Family and friends of the late Mr Richard Crispin are invited to attend the celebration of his life which will take place at the Tallangatta Memorial Hall on Friday 2nd July 2021, commencing at 10.30 am, followed by a private cremation.
If you would like to view the service live please visit http://www.ovrlstream.com.au/crispin/
Crispin, Richard David
Of the Mitta Valley, passed away on 16th June 2021 aged 65 years. Beloved son of Georgina & Alan (dec). Brother of Christopher. Father of Lucy and Jack. Friend to many.
Too Dearly Loved To Be Forgotten
Dear Lucy and Jack,
Sue and I wish we were able to attend Dekenai’s Funeral and give you both a big hug to share our grief.
I first met Dekenai at Central Flying School when Wendy was looking after baby Lucy in one of the rooms. A larger than life extraordinary character! He joined the RAAF from the Army, which several of my mates either had done or were to do. Dekenai became Roulette 6 and we had many a good trip away, and he got to meet my then girlfriend ( whom he referred to as Sister McGuire ) who was to become my wife. My Father met him when The Roulettes displayed at The Gold Coast. Dad struggled with his nickname and referred to him as ai-Dek ( or perhaps i-Dek? ). We asked Dekenai to video our Wedding which he did with his customary applomb. I was posted to Williamtown NSW for his famous aviation moment – it was so unfair that he’d been placed in a situation for which he had not been trained. I joined Cathay, he joined QANTAS; we caught up at numerous CFS / Roulette reunions, at Avior Club Luncheons, and at various significant events in our circle of friends. Jack, Sue and I met you at Dekenai’s 60th Birthday at Jindabyne.
Along came CoViD-19 and Dekenai commenced the ‘ Dekenai’s isolation meeting of RAAF types ‘ zoom meeting which enabled us to keep in contact and indeed renew contact with some. It was a hoot! As many Airline Pilots lost their jobs it morphed into ‘ RETIRED ANCIENT AVIATORS FORUM zoom meetings ‘ and he had promoted himself as ‘ Dekenai At the Table of Knowledge ‘. Sue and I were online at the most recent one on Sunday night 13 June.
We, the RETIRED ANCIENT AVIATORS, loved him dearly. It is so unfair that his enormous heart which he shared with all his friends failed him. Dekenai will never be forgotten!
With much Love,
Dennis Hume a.k.a. rhino 🦏
p.s. only for Dekenai could there be such Australia-wide chaos.
Nice words Dennis.
We met Dekanai when we lived opposite at East Sale. We were new to Australia, (and to marriage as it happened), and were made most welcome. He promised us a traditional Aussie BBQ on the beach for our only Christmas Day down under. Undeterred by the torrential rain which lasted from dawn to dusk on the day, he cooked a fabulous meal half in and half out of the house.
He was my main instructor for the PC9 conversion which was fun as he only just finished his own course. We enjoyed a couple of trips together, including one to Edinburgh which saw us both airborne in Mirages. And who could forget standing in a paddock for 10 hours guarding Dekanai’s latest smoking wreck from film crews?
We have met several times since leaving East Sale, mainly in UK, but once on a holiday in Australia. We even flew together in Yorkshire. Although we have kept in touch over the years, we have ‘seen’ each other more over the Covid period, culminating in the last Table of Knowledge just a few days before his final feeding of his horses.
Dekanai will be sorely missed around the many parts of the world his personality has touched. RIP.
Paul and Polly
York
I first met Dekanai at 173 General Support Squadron, he was a new pilot and I an all-trades. I kept in touch with him from then to CFS through to QANTAS and caught up again at Nino’s funeral. Never would I have expected that in 3 short years I would be farewelling Dekanai. He approached retirement with Karen and his horses with his usual resolve and enthusiasm and had it all ahead of him. Dick, your professionalism, quick wit and genuine love for those around you was and will remain an inspiration to all around you. Farewell mate.
