Another New Year …
Mr Whitby left us on the 20th December, a couple of weeks short of his 97th birthday … his funeral was on Christmas Eve.
Mr Whitby was one of those people who had an effect on everyone he knew … you felt a better person for having known him … an old world gentleman, polite, always smiling, never complaining, thoughtful … I could go on & on … but you get the idea. Apart from his limp, none of his day to day persona gave any hint of his time as a younger man, a POW at the hands of the Nazis before escaping & fighting with the Yugoslav partisans for much of the Second World War.
Mr Whitby commented just after the Lindt coffee shop siege in Martin Place that he’d have gladly traded places with any of the hostages, particularly Tori or Katrina. There is already enough sorrow & tragedy in our world without random acts such as this or those similar in many other places both here & around the world.
Mr Whitby’s farewell was another opportunity to look at our priorities in life & appreciate how much we have to be thankful for. As Mr Whitby would say … “don’t sweat the small stuff!”
Heather & I said “hello” to Mum & Dad before we left for home … hoping that more consideration, courtesy & respect be shown by all to each other into the New Year & beyond … the way Mr Whitby lived.
Vale Mr Whitby.
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