My Exploring Oz is just about over.
Submitted: Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 16:02
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Member - Royce
Hi everyone. I hope this doesn't cop an 'off topic'. I'm taking this opportunity to say hooroo to you all. I haven't been very active over the last few years but have been a member ever since the early days of this site.
I have toured Australia to probably equate five full circuits of our beautiful land. For the last 20 years I have taken my school science show www.funshow.com.au to kids all over Oz.
Last year I turned 60, packed up my pushbike into a box and flew to England. A train down to Land's End and then rode my bike the length of UK. 1600ks camping all the way unsupported. Used all my outback skills!
A month after returning, I discovered that I'd done the trip with a massive tumour growing inside me. A big operation to remove the kidney cancer hasn't stopped it. It is back with a vengeance and I only have a few days or weeks left.
I have had a great life and have no regrets. My family of course is very sad. I just wanted to touch base with you all. Some may even remember me from the past. Explore Oz was a lovely way to share and experience others with a like minded interest in the outback, travel and the world around us.
Farewell and happy OzExploring.... Cheer Royce
Reply By: Life Member - Fred B (ex-NT) - Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 16:14
Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 16:14
Royce,
I am very sorry to hear of your situation. Words cannot convey what you must be going through, but I will pray that you and your family will have the peace you all need for the situation.
warmest regards,
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Reply By: Gramps - Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 16:14
Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 16:14
Royce,
Sorry to hear the news. Hard to think of what to say other than enjoy the time with your family and I hope you find peace and comfort with them.
Regards
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Reply By: Shaker - Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 16:47
Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 16:47
Of course I remember you from the past & am terribly saddened to hear your tragic news.
All I can say is that I sincerely hope that your remaining time with your family & friends is as full & enjoyable as it can possibly be.
Cheers, Paul
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Reply By: MUZBRY- Life member(Vic) - Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 17:09
Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 17:09
Gday Royce
Sorry to hear that Royce , I used to read all your inputs , you will be missed.
Murray
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Reply By: Michael ( Moss Vale NSW) - Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 17:18
Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 17:18
Hi Royce! Sad to hear of your situation. Of course we remember you from the past and of course you will be remembered in the future. Regards Michael
| Patrol 4.2TDi 2003
Retired 2016 and now Out and About!
Somewhere you want to explore ? There is no time like the present.Member
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Reply By: Member - Mark (Tamworth NSW) - Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 17:19
Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 17:19
Royce, I just hope that your daughter that you used to write about maintains the "bug" youv'e had for exploring and adventuring. Like others used to really reading what you wrote or the questions you would raise
Mark
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Reply By: Nigel Migraine - Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 17:28
Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 17:28
Royce: you have done a lot of good with your science show over the years and I've always been impressed by your sensible and warm hearted approach to life.
Every time I pass your launderette (if it's still your's) I
check to see if you're there but evidently you've been touring Oz or cycling across the UK :)
The UK cycling thing is a neat trick Royce - I admire you for it, I hope it was fun.
"I have had a great life and have no regrets"
Good on yer Royce! I am a very similar age to you and feel exactly the same, I've done a lot, seen a lot, laughed a lot, loved a lot and cried a lot - I've lived.
I'm sad to hear you're leaving us Royce - you will be missed.
NM
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Follow Up By: Member - Royce - Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 17:45
Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 17:45
It's still there and mine. Provides a service to the town rather than making money and I've enjoyed pottering around in it. My wife and son say they will keep it going because it will be like I'm still there. :]
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Reply By: Member-Heather MG NSW - Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 17:36
Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 17:36
Such sad news Royce..
You sound like a person we would have loved to have met in our travels.
Our thoughts are with you and your family.
regards,
Heather and
John
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Reply By: Member - Des Lexic - Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 17:38
Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 17:38
Royce, Sorry to hear of your bad news. I have read your input to this site many times and enjoyed them all.
I hope your next journey is as adventurous as this life has been.
Kind regards
Des
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Reply By: Member - Royce - Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 17:42
Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 17:42
Thanks everyone.
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Reply By: Member - John (Vic) - Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 17:46
Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 17:46
Pretty sad mate, my thoughts are with you and your family.
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Reply By: Lionel A - Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 17:59
Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 17:59
Giday Royce, a blast from the past allright.
Good luck on your journey, one which we all end up making.
Keep the billy on the coals mate, see you on the other side sometime.
Cheers......Lionel.
