My friend Paul,

When two people meet and become friends, in our case the best of friends, there is no one particular moment when you become best mates. For me and paul it just happened automatically, and over time our friendship grew stronger and stronger. From the first time we met we got along like a house on fire. We were so different. Norrie, the very outgoing larrikin who didn’t hold back on telling anyone what he thought, and me, the somewhat shy and quiet youngster. Our love for flying however was unquestionable.
I can’t believe that we will never get to fly together again, not in this life anyway.

There were so many things i loved about Paul:

Paul was a great comedian. He was the king of fake accents. He got me a beauty one day claiming he was from CASA and my licence was to be suspended. No matter what the situation he would always find the funny side to it or manage to take the piss despite me being deadly serious about something. I know he will be up there trying to put me off right now. Wherever he has gone to now I’m sure he is creating havoc as always.

He was a great chef. He loved to entertain. The barbeque was his pride and joy. There were so many memorable nights over at norries, he always put on a good spread. Rarely did the night end without ACDC live in concert blaring through his home theatre.

Paul loved his music. This was a passion we both shared. Only paul could drive into condell park shops with ZZ top playing at top volume. The both of us almost got jumped by homeboys in the car park.

Paul was a great pilot. He was one of the most enthusiastic pilots I have ever met. The way he approached his flying was first rate. Always the talker in the cockpit, telling himself what was coming next. His airmanship was of the highest standard. We did so many flights together, or giddy up’s as we called them. There were too many to recall, but all of them great fun. It came as no suprise when he got the job as an RPT captain. It was a title we both laughed about over the phone during our weekly talks. However, Paul WAS a captain, and a captain in every sense of the word in whatever he did in life.

He was a great husband. In Paul and Fiona they had found a perfect match. He was so devoted to her. The love, patience and support shown by her was incredible. Having seen them together on a number of occasions, it was clear they had something very special. They certainly made a great team. If I can find a connection half as good as theirs in my life then I will be a very lucky man indeed.

Finally, Paul was a great mate. He was the best friend i’ve ever had. You could live your whole life and maybe never find a friend like paul, I don’t think i will meet anyone like him ever again. He was like an older brother to me. I looked up to him and in other ways he looked up to me as well. There was a mutual respect between us that was there right from the start. I feel so lucky to have even known him. He made the bad times good, and the good times great. Words can’t describe how much I will miss him. That broad grin and characteristic laugh i will miss the most.
The last time I saw him, the night before he left to go up north,
he gave me one of his backslapping hugs, I said to him that I hated goodbyes. He said this is not goodbye, just see you later. I will see you soon mate.

I still believe what you said Paul, I promise i will do what we were both striving so hard for, and when i get there i will have done it for you. When my time comes around, whenever that may be, i know we will meet again, and i can tell you all about it.
I would like to finish with some lyrics from one of pauls favourite bands, which i hope conveys what Paul would think about what has happened.

Who’s to say where the wind will take you
Who’s to say what it is will break you
I don’t know, which way the wind will blow.
Who’s to know when your time will come around
I don’t want to see you cry
For I know that this is not goodbye.

Written and Spoken by Kieran at Paul's Memorial Service.