I am very fortunate to have had fantastic parents to guide me and to have grown up with six brothers and six sisters. We lost one of our sisters early in 2007 and the loss hit me far harder than I realised it would.

I will miss Nett and her passing will help me appreciate my remaining 11 brothers and sisters even more.

I Called Her Nett

Though born Lynette, I called her "Nett"

When I was a small boy and used to fret

I'd run to Nett in the middle of the night

She always calmed me and helped me through the fright

Nett was my angel then.

Nett was a girl guide and, like us all, mum and dad's pride

She bought clothes for us when dad's pay was tight

Nett gave me my first bible, which I need to use more

She always has some sort of treat in store

A lollie a trip somewhere or a story, often more

She was like our mum when mum was tired

Nett was always loved and admired

The first of our siblings to marry

A beautiful bride and moving ceremony

We had a big "do" at the Wharfies Hall

(Graeme and I got to polish the floor)

To me she became Lynne then, Nett had grown up real neat,

We all used to jockey for time at Jedda Street,

"55" was fun but Lynne's place was a treat.

Lynne moved away and landed in Darwin (as you do)

We missed her a lot but she and George had their share of refugees,

Darwin was like a magnet to lost souls, some on their knees,

Glenda and I ended up there in need of some TLC and a host,

She before me but we are both better people for the experience,

Lynne & George provided all we needed and more when we needed it most,

George gave me a job and tried to make me work,

But that was asking too much because I was a "jerk".

We all ended up mates and that's what's important to me.

We missed Lynne a lot and then, later Joan & Graeme went there too,

Lynne was with her family, Tracey, Steve & "Cookie" and her Georgie.

Lynne became a florist, loved her patients & pushed her trolley,

Winnellie hospital was brighter because of Lynne, George & Joan

George & Joan were the "delivery boys" though he used to sometime moan,

Big Bird helped when, between two shops Lynne did chase,

They did a great job and brought smiles to many a face.

Teen had her trip North for a touch of Lynne's therapy,

Seems like it worked coz I've never seen her so happy,

Like Lynne, Carol shared the Bishop surname,

Colin was my best friend and his loss was so much more than a shame,

He was Lynne's 8th brother and she treated him the same

Carol remains our "middle sibling" the one we all rely on in a clinch,

Lynne leaned on Carol sometimes but "Owl Eyes" didn't flinch

Joan, Christine, Donna, the boys & wives all helped care for mum & Lynne,

That's what siblings are for, and that's what we will all continue to do.

Of course we will miss Lynne, as we do Mum, Dad & Colin,

You don't lose someone you love without tears & sometimes falling,

But we will get up and we will help each other,

We will help Georgie, Steve, Tracey and Kerrin where we can,

We will also probably reminisce ad nausea (to outsiders),

And may end up in an Irish wake for Lynne besides,

But one thing we will never do in this lifetime,

We will never forget that we had the privilege of calling Lynne our sister & friend and of knowing her at all.

Lynne may be the first of my wonderful siblings to leave us to be with Dad & Mum, we can only hope and pray we are all together again in that second life and re-live it all again (or at least have a great time talking about it).

We reluctantly send Nett into Dad & Mum's eternal care.

Ron Welsh

Brisbane

Wednesday, December 06, 2006