Bye, Dad, You Were The Best And Fairest
Sydney Morning Herald
Saturday June 23, 2007
Father Peter Hosking addressed these words yesterday to the children of Brendan Keilar as they sat metres from his coffin, four days after he was shot dead in a Melbourne street while trying to rescue a woman struggling with the alleged gunman.
At the solicitor's funeral, Charlie, 8, Phoebe, 6 and Lucy, 4, looked as they must feel: uncomprehending. While their father was eulogised as a man with a "strong moral compass" who "indeed died a hero", it was Father Hosking who spoke directly to the children at Hawthorn's Church of the Immaculate Conception."He would never have wanted to leave you," he told them. "But we believe that he is still there to watch over you."Mr Keilar, 43, went to work on Monday morning and never came home. He was among three people shot when a Hells Angel bikie, Christopher Wayne Hudson, allegedly opened fire in central Melbourne. Mr Keilar intervened to protect Hudson's girlfriend, Kaera Douglas, who was shot and wounded.In his eulogy, Gerard Dalbosco described Mr Keilar's "love affair spanning 20 years" with his wife, Alice. "BK, no one is surprised at your final actions. In Alice's words, to have ignored such an injustice would, in your own mind, have made you a party to it. You have indeed died a hero." Mr Dalbosco described a respected property lawyer and capable sportsman who won University Blacks' best-and-fairest award in 1985 and cricket premierships. Usually the smallest man on the football ground, his distinguishing characteristic was his courage. About 500 people farewelled Mr Keilar. Leaving, Mrs Keilar held her daughters' hands as her son walked beside them. Hudson, 31, is in custody.
© 2007 Sydney Morning Herald
