Poppa Jack's last visit
1993

A few days rest by the riverside does wonders Dad is looking pretty good a few days after his horrendous marathon flight from Seattle, USA. Being an insulate dependent diabetic, traveling great distance can be dangerous, even life threatening, especially when the airline mucks up your diet and your interconnecting flights as happened with Pop. His languid transparent appearance at the airport gate scared us greatly and worse was to come that first night when his confusion over what medications had or had not been taken nearly put him an coma.

It took Pop nearly a week to fully recover from his journey 'down under'. Lacking energy in the mornings he'd sit outside under our verandah, hand feeding the Magpies and Butcher birds that live in our trees, then he'd gaze upon the Richmond River and appear to reminisce fondly. Here, at Evans River, south of Ballina, he's full of beans, sharing jokes and memories.

We'd been re-living the launching of my first homemade boat, which had been an ungainly craft similar to a waterlogged island catamaran, when, 'Hello', Jude called, then snapped this photo. The cold water around our feet had brought rushing back the memories of a non-swimming father helping his son launch his craft through the surf at Santa Monica beach. I was wondering, did my sea roving days begin then?

To mark the special occasion of their grand father's visit, the boys suggested we plant a tree on our land. And here Pop is turning over the first spade full of dirt

A little jig afterwards to help speed the growth of the newly planted tree.

It's hard to tell exactly what's going on behind those dark glasses, but Pop had an approving smile on his gob as he watched Jerome nibble fiancee Julie. We'd been talking about his return for their wedding. A return made not to be by his loss of health just a short time later. Pop traveled to many places of the world to be a part of our lives, at the Byron Bay market, this Aboriginal reminded us of his visited in PNG.

Race day at the local Ballina race track, and the kids and a few neighbours 's came along to introduce Pop to Aussie races.

Mynon Falls Rainforest, kookabura, a platform walk to the vertical drop off and a trickle blown by the wind.

Can't come to Australia without petting a Kangaroo. We had outings most days after Pop recovered then relaxed into Aussie's easy laid back way of life, saying he'd never slept so well. We drove him to nearby forests for picnics, played cards with our neighbours, had meals with his extended family, and talked. Long talks. Most of my adult life, we'd been separated by vast distances, communicating by letters, we had plenty to catch up on. The weeks passed far too quickly.

My last cuddle, it was good one, tears flowed and emotions choked our parting. My last words were, "See you at Jerome's wedding." Parting is such sweet sorrow. Fond memories had been forged to carry forth thru our lives. In loving memory of my father, JACK BINDER April 1914 - December 1995

Last Update 6 August 2005