I don't know if you blokes have noticed, but it is his birthday today. Unfortunately he had departed this world before I joined the forum, so the only way I know anything about him is reading some of his posts and stuff others have said about him.
I would have liked to have shared a camp with him, he sounds like he was a top bloke.
I don't know the anniversary of his passing, but thought that it would be appropriate that on this day, forum members could remember him for the deeds and help he gave out to others.
Nice pick up camel, I too never met the bloke but he did take all the time in the world to answer my pm's and help out a young bloke he had never met before. With that sort of welcome it set the tone for me of how this forum rolls.
I knew him pretty well. he would have given you anything. In fact he told his wife to give me one of his rifles after he died. I fucken sold it later to fund "a build" what a dickhead. It was a Tikka m595 in 223. If I sold it to anyone on here I would like to buy it back. He kept working on projects, the last one knowing he would never finish so that he didn't focus on dying. He lost the strength in his arm and asked me to turn the necks on his new 6.55x 55 brass. he knew he would never fire them. When I dropped them back he gave me 400 IMI 223 brass which he knew he would never use.
His attitude to his fate was inspirational and humbling. He died sooner than the quack said he would. He went in for a blood transfusion to prolong his life and just never got back out. I was in Ireland when that happened and Kerriet picked me up from the airport and we went to the hospital on the way home. He was unconscious but his Mum told me to sit by his bed and talk to him. He knows you are here she said, and you are the last person on his list he wants to say goodbye to. he died a few hours later.
You see I didn't know how much of he friend he thought I was. I met him thru here. I took him on a few rabbit shoots and a few range trips and regularly called in to talk crap about guns. His trip with me and DrG was read out at his funeral as one of the highlights of his life and picture of us with a dead camel flashed up in the church. But after he died Caroline told me that what I did for him, which I thought was very little, was more than anyone else had done and he knew a lot of people. The family recognised his passion for shooting was a huge part of who he was and wanted that celebrated at his funeral so asked me to read a eulogy. The starpicket metal detector got a run and a laugh.
Anyway, if you like someone, tell them.
See if you can find his star picket metal detector post on AHN, it was farken hilarious because it was delivered in dead pan seriousness (in fact he might have been!) but a bloke lost his rifle bolt in a Paddock and Pats suggestion was to use starpickets and fencing wire to convert his car into a mobile metal detector!!!!!
Anyway enough of this. Its making me emotional. I'm gunna hug someone tonite
Last edited by trevort on Wed Jun 18, 2014 2:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I knew there was something about the 18th of June
I jibbered shit on the ph with him a few times pm 'ed back and forth
But never met him
Happy Birthday Pat
I only spoke to Patrick a couple of times on the phone, plenty on here, I had a few run ins with him as well (but who don't I butt heads with?).
He definitely was a generous bloke and was a huge part of AV.
Good on you Trevor it was good to read what you said mate. I'm glad that this forum does so much good. It isn't my doing by any means but I am proud that Grimo and I can somehow facilitate it for the past 8 years.
Trev, sorry to upset you mate. I was and am particularly interested in the kids and if they are curious/interested in shooting. If they ever need a guiding hand or are wanting to have a shot I would like to help them out.
Glen he had a beautiful sako 22 and though he got me to sell off his gear his instructions were for Caroline to keep that for the kids. I think it was her dad (might have been Pats) got a license and I helped them with the transfer.
He certainly wanted his kids to shoot. They wont be old enough yet (he found out he had cancer on the day they found out the second one was on the way) BUT what a bloody marvellous thought, if we could help them. You are an ideas man.
I will make that offer if she rings me back so you and me make two volunteers.
Yes Keith, events a few months ago nearly had me quitting the place but this is a place were a lot of good blokes hang out. Glad I stuck around
Pat was a top bloke, and I will always remember the trip him and trev did out here. He had a big heart and was devoted to his family. By extension AV was always considered part of his extended family and he would have been humbled by the comments made here.
Trev is selling himself a bit short here, he did a shitload for Pat and Caroline and was a key support person to Caroline leading up to and after the funeral. Your are a good bloke mate and i hope you dont decide to leave the AV community.
Also you blokes offering to help teaching the kids to shoot, good on ya's as well
FWIW I will never forget the school boy grin on his face as we cut a lap of the reserve spotlighting ferals. I thought he was just having a great time but afterwards he mentioned the rear view mirror was positioned in such a way that the view was as spectacular as it was captivating.
Here is a post of my regular shooting mate (and still one of my best mates) at the time so you understand
Travis, you are pumping me up too far. key support is what their family and close friends did. I inventoried and sold off his shooting gear. But thanks for the nice words