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Reply By: Member - John and Val - Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 18:18
Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 18:18
Hello Royce,
Thank you for having the grace and courage to say farewell as you have done. We have followed with interest your adventures in the Supa Troopa and more recently by foot, bike and canoe. You have surely brought interest and enlightenment via your science shows, all adding up to a life
well lived.
John and I hope that the time remaining to you is as happy and peaceful as possible. You and your family will be in our thoughts as you take the journey that we all face one day.
Best wishes,
Val.
| J and V
"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted."
- Albert Einstein
Lifetime Member
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Reply By: Bob Y. - Qld - Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 18:21
Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 18:21
Remember you Royce? Why we've never forgotten you, just missed your input.
A great uncle, who survived Gallipoli and France in WWI, always said "life's a big book". Sadly your chapter is on the last pages but it's obviously been a happy and fulfilling story.
Thank you for taking the time to say adieu,
Bob.
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Reply By: Member - Terry W4 - Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 19:07
Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 19:07
Royce - one of I am sure your many legacies will be the contributions you have made to this site. I am a newby (older than you) but I will be searching out your posts to learn more about you. Farewell my friend.
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Reply By: ExplorOz Team - Michelle - Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 19:26
Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 19:26
Oh Royce, you are one of the EO family and its fantastic that you thought to come here and tell us all of the next stage of your life's journey before you leave. It is delightful to hear of your satisfaction with your life - you will go on to an even more wonderful place I'm sure. Our most sincere wishes go with you now.
MM & DM
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Follow Up By: Member - Royce - Friday, Jan 31, 2014 at 01:35
Friday, Jan 31, 2014 at 01:35
Thank you Michelle. I have had some of the happiest days of my life since I've heard the news. Strange huh? I have been inundated with calls and kind words. On Sunday my daughter had her 30th birthday and we fired up the big wood fired pizza oven that I have been building over the months of trying to recover. I cooked over 200 pizzas during the day for way over 100 people. Friends from right back to primary school turned up. A lovely birthday party, a lovely send off for me and probably the best day of my life. Keep up this lovely site. There are no others that can capture the feel of it.
I am amazed at he responses above and below. Touched. Thank you
Royce
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Follow Up By: ExplorOz Team - Michelle - Friday, Jan 31, 2014 at 15:30
Friday, Jan 31, 2014 at 15:30
This is proof that life would be better if we lived every day as if it were our last. We're a strange breed - always taking things for granted and until we know its all about to be taken away, only then do we value what we already had all along right in front of us. At the end of the day, family and friends is what life is about and we should never forget them when work and other pressures seem to be more important.
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Reply By: Allan B (Member, SunCoast) - Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 19:38
Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 19:38
Royce, you will surely be missed and remembered here.
It is so very sad for us and I cannot even start to imagine your emotions.
But what a positive outlook you are maintaining at this time. A great example to us.
It is not often that we are given the opportunity to say goodbye on such a positive note.
With the best of wishes to you and your family.
Farewell mate.
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Reply By: Meridith D - Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 20:18
Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 20:18
Wow Royce, sorry to hear your news. Thank you for all your input and for teaching us all to get out there and see the world whilst we can.
May your days be settled and hoping your family is with you in these days.
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Reply By: Steve M1 (NSW) - Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 20:22
Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 20:22
Royce, I'm sad to hear you and your loved ones may be about to part and I hope you can all bear the trauma as best you can but we are all heading that way and I'm sure there are some wonderful times in another world to come. Stay strong mate;)
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Reply By: Member - Russler - Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 20:35
Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 20:35
Stone the bloody crows mate. I do recall your posts, and thank you for your considered input. Best wishes and safe travels.
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Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 21:59
Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 21:59
Gday Royce,
That news leaves me pretty much speechless.
But I have to say I've enjoyed your threads over the past 10 years - always something new that kept the
forum lively. Here's link to many of them:
Royce's threads
Thanks for letting us know what's happening.
All the best,
Phil
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Reply By: Member - Leanne W (NSW) - Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 22:24
Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 22:24
So sorry to hear your news. My thoughts are with you and your family.
Leanne.
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Reply By: Dennis Ellery - Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 22:57
Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 22:57
Hi Royce.
I often wonder what happened when a contributor on Exploroz stops contributing - whether they have passed away or not.
Sad to hear of your expected end – 60’s too
young.
My deepest sympathies to you and your family.