Lucy and Jack,
Unfortunately I’ll be unable to attend the funeral but please accept my sincere condolences as well as to the rest of the family and Dick’s friends attending. Dick’s infamy goes back over 43 years to when we were both at the Officer Cadet School Portsea. During that time Dick graciously invited me home to meet the family and took me for my first flight in a light aerobatic aircraft. Here, he displayed his extensive flying skills showing me what became known as the CRISPIN loop as we fell off the top of the loop, inverted falling (not flying) like a stone with me quietly and politely asking him to do some of that “piloting stuff” His generosity continued at Oakey (basic flying training – Army) whereupon I was invited to the Crispin married quarter for dinner and drinks being a “jack” singly. Late in the evening when asked to leave by Wendy, Dick responded by pointing out that we were watching TV. Wendy pointed out that we’d been staring at the test pattern (B&W) for about 40 minutes and that it was best I returned to the Mess.
Some years later after many adventures that would have seen us sacked or arrested today, I got my own back by taking him low flying in a Kiowa in amongst the trees. I never realised that he had a falsetto capability.
As for the man, he broke the mould, he was a character, a rascal and somewhat irreverent but a bloody good mate and fun to be with and his piloting skills obviously improved over the years. I will miss him (and the banter) but he’s now flying free with no bovines to hit or scare.
Farewell old mate, fly free and fast.
Mark Sedsman (Sapper) 27 Army Pilots Course
To Dekenai’s Family,
I first met Dekenai at East Sale when I was asked to replace Rhino 🦏 in the Roulettes. A short and busy year as you no doubt recall – but the only time I ever served with him.
We have enjoyed the odd reunion together and more recently some fine story telling at the Table of Knowledge. He was the glue for so many and reignited, to a large degree, the comradery from our RAAF flying days that I am sure many of us miss.
I regret I am unable to attend the celebration service tomorrow. My thoughts will be with you all May he rest is peace.
Keith Morgan
I first met Richard when Michele and I moved into his vacated married quarter at 5 Currandooley Court Oakey in Jan 1981. I was immediately drawn to to this personable, humorous and generous man. I soon joined Dick at 173 Squadron and went on to realise that my friendship with Dick and flying in 173 were both something to be cherished. We went on to share so much together, in the Army, RAAF and QANTAS. I will enjoy sharing tales of these times in the future.
To Lucy and Jack, we know your grief must be profound but know there are many of us who you can turn to in this sorrowful time. I am sorry that Michele and I cannot be there in person but we look forward to celebrating your father’s life when circumstances permit. Our thoughts are also with Dick’s mother Georgina, brother Chris and extended family.
Farewell dear friend.
Mighty and Shirl
Doris and I first met Richard at Bungarby, NSW where he became actively involved in the Bungarby Rural Fire Service brigade.
He was a man of incredible energy and generosity with his many contributions to the community (additional to the RFS). He had a sense of humour too, that kept one on guard!
Doris and I flew multiple times between AUS and USA. My favourite QANTAS platform was the 747. However, we were never able to crack a flight with Richard in a cockpit seat – we came close on a couple of occasions.
My last meeting with Richard was at an ANZAC Day event in Jindabyne in 2018, where he led a troop of horses and riders in the parade.
We will miss reading about Richard’s generosity and miss his quick sense of humour.
Our condolences are extended to Lucy and Jack (the latter whom we have met and followed to his current school year) and Karen (whom I met at Jindabyne with Richard and horses in tow).
We will be watching Richard’s funeral service from the East Coast USA (being at 2030 Thursday local).
From your Navy mate and Doris, fair winds and following seas.
Michael Hardwick and Doris Kalivoda
Lucy and Jack. We never met but please accept my sympathy for your loss. I am unable to attend but will watch the live stream. Dick and I were on 27 Army Pilots course at Point Cook and Oakey. At Oakey I flew the Kiowa, he flew the Porter. I loved his sense of humour and enjoyment of life. Fiona and I went to Dick and Wendy’s wedding … I did not think he would make it … enjoying some pre-nerves drinks! We also enjoyed Dick & Wendy’s hospitality while at Oakey and my sister Helen nursed with Wendy in Toowoomba. I lost touch with Dick but watched his career from a distance … always interesting. I am sure he will be missed by all.
