Welcome and Introduction
by Rob Boorman

Good afternoon everyone.

I’m Geoff’s brother, Robert, and on behalf of Geoff and Elsje’s family, can I welcome you to this celebration of her life?

Her family and Geoff have been particularly mindful of Elsje’s strong desire, some might say ‘insistence’, for all of us to focus today and in the days ahead on the celebration of her life and the positive impact she has had on all who knew her.

Today we will hear about her early years, her time with husband Ross and sons Mark, Luke and Paul, and then her time more recently with Geoff. We will also have the chance to reflect on a pictorial representation of her life.

At the conclusion of these proceedings we are all invited and very much encouraged, to gather in the Banksia Room for refreshments.

Each of us will know different parts of Elsje’s life – those parts that she shared with us. We thought it appropriate to give you all a brief overview of her life.

Elsje Maria Whealing nee Pillekers

  • Born Elsje Pillekers on 7th March 1951 in Netherlands to Hendrik and Johanna Pillekers
  • Youngest of 4 children comprising of 2 boys and 2 girls
  • Arrived in Australia in September 1955
  • Lived and educated in Geelong
  • Started nursing course when she was 17 in Melbourne
  • Family moved to Frankston in 1968
  • Joins Marianne in Sydney in 1971
  • Meets Ross Whealing in 1971
  • Marries Ross on 5th January 1973
  • Ross and Elsje moved into a rented house in Belrose after the wedding.
  • Purchased their first property in Dee Why in 1975
  • Purchased house in Roseville 1978 where the children were born – Mark in 1979 – twins Paul and Luke in 1981
  • Purchased house at St Ives in June 1984 – they quickly become part of a strong neighbourhood group
  • Elsje completed design and art courses and commenced to paint seriously in the early 90’s.  She had a number of successful exhibitions.
  • Started life with Geoff Boorman in 2004 – they lived at Neutral Bay, Avalon and Cremorne Point.  She continued to paint and developed a successful niche doing Pet Portraits.
  • In November, 2009, they moved to a beautiful 26 acre rural property called “Wombolly” in the Will O Wyn Valley about an hour’s north of Sydney.
  • Elsje celebrated her 60th birthday in March this year.
  • In August,  Elsje was diagnosed with serious lung cancer and despite early promise of treatment, complications occurred and she tragically passed away on 10th September 2011.

Before I ask the first speaker to come forward I thought I would read a well known poem written by David Harkins.
It seems to say what Elsje has said about today.

‘She Is Gone’

You can shed tears that she is gone
Or you can smile because she has lived.

You can close your eyes and pray that she will come back
Or you can open your eyes and see all she has left.

Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her
Or you can be full of the love you shared.

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live for yesterday
Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back
Or you can do what she would want:
SMILE, OPEN YOUR EYES, LOVE AND GO ON.
 

 

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