Nigel Lee
Michael
To pay tribute to a great mate like
Nigel within 2-3 minutes is impossible, we could talk for hours and still only
just scratch the surface.
Our deepest sympathies and love to
the Lee family. Since we first met Nigel
during our first years at St Paul’s you have treated us as sons and brothers
and we thank you for opening your warm home to us and thank you for the support
you have provided through-out the last week.
To Bec and the Maurer family, we
pass on our love. Over the last few years
we have all come to love Nigel and Bec as a couple, and we hold a very special
place in our hearts for you at this traumatic time.
Finally, to all the boys from
school and our close mates who joined us along the way. Nigel was the nucleus
of our group. Following school we all
went our separate paths, however Nigel was the one person who knew where
everyone was and he kept everyone informed as to what the others were
doing. He was a genuine, friendly person
who always took the time to help others.
For most of us we met Nige during
our early years at St Paul’s and for others it extended to causing havoc at
primary school and around Albany Creek.
This was Nigel’s specialty. He
had a habit of using his quick wit, and at times an unsavoury wit, to
have a dig at anyone and everyone in such a
playful way that it never seemed to offend.
In fact, it had the opposite effect.
People were always drawn to Nige due to his ability of making everyone
feel like a best mate.
Nigel and I would spend our school
holidays walking between his home and mine.
We would hire videos, talk sport and play one-on-one basketball. However, Nigel’s favourite pastime was
shopping. He would shop for anything,
clothes, games, tapes, you name it, Nigel had a keen eye for a bargain. Nigel
was the one guy that we knew who actually enjoyed a shopping spree with the
girls and was capable of keeping up with them.
Nige loved his fashions and his
hairstyles. During our years at school, I
considered Nige to be my fashion consultant.
I can still recall the trends of the time and it was not uncommon to
borrow clothes from him to attend school dances or to just walk the
streets. For example, an old pair of
Dunlop volleys, army pants rolled up half way to the knee, and a white, orange
or red tank top singlet. I wonder what
passer’s by would yell if they saw two teenage boys dressed in such outfits
whilst walking down the busy streets of Albany Creek today? Talking to Charmaine the other day she let me
in on a little secret…. “When it came to getting dressed for the school dance
or any other party that we were off too, Nigel had two older sisters for help”.
Matt
School life was just the beginning
of Nige’s circle of friends, as evidenced by the many people here today. I would not be the only one here who was
astounded by the number of people Nige would know in a crowd. I can remember meeting up with Nige in
Whistler, Canada where the first day I arrived Nige took me down the main
street of the village. It was like they
had thrown a ticket-tape parade in his honour.
He knew every person in every shop.
Nige loved his fishing and his
toys. Whether it be some fandangled deep
sea fishing rig that he would use to fish for whiting off the beach, just in
case the big one was lurking nearby, or a new hat or beanie, he would always
have a source for the best deal in town.
Things that Nige wanted, (and there were many), had a habit of just
appearing at a very cheap price.
I can only imagine what Mr &
Mrs Lee thought when Nige would come home with another decorative tattoo or
piece of ornamental jewellery. He always
had his own ideas and he stood by them.
For this, I always respected him, most importantly for the way he
maintained relations with so many friends and family (no small feat!!!).
The eloquent use of words does
little to capture how good a mate Nige was and just what an exceptional person
he was. I have no doubt that Nige is
still here with each of us and will remain with us when we need him, and I also
have no doubt that he will be enjoying the good times with Bretto.
Nigel, alias Chicka
WE LOVE YOU
NIGE.