I could talk about my Darling Darren a million ways…. For a million days.

I could tell you what a devoted Dad he was to his magnificent sons, Robbie & Daniel.

I could tell you what a talented communicator he was with all he met.

I could tell you what a capable, multi-talented engineer and builder he was.

I could tell you what a brave and expertied martial artist he was.

I could tell you what a gifted songwriter and lyricist he was.

I could tell you what a compassionate humanitarian worker he was.

I could tell you what an intuitive, spiritual and higher being he was.

But I’ll let others who were close to him tell you about some of those things.

Today, I’m going to celebrate just one small area of Darren’s inimitable life.

I’m going to talk about what a superb partner he was. I do this because Daz and my story is a true love story… and it’s my observation that there are few true love stories to speak of in the world today. And just as we need to celebrate real heroes, we also need to celebrate real love stories – to inspire us to better things.

I met Daz when I was seven – in second class – at the school just outside this church door. We held hands as we walked in lines across to mass every Friday. I played kiss n catch with him in the playground many of you will have walked passed on the way here this morning. I really just thought he was the ants-pants.

The thing is though, that he was just a little boy then. Naturally, as these things go, we began to grow older and lead our separate lives. At 15 years old, he went off to Norway as an exchange student, where he met Heidi, who would become his wife and the mother of his two impressive sons. I got into the world of magazines and we didn’t cross each other’s paths.

When he was about 22, we met again at a small school reunion a few of our primary school classmates organized. After talking to Darren for quite some time – discussing not much else besides his sons – always his favourite topic – I remember waving him goodbye and thinking that I’d be smart to try and find myself a life partner as similar to him as possible.

Days turned to weeks to years and, I decided to head to Africa for a year’s volunteering to do what I’d always intended to do – “help”. I spent a life-changing year in Tanzania. Finally, I’d worked out a way to do what I’d always wanted to do with my life. I was going to do something, wasn’t sure what, to help the Tanzanian people.
In mid-2004, I had just returned home from this year with no money and many ideas. Suddenly it seemed to me that it was high time that this so-called soul mate of mine, whoever he was should turn up. I sat in my bedroom at my parent’s home and decided to sort this out. Out loud, I asked the universe to act as a medium: “Where are you?” I called to this evasive soul mate of mine.

Within the week I had a phonecall from Darren. He asked me out to dinner, picked me up in his ute and spent the night asking me a million questions about myself, my life plan and my time in Africa. I remember being extremely impressed by his ability to listen attentively. I immediately loved his wholistic views of the world, and his intellect. A man that could think, feel and express himself without embarrassment, evasion or awkwardness. A REAL MAN.

Daz has since told me that he fell inlove twice that night – first with me, and second with my life plan. He asked me to move in with him four days later, telling me he’d already cleaned out a whole set of drawers for me.

From the minute Darren welcomed me into his life, he has been the partner of fairy tales. Don’t believe me? Ask my girlfriends – they’ll tell you.

Why was he the perfect partner? A thousand reasons, but let’s look at just a few:

• Having a conversation with Daz was as fulfilling as having a conversation with my girlfriends – this was something I had never experienced with another man. He’d talk about emotions…often, easily, cleverly, happily…
• Having an argument with Daz felt as safe as sharing an icecream with him. Yes you could disagree – sometimes passionately – but yes, he’d always still love you, and yes he’d always WANT to get to the bottom of what you were thinking and feeling and why – so the both of you could better understand each other.
• He was the most attentive partner. He second guessed my every need before I was even aware of them and saw to it that in our 4 short years together I wanted for nothing.
• Receiving tuition from Daz about his Daoist beliefs around metaphysics was an honour. I’m afraid I made a poor, if willing, student. His patience outlasted my impatience.
• I once told Daz that Paul Donnelly, Jo’s husband, brought her a cup of tea into the bedroom every morning. The next day, I received my first tea of many…
• He told me I was fantastic – even when I wasn’t. He told me I was beautiful, even when I wasn’t. He told me I was “smashing it”, even when I wasn’t… Darren taught me to believe in myself.
• I don’t need to try and prove to you given recent events, that Darren was as brave as a lion in protecting his loved ones, me included.

Every minute I spent with Daz, I cherished. I knew well before June 30, 2008, that I had a special man on my arm. I knew it every day, all day. In fact, I knew he was so special, that I often felt guilty.

I used to say to him at least once a month “Darling, you’re the perfect man…the partner every woman wants. I KNOW my single girlfriends want carbon copies of you as their man. I think I should share you around…”

Every time he’d reply “but I only want you…”

Which of course, just proved my point further – the perfect partner.

Yes, Daz is my soul mate. Yes I knew his heart. And yes, of course he has contacted me since his physical presence left this earth.

His message to all of us is very simple. Naturally he hopes we will finish Kesho Leo. Which of course, we will do, in his honour.

But Daz actually asks us to do something more than complete Kesho – he asks us all to be brave enough to commit to following, wholeheartedly, our own individual evolutionary paths.

Daz believes we all spiritual beings in human bodies, here on earth, to learn and try to evolve into better beings.

How do we do that? Surely by following his lead – by simply spending everyday, trying to be a better person than we were yesterday.

I’ve told Darren, I’m up for the challenge.

I hope you’ll all consider making this brave commitment as well – and together, we might just improve this world a little…

in honour of a man with diamonds not only his in eyes and brain, but in his heart.