Rex Charles "Dinny" Farrah

From Andrew Secker

Dinny Farrah died Saturday 21st April aged about 60. He had been ill for some time and in the end the chemotherapy was too much for him.

Dinny was one of the three notorious Farrah brothers who were a strong part of OC's in the 1970s and 1980s. Dinny didn't play as much football as Peter ("Fats") and Tim and was generally quieter, but he still had a large influence on the club. He was very accomplished at building things, and the pine benches in the change-rooms and the timber rail round the main bar are lasting examples of his handiwork.

All the Farrahs left OCs in the mid to late 80s. Pete went to Perth, Tim to Melbourne and Dinny to Sydney. They were all very different blokes and we were lucky to have had all of them - and their late father, Frank, at
times - at once. Their collective contributions over the bar and to late-night singalongs were massive.

Dinny's eulogy

Born 26th November 1941 at Tamworth, Died 21st April 2001at Bellingen

Oldest brother Colin spoke on behalf of the Farrah family.

Family friend Rebecca (who managed Dinny's factory) spoke the following and also read Dinny's daughter Jane's contribution.

From Rebecca

I met Dinny 13 years ago in a garage in Bellingen. He was my prospective boss. An entrepreneur, a man of vision and talent. I knew I could learn a lot from him. He was setting up a factory - we had instant rapport and quickly I was introduced to Di and the family.

How can I cram three years of memories into three paragraphs? There is so much to say… so many short stories… single words that paint the essence of Rex Charles Farrah.

Dinny was an artist… He was irreverent.. His humour dry and wicked.. He was determined. He would get a thought in his head and he wouldn't let it go. He loved being the thorn in Bellingen Council's side.

Dinny loved a cleansing ale. He was an affectionate critic.. his term of endearment for the local Christians being 'the God botherers'. He had a wild way of working borne of his creative temperament, which involved throwing objects across the factory from time to time. Wood shavings and quick-eze wrappers were his calling cards.

Dinny's artistry and style was so complete. His fascination with design and his love affair with timber was an inspiration to all around him. There are many of us here today that have a piece of Dinny sitting in their lounge room.

He once told me that he believed everyone had an artist in them…he saw that potential so often. Made it easy for you to have a try … was infinitely patient and supportive as a teacher. Dinny was my friend and mentor. He opened his heart to my family, particularly my late brother Martin and I will be forever grateful to him for seeing my potential.

Dinny was so proud of his family .. he shone when he spoke of them. I have some thoughts penned by Jane Farrah about her dad. I'm honoured to read them on her behalf.

From Jane Farrah

Dad I'm running out of time here, trying to put a paragraph together that sums you and what you meant to us. Did I get this leaving-all-to-the-last-minute tendency from you? I seem to recall you advising me never to go into the graphic arts business because of all those stress generating deadlines, so I'll attempt to do it over a glass of red (thanks for the tip).

The image of you will forever be in our hearts and minds – made easier by the fact that you were such a looker (Harrriet and I were saying the day you died what great taste Mum has). Your style – from the way you dressed to the music you listened to, the stories you told, to the collection of damaged furniture and toys on the roof of the house – everything you were will live in our memory and in our lives.

We'll never forget how supportive you were of what we were all doing in our lives – our various projects, ventures, interests and ideas – occasionally to the point of embarrassment. A little anecdote (block your noses): Harriet came home from school one day asking for ideas for a school project. After a short pause dad put the glass down and promptly launched into an hour long brief, detailing why this must be a project about dog faeces and its impact on the local environment, complete with statistics sourced from his own imagination and probably even gave anxious little Harriet a lesson a short lesson on how to draw the perfect turd (she scored 100% of course).

But seriously, we couldn't have asked for more from you. I think we all agree that you did as much as you could to give your children knowledge, inspiration and laughter all through our lives and mum's, and I hope we can take that with us.

So I'm writing this on the day before your funeral, catching the last rays of sun before it sinks behind our mountains, the end of another day without you. I'm so thankful to you for this beautiful house and for all that you did for us during your lifetime. Grateful and in awe that you held on for as long as you did, fighting that illness with everything you had. And we all send our deepest and most passionate thanks to our mother Diana who lived absolutely by that beautiful and sacred promise 'till death do us part' – she has cared so selflessly for you and for all of us.

Dad, I hope your memory can manifest in our lives and in all that we do.

Cheers Dad, I love you.

Jane

19th July 2008: Tom Farrah, son of Tim, plays for the 3rds at Tregenza. Refer to photos taken for the 3rd Grade on that day to see Tom.