In Memorium - Gerald Cairns
Threads - Gerald's Passing, A Thoughtful Note of Gerald's Passing, A toast to Gerald, Photocollage
On 21/12/2008 the members of the Science Matters list were grieved to read:
We
regret to let you know that Gerald has passed away suddenly this
morning. We will monitor his emails and reply as necessary however
please limit them to important messages.
Thank you
Ruth & Family
Funeral Details
The details of the funeral for Gerald are as follows, please pass on to
any
others interested.
Tuesday 30th December at 10am at the
Chapel at Len Russell Funeral Directors
236 - 238 Brisbane Street, West Ipswich Q 4306
Phone (07) 3812 3122 (in case anyone gets lost)
No flowers by request, donation to Cancer Research preferred.
Ruth and family
and in a later post, to Toby:
Yes, there will be a morning tea afterwards, at a church hall near by.
Being at a church hall you can appreciate there will be no alcohol. We are
all overwhelmed with how many lives Gerald had touched and to such extent.
Thank you for all your and other ABC listees efforts.
Ruth and family.
Toby reported on the funeral:
There
were about 60 people at the funeral. The old bloke who did the
honours was an appropriate choice. He has been in ministry to
counter-cultural people for a long time and knew the family.
He spoke from Ruth's and Howard's notes. There was a good account of his
story, and at some points painful honesty: Gerald was single-minded and
sometimes it was not easy to be with him. It was clear that he was much
loved and will be greatly missed.
I have some bookmarks for those would like them, and a promise of more
should we run out, which seems unlikely as I look at the pile of them. If
you have not sent Jann your request for a bookmark, then send it now to:
joc520@iprimus.com.au
We will need your mailing address.
BTW, your comments which we read to the assembled people made them laugh and
cry. They were appreciative, and understand that we, too, have suffered
significant loss. Tamara Kelly was there to represent your interests, as
well and Jann and me.
The challenge is to live an examined life. Thank you, Julia. What a great
thought.
Toby Fiander replied:
For some reason this news strikes me as particularly sad.
I visited Ruth and Gerald Cairns about three years ago and stayed overnight.
I had hoped to visit again some time soon... too late, apparently.
When I know details of the funeral, I will post them, too.
Wolfie responded:
Thanks Toby for passing on the message.
This is sad news and I have sympathy for Gerald's family
at this very difficult time.
I wish them all the best.
Morris posted:
Please accept our most heartfelt sympathies for your loss.
Our thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time.
Gerald was a real gentleman and never stopped being an angry young man as far as justice was concerned. He will be missed.
Peter Adderley wrote:
I
regarded Gerald as a personal friend even though I had only known him
by email and spoken a few times on the phone, but I would like to
attend the funeral if at all possible.
As
I live at Gosford, 80km north of Sydney, drive a Honda Jazz, and
importantly consider the comfort and safety of my passengers I would
like to offer my services to share petrol costs to get up to Fairney
Vale which is near Ipswitch. I have three available seats but
considering the distance and luggage it may be prudent to limit this to
two seats.
The offer also depends heavily on when the funeral will be as we all have commitments over the looming Xmas break.
I have made this offer to Ruth herself but I'm making it a tad wider through the ABC lists and Clickon.
Please
let me know of any intention to join me on a worthwhile pilgrimage by
email or phone. I'm afraid, at this early stage, I have no idea about
accommodation so comments and suggestions will be welcome.
Gwen Dowling added:
About Gerard..I'm very empathic for Ruth.. grieving time for me too....gee, what can I do to help..
Jim Edwards added:
Thanks
for passing on the sad news Toby. I never got a chance to meet
Gerald, but via the lists I regerded him as a good friend. He was
kind enough to send me a sample of his antiseptic powder, which worked
well. I hope that his other inventions will be developed toward
production, there are too few minds like his in this world.
My deepest sympathy to Ruth and the family.
Toby Fiander replied to Steve:
The next thing
to do would be to tell your own story to Ruth, and offer her
condolences. I will gather up the messages here in due course and pass
them on as a list or an anthology, but something personal to her seems
like a good idea.
After that, it
is up to you. But Tamara Kelly, formerly of this list and still on some
others, was thinking a Science Matters picnic, perhaps in the manner of
a wake, would be appropriate. Let's wait and see when the funeral is
and whether we can fit arrangements around that. I cannot actually
remember where the last Queensland picnic was that I attended - Gerald
was not there. But there was one that Gerald attended and that location
could be appropriate. I will consult the site that Barbara keeps for us
- there used to be details of it there. Tamara will have ideas, no
doubt: she always does. Incidentally, Tamara's first remarks were along
the lines of "now who am I going to talk to about all this stuff that
is in my head?"
