Goodbye Rauri (1929-2025)

 A week ago our dear friend Rauri died peacefully during the night. He had been quite ill for some time and is now pain free and at peace. His death notice can be found at https://funeralannouncement.com.au/roger-ruari-carolin/ 

Surrey had promised to write a eulogy for Rauri’s funeral but unfortunately Surrey did not live that long. And so I write to Rauri from Betty:

For 60 years you have been part of my life, my first lecturer in botany (first year) at Sydney Uni albeit on the TV screen, my lecturer each year to follow, one of Surrey’s PhD supervisors, my employer for a time and the conduit to Surrey and I meeting. 

Thank you for giving us the botany that binds our families, the friendship that keeps us there through thick and thin, and the time to be calm and quiet together.

Thank you for instilling in us the curiosity to wonder, to look carefully, and to walk softly on this land.

Thank you for the interests we shared in farming, music, cooking, bees, beach holidays with fish and chips and even breeding big-breasted chooks.

I will miss you and all you meant to me. You can now go back to enjoying a quiet chat on the verandah and solving our earthly problems with Surrey.