Beynon tribute to his mother
CANDYMAN Travers Beynon paid tribute to his mother’s competitive nature and explained how it moulded him into the man he is today, in a moving farewell to a much-loved Gold Coast figure.
Mr Beynon chose to ignore his mother Sam Beynon’s soft and loving side when he spoke about her during a packed service at Allambe Memorial Park yesterday morning, instead focusing on her tough core.
“She was sweet to everyone but she had another side to her,” said Mr Beynon, who was decked out from top to toe in black.
“She was obsessed with winning. “When she played netball she was angry.”
Giving a rare insight into his own personality, Mr Beynon went on to explain that his mother, who headed up Free Choice tobacco with father Trevor until 2006 when he took over, pushed him to excel from a young age.
“Even at a young age, when I was playing football, she would give me $50 if I got best on ground,” he said, going on to confess that his father was hearing the story for the first time.
He also described how his mother would stand in his bedroom at 4am when he was just eight years old, turning the light on and off to get him out of bed for swimming training.
Friends and family held white roses during the service, in which some of Mrs Beynon’s favourite songs were played, including the romantic hit The Power of Love.
Mr Beynon’s oldest son Valentino, 15, wore a suit identical to his father’s and read out a touching poem he had written for his grandmother. Other family members delivered heartfelt tributes to the wife, mother, grandmother and businesswoman.
“My life will never be the same,” said Mr Beynon Sr, who was married to Sam for almost 40 years.
Most of the family were driven away from the funeral in matching limos, but Travers left in his black Bentley, emblazoned with the Free Choice logos.