Friends, family remember Dale ‘Simmo’ Simpson at Gladstone funeral
The heartbroken fiancee of Dale ‘Simmo’ Simpson has described the father of her young children as her ‘forever love’.
Rockhampton
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A heartbroken fiancee has described the father of her children as her “forever love” at his funeral, saying she would have remained just as devoted to her “beautiful man” even if she knew she would lose him.
Aime Mason’s words were just for her partner Dale “Simmo” Simpson and no one else when she said she was made for him.
Family and friends gathered to say their final farewell to the genuine, big-hearted and loveable larrikin on Friday.
Dale was a devoted fisherman and his casket was covered in a beautiful depiction of a bright blue ocean, fishing rods and the wake waves of a boat, as well as his personalised plate - Simo24.
The Gladstone father-of-two, 36, died in a mountain biking accident at the First Turkey Mountain Bike Reserve on Rockhampton’s Mount Archer on November 16.
His death rocked the Central Queensland community and prompted an unprecedented show of support for his Amie and their two young children Aria and Elwood.
Mourners at the funeral at the Boyne Tannum Memorial Parklands Chapel spilled outside into the carpark, hearing tales of a man known and loved by so many, while 150 people watched the service using the livestream.
Stickers featuring Dale’s moniker “Simmo” and the words “Gladstone’s Greatest” were specially printed to be distributed throughout the afternoon.
An enthusiastic prankster who was there for people through “thick and thin”, Dale was remembered as a wonderful partner, loving son, devoted father and great mate.
There were, however, two things he could not do: Say “no” to his “best mate” and fishing offsider Aria and work out the washing machine.
A GoFundMe page set up by friend Kristie Harris for Dale’s family has received almost 700 donations, raising more than $135,000.
A spokesperson for the crowdfunding platform said it was already one of the top 10 largest fundraisers in Queensland this year.
“In less than 24 hours, the support for Dale had already reached over $80,000. This makes it one of the fastest-rising fundraisers we’ve seen in Queensland,” the spokesperson said.
Dale’s funeral was held at 10am at Boyne Tannum Memorial Parklands Chapel and the wake was at the Valleys Rugby League Football Club in Clinton that afternoon, with those attending encouraged to wear “anything fishing” and to “come thirsty and hungry”.
A family-friendly event, it was a celebration of life for a man described as a “great mate to many and too many to mention”.
Stickers featuring Dale’s moniker “Simmo” and the words “Gladstone’s Greatest” were specially printed to be distributed through the afternoon, allowing people to carry a piece of him with them every day.
Kristie said Dale would have been rendered speechless by the response to the GoFundMe, which had a target of $20,000.
“His life in body could not be saved, however your generosity has rescued his life here on Earth,” she wrote in one of her regular Facebook posts.
“You have rescued his loves. You have all stood behind this man and his family and protected his legacy.”
Kristie, like Dale’s family, is drawing some comfort from the community’s show of solidarity.
She said she had been liaising with GoFundMe’s head office in California after the dramatic growth of Dale’s fundraising campaign had caught the attention of the coordination team.
It has also piqued the interest of media outlets across the globe.
Kristie is still coming to terms with Dale’s death but she is heartened by the incredible memories she keeps of her “legendary friend”.
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