Dave Lees and Bruce Martin were reunited at Canberra Grammar.
DAVE Lees says his best mate from school was a larger-than-life figure who had the ability to draw people towards him.
“He was so much fun. He had a real spark and cheekiness about him,” he recalled from his home in Corowa on the Murray River.
“He was a wonderful person and everyone wanted to be around him – people were just drawn to him.”
Dave said he first met Bruce in pre-school and they both went to Turner School to start their primary years.
“He actually finished at Campbell Primary School but we were united again at Canberra Grammar School,” he said.
“We’ve always been good mates and we were almost inseparable for a time there as kids actually.”
It was at high school where Bruce developed his passion for sport and competing.
“We were both extremely athletic growing up; swimming basketball, water polo, rugby … the whole lot,” Dave said.
“I don’t know how you describe it but literally any sport he did, he just excelled at it. Cross country, athletics, swimming – I think he won every trophy possible at high school.
“He was doing that many sports I think it was hard for him to choose which ones to continue with.”
Dave Lees and Bruce Martin met in pre-school and formed a lifelong friendship.
Dave said he thought Bruce was best at basketball, as well as swimming and water polo. In fact, he was an Australian representative in the latter.
“He went with my eldest brother to Europe for the World Championships,” he said.
They remained close friends after graduating and Dave said his aura continued to grow.
“He was larger than life. He almost had this celebrity-type persona about him,” he recalled.
“I remember going out and drinking with him and everyone knew who he was.”
Friends from his Canberra life who won’t be able to make his Aurukun funeral this Friday are hoping to attend a secondary service in the capital.
“I’ve been in touch with (brother) Ricky and (father) David and I said that I’d love to be part of something in Canberra and I think it’ll happen in October,” Dave said.
