Eulogy for Elsje
by Henk Pillekers

 In 1969 I was on a working holiday in Tasmania, having taken my car over there on the Princess of Tasmania. Elsje would have been about 18 years of age at that time and in a letter to her (it was all snail mail in those days) I suggested that she might like to catch a flight to Hobart to join me for a few days before we caught the ship back to Victoria. She agreed and so it was a great opportunity to tour around and see some of the best parts of the island. We also enjoyed a little bushwalking in the beautiful Lake St Clair area.

One of Elsje’s many interests was the piano.

Elsje was first exposed to the piano at the home of her friend Kathy. As a result of this Elsje decided that she too wanted to learn how to play the instrument. With help from the rest of our family, a suitable instrument was acquired in due course. I still remember her diligently practising the Beethoven composition of ‘Fur Elise’. It was also one of Dad’s favourite pieces and one day he confused the title of the piece with the name of one of his clients who had been very much on his mind at this time. He asked Elsje to play ‘Eliza Tinsley”. There was considerable laughter from the rest of the family but Elsje happily obliged. I might add that I still very much enjoy listening to Fur Elise to this day it always reminds me of Elsje.

Fast forward to 2007

About three years ago, my late wife Rae and I were visiting Elsje and Geoff. We happened to notice one of Elsje’s paintings hanging on their lounge wall. It was a stunning polyptych of snow gums. Rae and I were both avid skiers (I still am) and we were rather taken by this painting. Whilst Rae was out of the room I asked Elsje if it was for sale and what followed was one of the strangest bargaining sessions I have ever experienced. The price she asked for was much lower than she would normally have asked of a potential buyer. I didn’t feel that this was fair to her and so there I was trying to offer more and she was resisting. After some good natured reverse bargaining, she eventually agreed to a higher price. When Rae returned a short while later, I teasingly told her that the painting had been sold. Her look of disappointment soon gave way to a happy smile when I told her she was now the new owner. It pleases me immensely to think that Elsje’s art had the power to touch people in such a profound way.

Finally, Jon and I would like to add our very heartfelt thanks to Geoff for the loving care he devoted to our sister during her final days.

Thank you, Geoff.