‘It’s time to rest now, Murray’
The man behind the Footrot Flats cartoons has been farewelled ‘‘to the big paddock’’ in a moving funeral in his hometown of Gisborne.
Cartoonist Murray Ball died aged 78 on Sunday after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
Little mention was made of Wal, Dog and his other famous cartoon characters.
Instead, those who knew him best shared memories of the man behind the pen.
Close friend Norman Maclean opened the service by acknowledging Ball’s fight with ill health.
‘‘He is now released from so much which hampered him for so long,’’ he said.
His white casket sat with a teddy Dog on top, and a picture of Ball and his dog next to it.
His favourite tracks from The Sound of Music were played before the service – music which summed up the man, Maclean said.
‘‘The music you hear today in this place embodies his very essence, because he joyfully leaned towards the most life-affirming, even sentimental, of tunes.
‘‘Woe betide anyone try and criticise to Murray The Sound of Music.
‘‘I think I know why that show touched him so deeply ... The Sound of Music represented love in all its forms.
‘‘Love of hope, family, of community, of country, of freedom, of peace, of nature and of faith, of the best of human beings, even in dire circumstances.
‘‘That was Murray Ball in essence.’’
Ball’s son Gareth said that, while seeing his father’s health decline was hard - especially his loss of speech - his body of work had been a comfort.
‘‘He has been speaking through his cartoons,’’ he said.
His sense of humour was also remembered at the service.
One speaker laughed as he recalled the time Ball retrieved a cricket ball from a tree by firing a shotgun at it.
His marriage with wife Pam was honoured by all speakers, who thanked her for selflessly caring for him during his illness.
‘‘Mum, you have been an amazing woman ... you have been
"Love of hope, family, of community, of country, of freedom, of peace, of nature and of faith, of the best of human beings, even in dire circumstances. That was Murray Ball in essence." Murray Ball's close friend Norman Maclean
his rock,’’ their daughter Tania said.
‘‘He would sneeze so loud it would scare the sheep.’’
Pam Ball was given a round of applause after she spoke of the love she shared with her husband.
‘‘It is time to rest now, Murray, you have given us all wonderful lives,’’ she said. ‘‘We will miss you, my darling. ‘‘I have been so lucky having you in my life for so long.’’
His nephew said Ball was now in the ‘‘big paddock’’, and would get getting ready for a party.
Tributes from members of the public were also shown on a screen.
One read: ‘‘You taught me to dance in a place where all I saw was mud.’’
The statue of his iconic characters Wal and Dog, which usually stands in Gisborne, was displayed proudly outside the venue.
Gisborne Mayor Meng Foon mentioned how young children had placed flowers at the statue’s feet after Ball’s death.
‘‘Thank you for the marvellousness of Murray,’’ Foon said to the family.
As Ball’s casket was removed from the Bushmere Arms Tavern, a stirring haka was performed in his honour.