Much-loved grandfather remembered in live-streamed funeral service and drive-through wake in Mount Gambier
Billy Downs’ family was expecting a huge crowd to his funeral in the South East when coronavirus put an end to large gatherings. They wouldn’t let that spoil his send off.
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Sitting on top of an esky, wearing goggles and a plastic suit, Asher Anderson watches a slide show on a big screen, documenting his beloved grandfather’s rich life.
Surrounding the six-year-old are football scarfs reflecting the family’s generational association with local sport in Mount Gambier.
When his grandfather Billy Downs lost a long battle with oral cancer at the age of 70 last month, his family planned a huge service to honour the giant of the local community.
But, as Mr Downs’ children, Marty Downs and Tegan Anderson, were putting the final touches on their plans, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced sweeping restrictions to stop the spread of coronavirus, including limiting funeral services to just 10 attendees.
“We were really upset the next morning. We just didn’t know what to do,” Marty Downs, 37, of Unley, told The Advertiser.
“We went from (expecting) 1000 people to just 10.”
COVID-19 had just worsened the heartbreak of losing their beloved father – a feeling of despair shared by hundreds of families amid the coronavirus pandemic.
But, Ms Anderson came up with the idea of having a drive-through wake, where members of the community could drive up to her 4000 sqm property on the outskirts of Mount Gambier and watch a slide show from their car.
More than 300 vehicles passed through “Billy’s Drive Thru” on the evening of March 27, nine days after the former science teacher and local football hall-of-famer died.
It was held just hours after the official funeral service was live-streamed on Facebook.
While only nine of the closest family members were allowed inside the chapel, the stream was viewed by an audience of nearly 4000 people, including friends from Portland, Oregon and the UK.
“In a way, more people got to be involved than they would have normally,” Marty Downs said.
As for the drive-through wake, the family took a lighthearted approach, saying, “all the restaurants are doing drive-through and takeaway, so why don’t we do a drive-through?”
“We thought we might as well have a bit of fun with it, so we got the (kids) to wear hazmat suits and everything.
“They were handing out memorial cards and a beer to the people who drove through.”
He said his dad would have been “very proud” with what they organised.
“He would have hated if people were upset that they didn’t get to say goodbye.”