Roy Freere "filled the house".

In theatrical terms it was a "sell-out" - standing room only. I mean no disrespect by those references - but the hall at the St John's parish was full today, for the funeral of Roy Freere.

That is a great tribute to the life of Roy Freere and the contribution which he and his family, have made to the local community, and to the wider society - for people came from near and far today to commemorate Roy's life and to honour his memory.Tribute was first paid to Roy by one of his colleagues from the Microscopical Society of Australia - Dr. Peter Rickwood, a Geologist from the University of New South Wales. It appears that Peter was Roy's oldest friend (outside his imediate family), having met Roy when both were at University in England. They met again years later, in Australia, when Roy turned up as a Company Rep for a Microscope manufacturer, and Peter was in charge of purchases for his University laboratory. Their friendship was re-kindled, and subsequently they collaborated on a professional level, jointly founding the Microscopical Society of Australia, and also publishing several technical papers together. Above all, they remained good friends, with profound respect shown by Peter for Roy's memory today.

Professor Ray Kearney spoke lovingly of Roy, from the perspective of a fellow member of the Sydney Fungal Studies Group, and as a friend. A number of members of the SFSG (as well as myself) were present to honour Roy and to comfort Joan. Ray spoke beautifully of Roy's frienship, and his love of the environment, especially "his beloved Robertson Nature Reserve".

Ray and Elma Kearney
listen as Rev Barry Lee reads the funeral prayers.

Dr Peter Freere (Roy's eldest son) then read from notes he had prepared about his Dad. Peter was very emotional, but we all understood that. His brother Ian came up to support Peter as he finished his speech, then very gently made his own comments, ending up with "Sleep well, Dad". A nice personal touch.

Their brother in law, Mark then spoke nicely of his father-in-law, including several amusing anecdotes. Mark's wife Susan, (Roy and Joan's second child) then spoke briefly about her father and then read a very moving letter which a local lady had written to Roy. She commented how it had pleased her Dad to have that letter read to him, as he asked her to read it several times over.

The Service was conducted by the Rev. Barry Lee according to the Anglican Church rites, as per the prevailing "Low Church" interpretation as approved within the Sydney Archdiocese. However "low key" the tone of the service might have been, the personal touches added by the family and friends were very satisfying.

Committing the coffin to the earth.
The Pall Bearers gently lower the coffin on heavy tapes.
Rev. Barry Lee then read the final interment prayer.
Peter (in maroon jacket) looks on.

I did not take any photos in the church, in the interest of not disturbing the Memorial Service. I felt able to discretely take these images at the Graveyard.

Mourners at the graveyard - A

Mourners at the graveyard - B

Flowers were provided by a number of local people, including myself, so that all persons who wished to place a flower on Roy's coffin were able to do so. A nice touch.

Incidentally, Barry Lee commented that Roy had insisted on choosing the readings and hymns of the Service himself. Typical of Roy, wanting to "get it right" - to the end. Personally I think that reveals how well adjusted Roy was to the looming end of his own life.

Roy was a person of deep religious faith.
No fear. No regrets.

***** ***** *****

As an old Catholic myself, let me just add the phrase "Requescat in Pace".

Rest in Peace, good friend.

Life and Death - a solemn posting.

Yesterday I went to Canberra to help my father, my brothers and their wives celebrate my father's 97th birthday. We were all together, and it was a pleasant occasion.My daughter, Zoe had come along earlier to congratulate Dad, and to give him a hug. Here he is - blowing out the candles on the cake made for him by one of his grand-children.What nobody wishes to discuss on such occasions is the dark thought that every time we see Dad could be the last. So, lets all make the most of it, eh?

*****

To confirm that last point, I was rung this morning with the news that Roy Freere, a wonderful, gentle and knowledgeable Robertson resident, had died.

I like to think of Roy as generous person, someone who was particularly generous with his knowledge. Roy shared his knowledge with others very willingly, unlike some people who keep knowledge as their private source of power and influence. Roy willingly gave lectures and illustrated talks to local groups about Fungi, about which he was very knowledgeable. He also hosted the annual visits to the Robertson Rainforest by the members of the Sydney Fungal Studies Group. He was also an artist, and print-maker, whose works are available in local galleries.
This image of Roy was taken several years ago when we did a joint visit to a property at Canyonleigh on behalf of the National Parks Association, to check out the potential of a private property for possible inclusion in the near-by Bangadilly National Park.

I understand Roy's funeral will be held in Robertson next Tuesday.

I have already spoken with Joan, to wish her all the best. She has been an absolute model of the loving wife to Roy and a wonderfully caring nurse - over the recent months of his illness. But above all, I think of Joan as Roy's life partner. They were a beautifully matched couple.

Let us remember Roy Freere for the gentle and generous soul he was.
.
.

David Young's Fungi photos

Things you find
in the Forest!
A few days ago, I accompanied local Robertson photographer (and blogger), David Young into the Robertson nature Reserve.
I had previously told David about some of the recent "finds" of weird fungi which we had found when we went with Roy Freere.


