Great write up Gary. I happened to see an ABC report about him around lunchtime today. Like most people I had no idea who he was or what he achieved before they mentioned his passing. It brings it even closer to home to hear he went to school in Parramatta. Must be quite special for you to have known and met him. Some characters seem larger than life. I remember talking to Alex Cherney one night at BSG about 10 years ago when he had won his first competition and a trip to the canary islands at the big telescope. The event coincided with another venue and a few Russians and American astronauts were there. It also was Alex's birthday. The organisers knew it so they arranged a cake for him on the day and he even had Neil Armstrong singing happy birthday during the gathering. Imagine that. So I asked him if he shook his hand. When he said yes I shook his.
That's as close as I'll ever get.