Graeme won't be coming home, and won't be with us anymore before the weekend.

Graeme has had a rotten time health wise this year. Battling prostate cancer, things were taking a turn for the better until the eve of this year's IIS Astro Camp when he was nearly killed in a horrible car smash enroute to Jenolan Caves. He was annoyed to see a priest visit him at hospital and bounced back! He made a trip up to Katoomba Airfield a few months later and enjoyed one of the few good nights we had up there this year.

I will miss my friend terribly. He has been a source of quiet inspiration for me. He welcomed me into his home a couple of times, and I always came away encouraged and inspired.

We will meet again one day, my friend.

Alex.

[astroron]

Wow that is so sad Alex, I hope he is not in pain and departs this world in peace.
If you do see him give him our best regards,
Ron

[mithrandir]

I've had Graeme around to visit Heather and me (before the accident) as his home is just up the road. Apart from astronomy we swapped cancer treatment stories. He's been battling his cancers much longer than I have.

He also belongs to the same local astro group as me.

Alex, keep us up to date with any news, and if you see him pass on regards from Ken, Phil, Paul and me.

[blink138]

that is terrible then alex and the best thing anybody can say is hopefully he has a peaceful end
by him chasing a priest out i believe he knows that he is not going to "meet" anybody again!
rip then graeme i did enjoy your posts
pat

[gary]

Graeme is a customer and we assisted him with a custom encoder
installation for his mount.

During his couple of visits it gave us the opportunity whilst we worked
to chat about his past career as an optometrist, his retired life,
telescopes and his cancer.

He was very philosophical about the later.

The fact that here he was, working on his telescope with great
enthusiasm and getting on with life spoke volumes.

He telephoned again only recently and we talked about telescopes and
he told me in more detail about the car accident and the events that
followed.

I really like Graeme.

For all of us, our days are numbered. But sad to hear that what days
Graeme has remaining might be counted on as little as a few fingers.

Though I only met him relatively briefly, I suspect he would want us all
not to grieve too much nor to mope. That's the nice thing about
astronomy. You get to look up a lot.

Best regards

Gary Kopff
Wildcard Innovations Pty Ltd
Mount Kuring-Gai NSW
02 9457 9049

[blink138]

oops shouldnt have said rip, apologies graeme t
pat

[OzStarGazer]

This is very sad... :(

[Ric]

A sad time for our community.

I hope he is comfortable.

[Suzy]

Oh nooooo. I'm devastated to hear this. :( I wish I hadn't cleaned out my message box because now I only have one message there from him to remember him by. It was a strange feeling now just re-reading that. Back in August, he seemed to be bouncing back and was looking to buy a very awesome telescope. :(

Thank you Alex for letting us know.

[LewisM]

To use an apt Stroin colloquialism, BUGGER.

Hope he is comfortable at the end.

[eddiedunlop]

That's truly shocking news Alex. What an awful run of luck Graeme has had. I really enjoyed our encounter at Katoomba airfield a few weeks ago. He's a lovely bloke and I was looking forward to seeing him again.

[Draco]

Hi Alex

That is extremely sad news. I hope Graeme's departure is a peaceful one.

People are remembered for their deeds but more importantly by the hearts they touch. Graeme has touched the hearts of so many, he will be eternally missed, especially by a true and close friend as yourself.

My heartfelt condolences.

[Octane]

I'm so sorry to hear this.

I hope his passing is peaceful.

H