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Reply By: Member - ACD 1 - Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 23:35
Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 23:35
Royce
Such dignity and grace!
I recall seeing your show when visiting my nieces at
Echuca South. As a teacher myself, I was in awe of your enthusiasm, love of science and education. The legacy you have left as an educator will be difficult to be equalled.
The magnanimity you show in your farewell serves as an inspiration to all.
If I could tear out a chunk of my being to give to you I would. You are a giant!
God bless and farewell
Regards
Anthony
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Reply By: Life Member - Dunworkin (WA) - Friday, Jan 31, 2014 at 00:23
Friday, Jan 31, 2014 at 00:23
Well Royce, there is not much left for me to say except I was dumbfounded when I read your post, I'm so sorry to hear your bad news but how wonderful that in this small timeframe you seem to have you took the time to come in here and put us in
the loop, It's so refreshing to read that you are happy with the life you have led, it sounds like you lived it to the full.
I do remember you as one of the 'older' ( I don't mean in age lol) members on here and reading your posts. You will be missed.
We send our thoughts to you and your family and trust that the time you have left with them is as peaceful and fulfilling as can be.... Thanks for advising us.
Kind Regards and thanks for your input over the years.
Deanna & Bevan.
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Reply By: Kerry W (WA) - Friday, Jan 31, 2014 at 00:47
Friday, Jan 31, 2014 at 00:47
Thanks Royce,
So impressed to hear about your Life and Living.
You have just given us another aspect of ExplorOz at its best.
Thanks for Sharing this part of your journey.
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Reply By: Travis22 - Friday, Jan 31, 2014 at 01:22
Friday, Jan 31, 2014 at 01:22
Really sorry to hear the bad news Royce. Hooroo mate, I'm sorry I haven't yet read much of your travels and experiences but I guarantee you I will.
Travis.
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Reply By: Member - Matt M - Friday, Jan 31, 2014 at 09:49
Friday, Jan 31, 2014 at 09:49
Very sorry to hear that Royce. You have been part of the EO fabric for a long time, but part of a larger real life fabric who will all no doubt miss you enormously. Safe travels for the next stage mate.
Matt.
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Reply By: Skulldug - Friday, Jan 31, 2014 at 10:04
Friday, Jan 31, 2014 at 10:04
Thank you Royce. You have done so many wonderful things and your post suggests you may have a few left in you.
Skull
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Reply By: The Bunyip - Friday, Jan 31, 2014 at 10:15
Friday, Jan 31, 2014 at 10:15
Royce,
It sounds like you packed a lot into your 60 years mate!
Look after yourself. Having read your message, nany of us who don't even know you are now thinking fondly of you nonetheless.
DARREN
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Reply By: Echucan Bob - Friday, Jan 31, 2014 at 12:02
Friday, Jan 31, 2014 at 12:02
Royce
Sincere thanks for making contact with us. I just spent some time reading over your old posts. I used to be Bob of Kaos back then.
You clearly treasure your love of country travel, as do we all.
Your news is profoundly moving for me. Like you I am 60, but was fortunate enough to survive cancer some years ago. My thoughts and best wishes are with you.
Happy travels.
Bob
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Reply By: Member - Toyocrusa (NSW) - Saturday, Feb 01, 2014 at 20:32
Saturday, Feb 01, 2014 at 20:32
Royce. I have agonised for a couple of days now on just how to reply to you on this post. I have lost two good mates over the last 5 years, both to cancer. The first I said very little to as I did not know what to say, and regretted it severely after he was gone.
The second guy I told how great a mate/friend he had been over 40 odd years and how honoured I was to have been able to find that friendship with him. He got a bit emotional but I think we both felt a lot better knowing we had confronted his predicament rather than not saying anything.
I can only say to you, thank you for being a really great Exploreoz mate/friend and sharing your "story" and posts with us. I wish you well in your coming weeks and sincerely hope that you do not have to suffer at all.
I offer hope and strength to you and your family and trust that you find some comfort in knowing we all wish you the very,very best. Cheers, Bob.
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Reply By: Member - Mary W NW VIC - Tuesday, Feb 04, 2014 at 21:58
Tuesday, Feb 04, 2014 at 21:58
Thanks Royce for your many posts .I have enjoyed them immensely
Now you're off on the ultimate trip I am sure you will navigate it with skill and courage.
You take my very best wishes with you
Cheers
Mary
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