Loving father remembered
HUNDREDS gathered to farewell a prominent North Queensland grazier at the family’s cattle station yesterday.
Peter Costello, of Fanning Downs, was laid to rest in the family cemetery.
He died after falling from his horse and drowning in the Burdekin River on September 9.
Some family members had travelled from as far as Darwin to attend yesterday’s funeral and the impact Mr Costello made on so many people’s lives was clear to all who attended the funeral service.
Father Bill Busuttin led the service as Mr Costello’s family spoke to a funeral audience of more than 300 people.
They recited testimonials and adapted poems, with compatibility test results read by his wife of 33 years, Judi, bringing laughter from the crowd.
Judi remembered her husband as a loveable yet hardworking man who was not afraid to speak his mind or get his point across.
“I don't know what it was, but Peter was like a magnet to me,” Judi said.
“Peter is also perpetuated in the characteristics in his four children, the loud deep belly laugh, the cheeky smile, the wonderful sense of humour, the generosity, the seat on the horse, the type of hat he wore, the tongue sticking out in concentration, his cutting and his horsemanship abilities.
“I look at each of our four kids and see Peter’s imprint and I know he will always be present in this next generation.”
Mr Costello’s daughters Bridie and Hannah recalled memorable times they had with their father, referring to him as “papa bear”, both in the family home and working on the land.
His sons Campbell Alistair remembered and their dad as a man who took enormous pride in everything he did and taught them to work hard and get the job done right.
Attendees, including federal Kennedy MP Bob Katter, past and present players from the Charters Towers Bulls Rugby Union Football Club and members of the Gold City Cutters formed a guard of honour.
Mr Costello was farewelled to the tunes of Cash, Randy Travis and Brad Paisley. Hundreds followed the funeral procession from the family homestead to the burial site on the property where pall bearers, consisting of his family and friends, laid Mr Costello to rest.
Rum was passed around between the pall bearers as the call to say a final farewell went up, to which there was no shortage of volunteers.
A wake was planned and the property was opened for guests to stay the night as Mr Costello’s legacy was remembered.