Friday April 12, 2019 was a beautiful autumn day in Bendigo and Kilmore – blue skies and temperature in mid 20s. Some 26 Brothers, ex-students and friends of Des joined the normal 12:10 pm parish Mass, along with Bishop Les Tomlinson and 9 priests. The singing was led by 21 members of the Marist College Choir who are actually on holidays. Br. Michael Herry accompanied them. What a difference good singing makes to a Liturgy. The ceremony contained 3 hymns Des had requested while principal celebrant Fr Rom Hayes was also a Des request, one which Rom was delighted to agree to. Des’s cousin, Kath Trethowan and her husband Graeme, brought the gifts to the altar while his nephew Glen Hornsby placed a treasured photo of Des on the coffin. Des Tuck was delighted to accept the invitation to do the first reading. Br. Julian Casey delivered the Eulogy in typical Jules style. All in all, it was a wonderful tribute to the life of our Brother Des.
After refreshments in the parish hall where the Brothers starting teaching in Bendigo 126 years ago, there was a good contingent who drove to Kilmore for the Burial. Mons Frank Marriott led this section of our ceremonies for Des. Bill Dillon, a fellow grouper of Des, led the saying of a decade of the Rosary at the graveside. Br Peter Carroll read an article from the Constitutions about Mary and her Fiat and the Salve Regina was sung.
