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Celebrating the life of Nigel Aylott

Rosi / 13.10.2004

The day started with thirty of Nigel\'s friends and training partners completing a 90 minute run to the top of Mt Dandenong. This was a favourite saturday morning run that Nigel liked to do. Missing of course was the familliar \'wombat grunt\' or \'steam train breathing\' which Nigel was renowned for, and used to be heard from several hundred metres away - an early warning that you were about to be passed!

By midday a small crowd was beginning to gather at the quiet town of Emerald; very aptly named - it is a beautiful lush green area with hills and bush aplenty. One can easliy see what a fantastic training ground it would be. Adventure racers automatically gravitated to the local cafe and bakery to eat prior to the service - which no doubt Nigel (the smallest man with the biggest appetite) would have understood perfectly.

St Mark\'s church was rapidly filling up, and soon there wasn\'t even standing room left. People stood in the foyer, and overflowed beyond. This had been anticipated, and speakers were set in place. The 700 printed order of service leaflets ran out, and many people were sharing one between two.

Family friend Don Pemberton recounted a brief history of Nigel\'s life, suprising many people there with the diversity of his talents. One of his characteristics was his humbleness and his propensity to understate his achievements. However not only was he an amazingly talented athlete, he was also a gifted scholar and musician, including being dux of his school.

His inability to sit still, and excessive energy was recognised from an early age, and perhaps his rogaining ability was inate: at the age of 5 when walking in the bush with his family he was \'lost\' and after a frantic search they eventually located him back at the carpark - he\'d taken a short cut, deeming the remaining track to be unnecessary!