Today I have the pleasure of publishing some of David's photographs which he took on that visit. He has already published these, and more, on his own blog, (click here for the specific link), but I am happy to spread the word on my blog site.
David is an excellent photographer, and enjoys taking photos of these strange, exotic creatures which inhabit the Robertson Nature Reserve.


Close up of these minute
"Spire fungi"???
What was not immediately obvious in the shot above was that the rotting stump I was standing beside had the top one third covered in these minute stalactite-like fungi. (Click on this image, for a better view.) From what I can work out they are probably in the group known as "Spire Fungi" (but I stand to be corrected). Each little "stalactite" was less than 3 mm long - tiny - so much so that they initially just looked like pale cream fuzz on the stem of the old tree trunk.
This one is a Black Cup Fungus, a far nicer specimen than one I photographed the week before.










I had previously referred to these as "feather fungi" - a name of no scientific standing, but fairly descriptive. They might be related to Pterula. aff. stipata but I am far from certain about that identification.
To me they look like the kinds of soft coral one finds in rock pools along the coast. Strange and beautiful. These little "feathers" are relatively firm, but not brittle. Click on these images to enlarge them.

All these beautiful creature reinforce my sense of Wonder, at all the things there are in the world which we humans barely know enough of to name and describe, let alone understand how they function, and reproduce.

To me, a visit to the Robertson nature Reserve is a constant reminder of our place on the Earth - we are only here until the Fungi take over.

*****

Fungal scientists (Mycologists) are still puzzled by the evolutionary relationships of vast groups of fungi, and where odd specimens such as these fit into the overall picure.

To learn some more about Australian Fungi, go to the Fungi Map (old) website with 100 "target species" which the organisers wish people to report back on "sightings". http://fungimap.rbg.vic.gov.au/fsp/fsp.html
And then there is the general Fungimap site which has information about books which one can buy, etc. http://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/fungimap_/welcome

*****

Thanks once again to David Young for permission to use his photographs.

Fungus Tour of the Robertson Rainforest

Lots of photos, and not much commentary today.
23 people turned up today for a fun "Discovery Tour" of fungi of the Robertson Nature Reserve. We started with a discussion of the fact that the Nature Reserve has the status of a National Park, and so we were to examine and photograph fungi "in situ". Roy Freere, our leader for the day has a permit to collect scientifically interesting specimens, and we took a few unusual specimens back to the CTC to examine, and photograph. Roy and Joan will submit details of the more unusual ones to the Sydney Fungal Studies Group for precise identification, or recording of un-named species.
Thanks to Penny for coffees at the CTC, afterwards.
Ear Fungus
Auricularia sp.
My Fungi book is not with me, today, so I have used "descriptive names", in other words, my own made up names, until I can get
correct names. Please bear with me. I shall try to add correct names as and when I can.
Please come back to the site in a couple of days for proper names.



"Feather Fungus"
Pterula sp?
About 4 Cm high and wide. There were thousands of fine, stiff almost "starfish" shaped structures on a dead log. Imagine these structures, minus the frilly bits - just with straight "arms".
Those "plain" forms resemble Pterula. aff. stipata, but whether these much more elaborate ones are the same, or not, I cannot judge.
These elaborate shapes are stiff, like dry feathers.
Something one might expect to find as "soft coral" on a tropical coral reef, under water.
3 "Oyster" shaped Fungi
with different gill structures
Possible identifications:
Left - Pseudohydnum gelatinosum???
Centre - Pleurotopsis longinqua (formerly Panellus longinquus)




"Eye-lash"fungi -
tiny orange cup,
with a fringe of minute hairs.
Scutellinia scutellata
Less than 1 cm across, this orange coloured flat-cup has minite hairs around its edge. That's why I have referred to it as an Eye-lash" fungus. It is illustrated in my book, so I will get its correct name tomorrow. Click to enlarge.
One of the advantages of an unusual shape, is that it makes identification more likely.


Black "Cup Fungus"
Maybe a Plectania sp.
Approximately 5 Cm across. Black leathery structure, with distinct matt surface. Cup shaped. Slightly leathery edge. Most Cup Fungi appear to have shiny inner surfaces, but this one does not.




"Spire Fungi" (???)
Tiny little spires, with almost a "honeycomb" structure, it seems. Growing on a wet, rotten branch on the ground.
Size: approx 1.5cm high.
This one seems likely to be a "mystery fungus".




Possibly a Mycena.
Rusty brown cap, not shiny. Very strongly patterned gill structure. Dark brown stem.










A "Slime Mould"?
Click on this to enlarge. Brown rod-like structures with a covering of white spores, presumably.
Size: approx half a centimetre high.





Lime green Mycena?
I would love to know if this one is luminous. It certainly looks like it might glow in the dark. It has an unusual shade of lime green.






"Oyster" fungus with
teeth-like "gills"
Pseudohydnum gelatinosum ???
(see photo 3 above)
Click to see full sized image.
Not a conventional gill, nor a pored structure.