Mate … see you in the big sky one day.
Nick Crowther (Grandma) 27 Army Pilots Course
Lucy and Jack,
Debbie and I first met Dekenai many years ago when he was posted to CFS and I was the USAF exchange officer. Your dad was very hospitable and tried his best to teach us how to be “Aussies”. He very nearly succeeded in fully converting us. Dekenai also introduced us to his young daughter, Lucy, and was so proud! We spent many evenings at their house eating and drinking and doing whatever else happened to come up.
Fast forward about 26 years when we returned to Australia for the CFS reunion. Once again we stayed with Dekenai and were introduced to Jack. As expected, he was so proud of his young son. His giant heart took us into his house and family and made us feel like we right at home.
When he started the Zoom calls last year, it was an awesome way for a lot of us to reconnect and enjoy some fun times again. I don’t think anyone except Dekenai would have been able to successfully pull it off. He was always jovial, with lots of sometimes off-the-wall topics. It was always a joy to see him and all the other Retired Ancient Aviators during those bi-weekly calls.
Dekenai, you will be sorely missed, but loved by all who knew you and who you touched with that enormous heart of yours. Hard to believe you are gone. But you will NEVER be forgotten. RIP my dear friend. All our love to Lucy and Jack. Your father was one-of-a-kind.
Rick and Debbie
Arizona
Dekanai will be Sadly missed and Always Remembered.
Roman Janus
173 General Support Squadron
Dekenai was one of those rare characters who will be remembered for all time with love and fondness by everyone who knew him. His exploits in the air and more than a few on the ground are the stuff of legend, as outlined by other contributers. His life was full, if sometimes hectic and a little chaotic, but it was a life well-lived; rich in friendship, a sincere interest in everyone with whom he came into contact and a passion for squeezing every last second from his time with us. He burst onto the RAAF flying scene at Central Flying School in the mid-80s and made sure that our social life lacked for nothing, including the odd hangover the next day. My late wife Robbie and I treasured our time at Sale, in no small part to Dekenai and his lust for life.
Even though many of us from those days went in different directions and we may not have seen each other for years at a time, reuniting with Dekenai was always as though the time between drinks and laughs was only a few days. He was just that sort of person and will be sadly missed.
I am very sorry that I am unable to attend the Service for Dekenai, due to the Covid lockdown in SE Queensland, but I offer his family and loved ones my sincere condolences, love and prayers on this sad occasion. I will follow the Service on the live streaming site and will be with you all in spirit, in more ways than one, at the wake.
Lucy and Jack,
The passing of your father has been a shock to us all. I can only imaging the void that has been created due to his premature departure from your lives. My thoughts and love are with you both now.
Dekenai was the man who was the constant in many of our lives. He was a steady foundation that was always looking for that next step, the next ANZAC service to attend with his favourite whaler.
On the lead-up to ANZAC Day we always quipped about the band – that band that played Waltzing Matilda written by Eric Bogle. That bloody band we used to say. We had been saying that for over 30 years.
Your father will be missed, a good man taken too early. He is now riding the high plains where his heart found home. He is at peace with his land.
Steve Graham
A lovely service which captured the essence of Richard, (Dick, Dekanai). Some people get the moniker “larger than life”. Richard is one of those people. It’s difficult to believe he is actually passed. Gone but not forgotten.
Commiserations to all family and friends.
Laurie and Susan Sceresini
Our thoughts are with you all.
Rome and Jill McGillivray, Sue, Stephen and Nicholas Jordan
This was such terrible news. Larger than life, jovial and adventurous, no one could have expected this. Since the mid 80’s I’ve counted you as a close friend. Time and distance are no match for military friendships. We’d go months without seeing each other , but the next catch up would be like we were continuing from yesterday. You’ve left us with fond memories and you had many personal achievements . But , your finest legacy will be in Lucy and Jack, two fine young adults who can carry on the Crispin way . Rest peacefully in the beautiful Mitta Valley.
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