THE church wasn’t big enough for David Neville.
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The Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Stanley Street seats 300 comfortably, and the decision to have additional seating and speakers outside proved a wise move because many came from near and far to pay their final respects to the man who was the Mount Isa community’s heartbeat for a major chunk of his life.
Long-time family friend Sandra Myers led the eulogies; Mayor Tony McGrady delivered his tribute as did Les Bunn of Meals on Wheels, and Dr Don Bailey of the Royal Flying Doctor Service; just two causes that were very close to Mr Neville’s heart.
Two themes ran concurrent in everything that was said at the funeral service last Friday – they were Mr Neville’s ungrudging and unmatched record as a community servant; and the unwavering behind-the-scenes steel that his wife Toni provided every step of the way over the years.
In life, Mr Neville, 72, represented everything decent about the power of one – in this case one man incredibly committed to the community in which he lived.
Dr Bailey described Mr Neville as “caring, compassionate, dedicated, generous, forthright, funny, resourceful and stubborn” then added it was the last trait that kept Mr Neville going in the face of any adversity in his private life and in the public domain.
Dr Bailey also quipped that Mr Neville would keep the angels happy with his famous chips from the Lions van, but that was only half an answer to an intriguing two-part scenario.
The second scenario is how would Mr Neville fill his time in heaven with no one to help.