Neale Fursdon is a giant man who casts a giant shadow.
He may very well be forgiven for having a darkish aspect, having spent most of his profession coping with drug traffickers and worldwide individuals smugglers, however he’s maybe essentially the most affable individual I’ve ever met.
The form of one that all the time makes the individuals he’s with really feel higher, the form of one that enters a room with a smile on his face and the form of one that has you laughing even if you aren’t within the temper.
I’ve identified him for the reason that early Nineteen Eighties when he was a detective in Melbourne. He was a key member of Omega, the primary bikie-busting taskforce, and the Victorian/Federal Police Taskforce Aries that introduced down a world drug cartel − one of many first of its type.
At the time the Feds and Vic Pol had been rivals. Largely because of the nature of the Aries cops they made it work.
During one surveillance operation they had been stashed in a five-star resort. When employees with mini-bar trolleys reached their flooring, they used their covert abilities to sneak out and knock off handfuls to replenish their empty fridges.
The AFP bean-counters couldn’t consider such a small group may devour so many fisherman baskets ordered through room service.
When our first baby was born, our first household outing was to a barbecue on the Croydon dwelling of Neale and his equally humorous spouse, Wendy. They later moved to Wangaratta, the place Neale turned a policing legend. His dad had run the station at close by Rutherglen.
A number of of us would catch as much as go trout fishing. I discovered what I believed was a great place in a gin-clear stream and snuck out to solid. Then certainly one of Neale’s thongs floated previous, with the massive man asking somebody to catch it. There had been no fish, however the pepper steak with a Pepperjack crimson on the native pub was top notch.
Soon Furso discovered a brand new ardour − policing abroad.
In Papua New Guinea he tried to steer native police on the significance of note-taking. This was till he arrived to learn the watchhouse notes. “Prisoner 15 tried to flee. We panel-beated him good.” Perhaps an excessive amount of info.
He had stints in Fiji and different islands coaching native police. Eventually, he resigned from Victoria Police and labored with AusAID (Australian Agency for International Development), USAID and the UN in Bangladesh, Laos, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar, coaching police and investigating drug trafficking and other people trafficking.
He discovered fishing ships the place the crews had been kidnapped from islands, paid nothing and by no means allowed ashore, and islands the place a whole lot of individuals had been stored prisoner for use as slaves.
He threw a shock birthday celebration for Wendy’s fiftieth birthday, the place she began to slur her phrases. A physician’s appointment a number of days later confirmed she had an aggressive mind tumour.
She took to Buddhist meditation with Neale’s help, and she or he managed one other 10 years of high quality life. He would typically take her to mountain retreats and keep within the valley. Neale took her ashes to a retreat overlooking the ocean, saying he may see why she liked the spot.
If I used to be close to Wangaratta, and he was on the town we’d catch up. He confirmed me his new home on the river the place he would calm down.
Last time I noticed him was on the funeral of one other cop − an occasion that occurs too typically as of late. We determined to have a daily lunch in Melbourne.
Then got here the phrase that Neale was gravely ailing and in hospital. The most cancers he had years in the past had returned some place else. His household arrange a bunch chat for his many mates.
I all the time knew he was an incredible bloke and an incredible cop. Now I do know he was far more.
Message after message from individuals by way of South-East Asia expressed how Neale had helped them, opening his doorways for individuals who wanted shelter, serving to others end college programs, and being a benefactor for others. One referred to him as a “Godsend Angel”.
On his many journeys, he would take a second suitcase full of medical provides. He would go away it in a chosen spot to be picked up by an oppressed group − no questions requested.
Here are among the messages I’ve obtained.
- “Having labored in Myanmar for years, he holds a deep love for my dwelling nation and continues to help these affected there. He is the form of man who helps quietly, every time he can.”
- “I do know I can all the time rely on him. Remarkably, I’ve by no means seen him offended − I typically marvel if he even is aware of the best way to be.”
- “I met my spouse Pwint 9 years in the past. You couldn’t meet Pwint with out figuring out Neale. He was all the time searching for her, all the time there, advising and providing assist. During COVID, he supplied Pwint and Wendy [her daughter] shelter and made certain they completed their training.”
- “He helps others tirelessly, offering job suggestions, appearing as a referee for purposes, and supporting promotions. During the pandemic, he supported communities in Asia, together with our former workplace cleaner (he treats everybody the identical).”
Neale can be the best recipient of an Order of Australia – not that he has ever completed something for recognition. Some individuals make noise. Others make a mark.
Colleagues, outdated mates and people he touched made the journey up the Hume to say goodbye. He received to carry his grandchild yet one more time. In the early hours of Wednesday morning, he handed away peacefully.
Neale is gone, and the world is poorer for it.
His household legacy are sons Tom and Sam − each cracking blokes. His private and religious legacy spreads over a whole lot of hundreds of sq. kilometres by way of the Pacific and South-East Asia.
