Michael’s letters of love

By Paul Dunlop
MOURNERS at Michael Griffey’s funeral heard messages of love and support that he wrote for his family only months before he died.
Mr Griffey wrote farewell letters to former wife Di and his three children after a recent health scare.
The goodhumoured, colourful warmth of the messages prompted laughter and tears when they were read out at the service by close friend Justin Van der Zalm.
They were accompanied by other heartfelt tributes to the popular man, whose murder has shocked the community.
Mr Griffey encouraged his children to keep following their dreams and to know that he would always be there for them.
He wrote to eldest daughter Natasha (Tash) that the day she was born was one of the proudest days in his life, “even though it took me 24 hours to see you and I got p….. three times getting there”.
To son Kenny he wrote: “Don’t make the same mistakes as me”, and “I am so bloody proud of you”.
In a postscript to his only son, a fellow keen motorist and talented sprint car driver, Mr Griffey said: “Make sure you look after my GT.”
Cassy was the “icing on the cake”, he wrote, adding she had inherited his gift of the gab.
Mr Griffey urged Cassy to continue with her own racing interest and that he would be in the car beside her at her next race.
“Your bubbly personality and outlook on life will get you through anything,” he wrote.
Mr Griffey said Di was the only woman he truly loved. “Thankyou for being my best mate and partner.”
The readings were followed by a eulogy from Mr Griffey’s longtime mate Darren Delaland, who spoke of a relationship that began on building sites in Ballarat before Mr Griffey moved to Pakenham.
He said the pair enjoyed a great friendship that was forged “basically on anything that would go fast”, be it cars or speedboats.
Despite a growing business and affinity for wearing the odd bit of jewellery, Mr Griffey did not “give a damn about money”, Mr Delaland said.
“He would do anything for you. He was an up front sort of guy, a good talker who made friends easily wherever he went.
“It didn’t matter whether you were a businessman or had the arse seat out of your pants, he would treat everybody equally.
“I valued his advice God knows, he gave me plenty and we never had an argument.”
Mourners heard several anecdotes about a man who wore his passion on his sleeve and had a habit of making everybody around him feel good.
He was described as a larger than life character, a good bloke fond of the occasional drink who was “like a rock but with a marshmallow inside him”.
Friends said the community had lost a great man.
Mr Griffey’s son Kenny and family friend Sam Tivendale drove the Ford GT cars that accompanied the cortege to the cemetery.
Meat Loaf’s Bat out of Hell provided a rousing signature farewell.
Friends said the service was how Mr Griffey would have wanted it.