Final farewell for Craig Cooper

Carrying Craig Cooper's casket are son Matthew Cooper (front from left), sister Cheryl Cooper, brother Eliot Cooper. Neil Hull (Back, from left), daughter Lauren Cooper and brother Royden Cooper.

"Hi Everybody. I'm up here, not down there," Craig Cooper told his last audience.

If there's an opportunity to put himself out there, "here I am", said the Wairarapa personality and expert Master of Ceremonies, via a recording to his funeral at a packed Rathkeale College auditorium yesterday.

The arrival of his casket at the auditorium was heralded by the "Aooga" horn of a mini, a favoured car of Mr Cooper's.

The horn signalled a service with some robust rural humour, officiated by Reverend Liz Greville, but it was mixed with the deeply felt weight of a vibrant personality now lost to Wairarapa.

Mr Cooper died on Tuesday last week, among his family, after a long battle with cancer. His casket was decorated with a Relay For Life T-shirt, as well as a Rotorua Fletcher Challenge marathon finisher T-shirt and Property Brokers polo shirt.

As a final touch, his casket was bestowed with a ribbon for First Place - Master of Ceremonies, from Golden Shears committee member Greg Herrick.

Via the recording, Mr Cooper thanked his "beautiful, brown-eyed princess" and wife, Alix Cooper.

"No man has ever stood taller than I did, when you are at my side. My love for you will never cease."

Mr Cooper spoke of the "incredible pride" for his children, Matthew and Lauren, and the joy in Matthew being married.

"Mum and Dad, it sounds trite to say thank you, but Dad, you have been my greatest teacher.

"I thank you for encouraging me to get involved."

"To my siblings, Eliot, Royden, - I have the greatest admiration for you both, farmers in your own right, leaders in the industry.

"My little sister Cheryl, I admire the tenacity you bring to the table every time."

Mr Cooper told the audience: "I'm guessing you're here because somewhere along the line, our paths have crossed.

"You've been part of a journey, a journey I've really, really enjoyed.

"I thank you, it's been awesome to have travelled with you today. So that's it. Enough said. I leave you now. Farewell, my friends."

Earlier, Alix Cooper joked at the podium that Craig made public speaking look easy.

She described herself as "the luckiest woman in life" to have been with Craig.

"His smile was infectious, his heart so big, so giving, so in touch with others."

She said he was not big on birthdays, believing every day should be celebrated, not just one day.

"He was an amazing husband. Flowers, little notes left around the house for me, dozens and dozens of extra kisses, and little extra squeezes, just because.

"I experienced love like I've never experienced before."

"We had a birthday every day for the last 12-plus years."

She spoke of how they cried together when "bad news after bad news" was received about his cancer.

"Craig was a fighter, through and through."

She said her husband would not want to be remembered for what he endured, but for what he enjoyed.

It was likely Craig was now "in a place of peace and happiness", possibly catching up with former Wairarapa Times editor Dave Saunders, with whom he used to argue over the merits of the front page story.

His brothers and sisters spoke of their older brother as the "director" and leader in a variety of activities on the farm while they were youngsters, alluding to a variety of colourful hi jinks when Craig got them into trouble.

Outside, the audience lined up to place rosemary sprigs on the casket, before lining the driveway of Rathkeale College to clap Craig on his way.