Eulogy of Noel Vears

 

A bit about dad.

 

As dad’s father passed when he was very young, he took on the role as provider for his 6 younger siblings. Dad, his younger siblings and his mum Joyce did it extremely tough when they were young and I really don’t know how they all survived living in Mt Gambier and Woodville.

Dad was an all-round renowned 'Horseman' through his days as a mounted police officer, race horse trainer, eventer, dressage rider and of course the best horse sport, show jumping.

Noel was a respected Sergeant of the South Australian Mounted Police and participated in the police vaulting squad that toured all over Australia. Dad was also a dedicated traffic cop and was also decent at that tireless job.

 

Dad was responsible for the successes myself and my brothers achieved in the various equestrian disciplines we competed including; numerous wins at the Royal Adelaide Show and other horse shows around Australia.

 

The old man was a fair rower as a young fella and was a champion footy player in a short career and is even listed on the best and fairest honour board at the Morphett Vale Footy Club.

Throughout dads mid-life onwards he suffered with extreme arthritis and was always on some of the strongest medications, but this didn't slow him down.

He was a champion marathon and mid distance runner winning multiple gold medals in the World Police and Fire Games, in various countries and even broke a world record for his age running in America. I’m pretty sure dad still holds the record for the most amounts of combined gold, silver and bronze medals in the world in the World Police and Fire Games and even featured on a few current affairs shows on teli talking about his medals.

He was a pretty good cyclist too only taking this up in his 70s and I’m positive would have been a champ at that too.

Dad’s athletic successes afforded him the opportunity to be an Olympic torch bearer for the Sydney Olympic Games and he also helped coach Olympic Gold Medallists and a current Champion Australian Jockey.

 

All of the old man's athletic DNA, guts/ determination to never give up and just do your best was transferred through to myself and my brothers. My brothers and I reaching high levels in all the Equestrian sports we competed in, running events, my brothers in the footy arena and me in motorbike racing, cycling and tennis.

Even Noel's grand kids have achieved some amazing results in their short athletic and professional working careers; with a Professional musician, Lawyer, Marketing Manager, Disability Psychologist, Nurse, Mechanic and 2 prospective future professional Equestrians.

In the athletic arena, dads grand kids are all very successful and definitely hate coming second.

 

Mum and dads love affair ended with them married for over 60 years and they both adored each other right to the very end. Together they were inseparable, such an awesome team and the best parents anyone could wish for.

Noel would help anyone in need whether it was sitting next to a local lad in a coma for months, helping anyone with a horse and even visiting sicks kids by literally taking his police horse inside the Children's Hospital.

 

In the last few years of Noel's life, he beat 2 heart attacks, cancer, and arthritis but just couldn't beat Dementia.

 

Lastly, my dad was my mate, my brother’s mate, all of his daughter’s in laws mate, his grandkids mate and the best dad, grandfather anyone could ever wish for in their life.

 

Our family and all of dad’s friends will miss him dearly. We all love ya Noel.