Laughter, tears farewell Possum Bourne

By CLAIRE TREVETT

At first it did not seem like an occasion for grieving. The stage glowed with flowers, fathers played with their children, and people laughed.

An order of service chirpily announced the occasion to be "Possum's Prizegiving". The sound system belted out Lionel Richie's Dancing on the Ceiling and Jimmy Barnes' Working Class Man.

But hanging from the corners of the hall were chequered flags - reminders that Peter "Possum" Bourne's final race was over.

And then the hearse pulled up.

Silence fell as a brave boy clutching a blue helmet took up his position in front of his father's coffin, finished in the same blue and yellow colours as his rally cars.

The funeral was the chance for 1200 people packed inside the Pukekohe Indian Association Community Hall and the crowds outside to bid farewell to Possum Bourne.

The 47-year-old died last Wednesday after crashing on April 18 during a reconnaissance drive for the Race to the Sky hill-climb near Cardrona in Central Otago.

Yesterday, his wife, Peggy, his family, his Subaru racing team, old colleagues and fans watched as Bourne's coffin was greeted by a haka from the Pukekohe High School kapa haka group.

With 8-year-old son Taylor leading the procession, the coffin was carried into the hall to Midnight Oil's King of the Mountain.

Harold Amstutz, Peggy Bourne's father, offered a prayer of affirmation and comfort. Family tributes followed, with Possum's brother, Geoff, and sisters, Deb Bourne and Kristine Game, speaking of Possum's love for his family, and his energy and enthusiasm.

"The thing I'll always remember about Peter was when I brought Linda up to meet the family," said Geoff.

"Peter turns up and says, 'Gees, I'm so hungry, I could eat the arse off a dead skunk'.

"That's Peter. It doesn't matter if he's known you one day, one year or 20 years."

Family friend Pat Rawle read out letters written by Taylor and Possum's other children, Spencer and Jazlin, on the day the decision was made to turn off the life support.

"To Daddy," wrote 4-year-old Spencer.

"I love you. You crashed. Please God help Possum. Please keep Possum safe. Please keep Possum happy. Please get better soon. We want you back. So does Mummy."

"To Dad," wrote Taylor, "We are very, very sad. We want you to come back but it's too late now. We are just going to have to pray God keeps you safe in heaven.

"Why did God choose you? ... Why does He keep some bad people on Earth but you in heaven? He must need you right now. We wish you didn't crash because we really miss you."

Perhaps the most emotional moment came from Taylor when he read out a message he had written for his father.

"Dad, you were a great man ... I love you Dad, I miss your smile ...

"I want you to know that we really miss you and we really want you to come back ... You are in my heart, I love you to infinity."

Bourne's co-driver on this year's world rally circuit, Mark Stacey, also spoke of the unique experience of racing with him.

Possum had a huge number of fans and would sacrifice precious seconds to wow crowds with a touch of flamboyance behind the wheel.

"You had to be in the rally car competing to see where that support came from. There'd be 'Go Possum' signs everywhere. They would be on trees, on fences, attached to woolsheds, engraved in the dust on car windows, and flags would fly.

"There were times you would think Possum was the only person in the race ...

"It was as if it was a privilege, something special, and his passion for it never ended."

But it was Possum himself who ended his own farewell, with words from an old television clip giving the mourners something to draw hope from.

"If you don't get anything out of the bad then what the heck are you doing here, because the bad things make you realise how good the good things are."

And then he flashed that big smile - the smile that was almost as famous as his antics on the road.

Then he was gone on his final road trip, from Pukekohe to Pokeno cemetery.