Mark Lightfoot wrote:
My thoughts are with Gerald's family, it is sad news indeed.
I always enjoyed his posts.
Warm regards to Ruth and family
Margaret Ruwoldt added:
Gerald's
constantly inventive mind and his generosity in sharing his
wide-ranging knowledge will be mainly what I remember about him. Oh,
and his endless energy -- whether railing against nonsensical
bureaucratic rules or enthusing about whichever idea or theory had most
recently caught his attention.
Since joining
the Science-Matters community (in the 1990s! Crivens!) I've counted
myself privileged because of the people I've met here. Among the
several hundred listmembers we have a brilliant core of highly
intelligent, good-humored, curious eccentrics who regularly share their
expertise and their enthusiasm with the rest of us. How lucky we were
to count Gerald Cairns among these Science-Matters community leaders
for so many years.
Meredith Brooks posted:
Gerald
was one of those special people, always helpful and generous, even
bothering to send me tannin powder, his father's bookmark, besides so
much information over the years. My thought are with the family...the
dancing bear is still dancing I'm sure, feisty as ever!
Steve wrote:
Gerald will be missed. What I liked about him was he was always prepared to do stuff.
And he didn't like it when it was unfair.
Peter Macinnis replied:
Ah,
you noticed that, did you? Yes, Gerald was excellent in many things,
but he was surely at his best when applying duly warranted ferocity to
those who most needed a blowtorch to their gutless, spineless,
heartless bellies.
I
have known Gerald on a number of lists over the years, and I own a
Gerald bookmark, several of his ingenious and truly excellent tap
washers, and a number of CDs of assorted stuff that he shared with me.
Quite by chance, we were having lunch with a couple of other list
members on Saturday and Gerald was mentioned in passing as a Good Bloke.
I don't recall whether we raised a glass to Gerald then, but I raise a virtual glass to him now.
Here's to Gerald: who's like him? Gey few . . .
From Kevin Phyland:
My condolences to Gerald's family and friends.
My limited interaction with Gerald in here was mainly awe at his tenacity and unflagging enthusiasm and generosity.
His cogent and salient posts will be missed.
May the spirit of the Bear dance on...
From Barb Sloan:
I, too, have a bookmark and a couple of CDs of material he sent me to
remember him by, as well as all those posts he has contributed since I
began subscribing to the Science Matters list.
I will very much miss his crusading zeal, refusal to kowtow to
bureaucracy and wide-ranging enthusiasms. I've started to assemble a
page for him on the website, where we can collect anecdotes and messages
for his family and friends:
https://www.angelfire.com/space/smatters/GeraldCairns.html .
My deepest sympathy to Ruth and the other members of his family. He was
a rare and precious individual, and losing his presence will leave a gap
in many lives,
From David Allen:
What a shock! Sheila and I met Gerald once when he was in Rockhampton doing
work for Queensland Rail. We had a few chats on the phone and corresponded
via email from time to time.
Gerald was most generous and gave me useful samples of many of his
products - all performing better than expected, I might add.
Gerald's quick wit and pithy turn of phrase, usually directed at politicians
and their hangers-on of all persuasions, will be sorely missed here and
elsewhere I suspect. My chuckle rate whilst reading the list will now be
much depleted I fear.
Sheila and I offer Ruth and the whole family our condolences.
Wolfie commented:
So much for people who generally assume the internet is full of fake
people who want to hook up for nookie and nothing more.
I'm grateful to be part of such a good, close and very real community
who cares deeply when something happens to one of its members.
From Anthony Morton:
Here's to Gerald: who's like him? Gey few . . .
Indeed. Gerald and I have never met, but I feel I know him well from
his many messages combining well-justified outrage with good sense and
good ideas.
Please add my condolences to Ruth and the family, and a peaceful
Christmas to all.
From Peter Adderley:
Vale Gerald. He was a good friend, at least to me, and should become
recognised as a "very important Australian".
His memory, legacy, and spirit should be more widely recognised to the
greater Australian population.
How shall we go about this?
From Paul Williams:
I'll miss Gerald's intelligence, knowledge and wit but most of all his
personal kindness, warmth and generosity.
John Donne wrote:
'No man is an island, entire of itself..'
'...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind;
and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for
thee.'
Gerald's death diminishes me greatly.
