Dear Griffin's,

In our family there is a very special Squiggle's story that we will never forget. I retold this to over 350 people at Mum's funeral this week as its one we'll always think very fondly about as we remember her in years to come. An excert from the tribute follows:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

...I have one final story I’d like to share today which we feel sums Mum up pretty well.

It was 1988 and we were all in the car heading home, presumably from the school pool, Saturday sport, or a family trip to town – a typical family trip in the car. I turned 8 that year, Jenn 6, Liz 2, and Al -3. Even I was young but I remember it very clearly.

We were about 200m from the farm driveway and Mum spotted a box on the side of the road. MUM DIDN'T MISS ANYTHING.

She asked Dad to pull over but he said “It’s just an empty box”. She replied “I think there’s something in it” MUM WAS AN OPTIMIST.

Dad kept driving. Mum asked again. Dad kept driving. Mum said “Phillip turn around”. Dad turned around. MUM WAS THE BOSS.

We pulled over and Mum got out. “It’s full of something!" she said. MUM WAS ALWAYS RIGHT.

And was it full of something or what! 18 packets of the brand new Squiggletop biscuits. With 24 in a packet that meant 432 biscuits in total. I could have sworn it was at least 10,000 but these are the figures mum gave me just a few weeks ago. MUM NEVER FORGOT.

The box was pretty damaged so no use to the biscuit company Jenn and I suggested. Plus it was just one box. Mum and Dad agreed, Christmas had come early… but not fast. Over the next couple of years we were slowly drip fed 1, maybe 2, Squiggletops/week in our school and kindy lunches. MUM WAS RESOURCEFUL.

We were already some of the best fed kids at school but now with Squiggletops on top we were the undisputed most lucky kids the playground. The 'Squiggletop Kids' they called us.

That story is just one of many told over the last few weeks, today, and years to come that highlights the fantastic attributes that made up mum as an individual. A lot of these stories we hear are new to us so we ask you all to keep telling them especially to those a bit younger who may not have heard them before.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As you can see this is a very special story we have of Mum's life and one that has been retold countless times over the last 20 years, and one that will continue to be told for many more. Following the funeral many of our school friends came up to us retelling their memories of this Squiggle's stash. One remembers sneaking into the pantry with my sister as it they were stealing treasure, while another to this day still takes a 2nd look at every cardboard box he sees on the side of the road.

Thanks Griffin's!
Geoff on behalf of the Neal family