Share Posted 08/07/14 09:11 AM It's with a very heavy heart that we have the devastating news that Craig succumbed to cancer this morning after a prolonged tough fight. Craig leaves behind a loving family and a new wife of only a few days and our thoughts are with them. To this forum Craig was not only an excellent cruise controller and bloody fantastic guy to have around but also made a great contribution to the road safety debate in the wider community through the publication of his book Road Kill. On a personal note my eyes have been leaking a bit on and off all day thinking of the relatively few but bloody fantastic moments that we shared. It's probably a bit weird to consider someone a mate that lives 2000km away and you met over the internet and you only saw once a year on the annual Snowies Cruise pilgrimage, but Craig has that effect on people. He was one of the very few blokes that you can't think of a bad word to say about. And through all the sh*t that he went through over the last few years never did he not have a smile on his face and not once were there any pleas for sympathy. He is most definitely an inspiration to all that he touched. Rest in peace Craigles. And a huge f*ck YOU to cancer. Stop taking all the decent people FFS. There's undoubtedly many better pictures to pay tribute to this great man, but these of Gary's from the Snowies cruise in November last year moved me. With his daughter Bethany and son Connor peeking under Rachel's bonnet. And the customary group shot of us freaks (and he made a point of standing next to the most handsome bloke of course) It's not going to be the same without you Craig. 5 Link to post Share on other sites
Share Posted 08/07/14 09:29 AM That sucks balls, blardy cancer.Seeing Rudiger's name around here so long it kinda feels like loosing family somehow.RIP Craig. Link to post Share on other sites
Share Posted 08/07/14 09:38 AM RIP Craig.. I never met him in person but his book and his blog were both inspirational. His blog helped my dad through some tough times and showed him it was okay to feel beat down from the cancer from time to time as long as you never have up.f*ck you cancer! Link to post Share on other sites
Share Posted 08/07/14 09:45 AM Couldn't of said it better than that Tab. My thoughts exactly.It's surreal to me that it wasn't that long ago that Gaz, Rusty and myself were at Craig's 50th. It's also just a few days since I saw photos of Craig nursing his nephews new baby and talking about a possible celebration of his marriage to Kerryn when he was out of hospital.I'm still shocked to the point that I need to apologise to my team at work tomorrow because I just wasn't there today. My head was somewhere else.I tell you what though. I've got a dark area that's been growing on my face for a little while and I picked up the phone and booked a doctors appointment after hearing of Craig's passing because that's what he would've done. He wouldn't have ignored it like I have. He would've met it head on with a smile and a joke. Link to post Share on other sites
Author Share Posted 08/07/14 09:55 AM Exactly. And I think that's what I admire the most about him, that cheeky grin and the fck you attitude to anything that he came up against. Panda mentioned his blog...his last entry was a month ago but I re-read it several times today and it helped overcome the sadness. http://www.mycancerblog.info/ Along with his facebook updates right up until a few days ago he was a funny bastard right to the end. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Share Posted 08/07/14 12:08 PM RIP our friend.......was a pleasure to have known you.......Reg and Loretta.......:( Link to post Share on other sites
Share Posted 08/07/14 10:35 PM RIP His book is a great read and should be made compulsory reading when sitting for a drivers license Link to post Share on other sites
Share Posted 08/07/14 10:51 PM very sad- I especially feel for his family who now have to try to make sense of it all... Link to post Share on other sites
Share Posted 08/07/14 11:14 PM Very sad news to start my day..A huge loss to all that new him .RIP mateA very nice tribute Trent well said Link to post Share on other sites
Share Posted 08/07/14 11:37 PM Well said Tabby. I'm not too proud to admit that I had a bit of a cry last night after work even though like Trent I had only met Craig in person twice, but spoken to him on the phone and via internet quite a bit. Farewell Craig, you will be sorely missed. Link to post Share on other sites
Share Posted 09/07/14 01:15 AM I'm absolutely amazed at his strength of character and his ability to make others laugh even though he was really doing it tough... An absolute legend of a man.Making the trek to last years snowies cruise with him was absolutely worth the effort as he showed that even when he was doing it tougher than anybody, he could still enjoy himself and share a few stories.Thanks for everything, Craig. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Share Posted 09/07/14 01:56 AM Hi everybody,Thank you so much for your kind words, they've made us all very teary. He was a humble man and he'd be very chuffed by everything that's been said about him. Thank you, each and every one of you, for giving him a place to go and events to go to that was his own little "home away from home" - Rachel was his pride and joy, and you made him welcome. I can't thank you enough. Rachel will be given to Connor, although he's only 15, so once I get off my P's, I might have to come on a cruise in his honour.I thought you guys might like some more photos - as I've got plenty.At the Kiwani's All Ford DayAt his 50th with the XR6T representativesAn amusing one from the JobI'd like to say a massive thank you to everybody that was involved with the charity event our Relay For Life team "Happy Feet" held for Dad. He was so honoured to have so many people support and love him, and without your participation, whether you donated, or attended, or even just loved Dad, I don't know how much longer we would've had with him.Thank you all so much for sharing Dad's passion with him. Thank you Gary for being his mate and allowing us to share your room during last year's Snowies Cruise, thank you to Adam and Rusty for always popping in and having a chat with Dad; but of course, thank you everybody else for being his friend and giving your love and support.I'll be keeping an eye over all of his internet forums/facebook etc. etc. I will post details of the funeral here as soon as we know them ourselves.Thank you again. xx 7 Link to post Share on other sites
Share Posted 09/07/14 02:11 AM Bethany, "I'll be your wingman anytime!" If you want a passenger for a cruise, I'm there. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Author Share Posted 09/07/14 03:15 AM No Bethany, thank you. Sincerely appreciate you dropping by...no doubt you've got many other things on your list of priorities at the moment. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Share Posted 09/07/14 05:36 AM Sad to read :( Has been here since before I signed up I'm sure. Rest in peace and my thoughts to his family and friends (including on this forum) who are no doubt hurting deeply right now. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Share Posted 09/07/14 05:59 AM Very sad news to here. Taken far to early. RIP 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Share Posted 09/07/14 09:37 PM (edited) my thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time.You will be missed mate. Edited 09/07/14 09:38 PM by Pixy Angel 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Share Posted 10/07/14 06:49 AM Hi everybody, Just an update with the details for the service, which will be commencing at 10:30am, Monday 14th July at the Westgate Vineyard Church, 57 Stevedore Street, Williamstown. Followed by the burial service at Williamstown Cemetery. Refreshments from 12:15pm at The Strand Restaurant, 1 The Strand, Williamstown. You are all welcome to attend. Link to post Share on other sites
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