I don't know what else to say really - only that I'm more than a little
heartsick.
From Gary Dalrymple:
As a Digest format
subscriber things come 'all of a sudden' rather than as an unwinding series of
developments, hence I read the news of Gerald's passing as a wall of
announcement and consolation emails, no time between the sad announcement and
the flood of consolation responses.
As consolation to
Ruth and family I can add only one more voice to the chorus of 'I too will miss
Gerald' and my final word at the end of this email, as words are in the end only
a crude measure of the impact of any man's life.
I never met Gerald
in the flesh, but of the type of messages you keep to re-read later on, an awful
lot are Gerald's postings, hundreds of them I guess.
How to
better commemorate Gerald, the man and his point of
view?
My suggestion would
be for this list to run an annual competition, laurels to the person /
group who does most to reveal the critical embuggerance of Science and
Innovation by the forces of rampant bureaucratic incompetence.
Sort of like the Australian Skeptics 'Bent Spoon' Award, but a 'Dancing Bear'?
virtual trophy?
The annual
conversation on this list discussing 'worst's would I'm sure appeal to
Gerald's shade?
My final word on
Gerald is something that I included in my speech at my own father's
funeral.
It is - 'A life
lived well, but still so much left unsaid' .
From Anne:
I am sorry to hear of Gerald's sudden passing. Gerald was a true
gentleman whose messages were always interesting and insightful.
Sincere
condolences to Ruth and family.
Anne
(another bookmark recipient)
Toby posted:
Which other list members are likely to be there for
the funeral on Tuesday, 30 December, 2008?
I am expecting there would be morning tea at
somewhere afterwards... but after that there might be some continuing thing for
SM people, perhaps. It could just be left a developing plan, of course, to
see what happens.
Anyway, Peter Adderley, Jann O'Connor, Tamara Kelly
and Toby Fiander seems like an incomplete list of
attendees somehow.
Any other Queenslanders (or indeed from anywhere
else) want to be part of the remembering?
Since there seemed to be an unfinished quality to
much of Gerald's endeavours, it had been suggested that it would be appropriate
to barbecue some politicians in Gerald's honour, but I am not an expert in this
field and I am sure there would be other suggestions.
David responded:
Wouldn't be much use. Most are full of hot air,
and when you apply heat they turn to water. Find something with more backbone
to BBQ.
David (who can't make it to the funeral, but will
be there in spirit)
Niels Petersen wrote:
I am hoping to make it to Geralds Funeral (health matters may stop me
). I never met him but I felt I knew him from his posts to this list.
If you wish to make use of my house at Morayfield for a BBQ or
lodgings, please feel free to do so. ( it is the least that I could do
such an important gentleman ) I had previously offered lodgings to
Peter Adderley off list but am now making the offer to encompass all
list members.
Wolfie replied:
That's incredibly generous, Niels. :)
I can't go, being stuck down in Melbourne, but I wish everyone going a
safe trip there and back. and hope the event is as stress free as possible.
Ivan Sayer wrote:
Me too. Thanks Toby and condolences to Ruth.
Gerald was one list contributor who was much more than an occasional voice.
From Julia from Eremia:
Today I raise my glass and propose a toast to
Gerald.
A true gentleman, a kind and honest man of virtue.
An intellectual who tried to live the "examined life".
x Julia from Eremia and Her
Camels.
Soundwarp:
Hear hear.
Meredith and Bill
From Wolfie:
May the dancing bear have a well deserved rest.
All the best Gerald, Till we cross paths again.
From Toby:
{previous
posts}... indicate how much this list misses Gerald and his ability to
continue cheerfully in the face of extra-ordinary opposition to genuine
independent creativity.
The
following are from the "Click-On" list, which was formed when the ABC
chose to terminate the "Click Off" forum. There is a degree of
overl;ap in the membership with the "Science Matters" list.
From Rhonda Cetta-Hoye
Vale Gerald.
Gerald defended my relentless questions and always said " No question is insignificant "
>From his
writtings he was so knowledgable ,gentle and understanding. I never met
him but knew him with great fondness. He will ensure things will run
very smoothly in Heaven from now on.
I wish I had written the following by Anon
"Saying goodbye in life is the most difficult thing.
And we never learn to be good at it. "
Love to Ruth and the Family
From Mez P:
Tho' I cannot be with you myself, my thoughts & sympathies are with
Gerald's family & friends.
Only last night, sharing a meal & gifts with friends, we were
remembering Carmen Risotto, a cat who departed from us over a year ago
now, after sharing his time with my friends for many years.
Happy memories & sad partings in both cases.
I hope someone who sees this doesn't yet know this poem (translated by
Robin Flower from Old Irish, original below translatioin).
Pangur Ban
I and Pangur Ban my cat,
'Tis a like task we are at:
Hunting mice is his delight,
Hunting words I sit all night.
Better far than praise of men
'Tis to sit with book and pen;
Pangur bears me no ill-will,
He too plies his simple skill.
'Tis a merry task to see
At our tasks how glad are we,
When at home we sit and find
Entertainment to our mind.
Oftentimes a mouse will stray
In the hero Pangur's way;
Oftentimes my keen thought set
Takes a meaning in its net.
'Gainst the wall he sets his eye
Full and fierce and sharp and sly;
'Gainst the wall of knowledge I
All my little wisdom try.
When a mouse darts from its den,
O how glad is Pangur then!
O what gladness do I prove
When I solve the doubts I love!
So in peace our task we ply,
Pangur Ban, my cat, and I;
In our arts we find our bliss,
I have mine and he has his.
Practice every day has made
Pangur perfect in his trade;
I get wisdom day and night
Turning darkness into light.
-- Anon., (Irish, 8th century) |
Messe ocus Pangur Bán,
cechtar nathar fria saindan:
bíth a menmasam fri seilgg,
mu memna céin im saincheirdd.
Caraimse fos (ferr cach clu)
oc mu lebran, leir ingnu;
ni foirmtech frimm Pangur Bán:
caraid cesin a maccdán.
O ru biam (scél cen scís)
innar tegdais, ar n-oendís,
taithiunn, dichrichide clius,
ni fris tarddam ar n-áthius.
Gnáth, huaraib, ar gressaib gal
glenaid luch inna línsam;
os mé, du-fuit im lín chéin
dliged ndoraid cu ndronchéill.
Fuachaidsem fri frega fál
a rosc, a nglése comlán;
fuachimm chein fri fegi fis
mu rosc reil, cesu imdis.
Faelidsem cu ndene dul
hi nglen luch inna gerchrub;
hi tucu cheist ndoraid ndil
os me chene am faelid.
Cia beimmi a-min nach ré
ni derban cách a chele:
maith la cechtar nár a dán;
subaigthius a óenurán.
He fesin as choimsid dáu
in muid du-ngni cach oenláu;
du thabairt doraid du glé
for mu mud cein am messe. |
From Brian LLoyd:
For ten days I have been trying to think of what to say about Gerald.
I had hoped to say something meaningful but I am uncharacteristically
at a loss for words. You see, I *really* liked Gerald. I liked Gerald
because Gerald made things. I was amazed at his aquaculture system,
his faucet that eliminates water-hammer, his biocide, and his amazing
wax that stopped corrosion on my aircraft's propellers. Clearly Gerald
was a true Renaissance Man. Gerald was rich in the coin of the hacker
world -- competence. I have met so many people with boatloads of
letters after their names who feign competence that is was refreshing
to talk with someone who had it in spades.
So now it is MY turn to propose a toast:
To Gerald: the
Competent Renaissance Man. I shall miss him and forever regret that I
shall never have the opportunity to meet him in person.
Toby Fiander wrote:
Aye, to Gerald, the Competent Renaissance Man....
There was a funeral two days ago in Ipswich, Queensland. Jann and I read a
dozen comments by people on these lists to the 60 or so assembled. They
laughed and cried and remembered - we could ask for nothing else.
I have commemorative bookmarks which Bronwen, his daughter, made for those
who want them and can send their snail-mail address to Jann at:
joc520@iprimus.com.au
There are still a couple left, and we were promised more if we ran out.
From Peter Adderley:
It's becoming obvious now the vast range of Gerald's knowledge and his
propensity for helping so many people.
How many people has he assisted off-list that we'll never know about?
He helped me by sending me a very useful genealogy software package
(the full physical kit).
He helped me investigate the aging of bamboo, sent me various samples
of products for me to try etc and countless swapping of ideas.
I don't know how he had time for the more serious pursuits of making a
living.
... I even seriously suspect he had developed a special technique of
extracting more than 24 hours out of a day.
I'll let Joni Mitchell say the rest:
"Don't it always seem to go,
That you don' know what you've got till it's gone....
They paved paradise, put up a parking lot."
From Morris Gray:
They paved paradise, put up a parking lot.
Gerald is probably composing a letter to the council right now :-)
