WILLIAM SARGESON

Dear Old Sarge

My mate from North Curtin Primary, how I looked up to you as a kid, you were a hero to me. The goal keeper for West Woden Juventus soccer team, the big kid who was the reason we weren't always on the bottom of the ladder!

I remember building cubbies with you and how we would ride our bikes over the hill from Curtin to Weston to go exploring. All those times hanging out in your huge backyard, playing soccer with your brother, swimming in your above-ground-swimming-pool, that was filled with gum leaves, as the cicadas rang through the Christmas holiday heat, and your almost shipping container size cubby house, the old kombi and VW station wagon your parents drove. I remember you pulling me out of Yarralumla creek when we tried to cross it in flood when I was 9 years old.

The tunnels we discovered under North Curtin Primary when you became the “sports store room monitor” and you showed us kids the trapdoor entrance. We imagined that we were on Hogans Heroes exploring those underground trails.

Oh, how I remember the time your mother banned us from being friends after we blew ourselves up experimenting with firecracker gunpowder in my cubby house. You blown out the front door of the cubby by the explosion, then you coming back in, your hands paddling away the smoke calling “Fish, Fish, are you alive?”

Oh Sarge, I owe you a huge debt, when I ran away from home at 14, leaving Melbourne on my bicycle, with my cat hidden in my shoulder bag, it was you who welcomed me back to Canberra. It was you who loaned me $20 and helped me set up camp by the Molonglo River until me and my parents had made amends.

I think I still have all the letters you wrote to me when we were 11, 12, 13 &14 after my parents moved me interstate. If your wife or kids or brother or sisters or mum want to have them, I'll gladly try and dig them out. My email is [email protected] please feel welcome to contact me.

Though I haven't seen you since the cycle club days of Phillip College, I caught up with Jerry and Flexy and Bell and Tracy last night. We reminisced about you, when they told us the news. I can't believe you're gone.

A truly great mate…..our friendship and adventures were probably the highlight of my childhood.

Andrew Fisher

Will, I miss hearing your laugh, seeing you smile & the kindness & care that you gave. Walking outside each morning to see my newspaper neatly placed on the pillar never failed to make me smile! I will be here for your beautiful girls always xo

Love to Cate and Bella ,John and Rhonda xxxx

Our deepest sympathy to Will's family and friends. We remember those wonderful early days at Burgmann with Emily, Mary and Bron. Our hearts ache for you.

Love from Eileen, Mike and Emily Dallwitz

Wonderful memories from our Brindabella Christian College days. Will brought computing to the school in his typically larger than life way. Anne is grateful to this day for, and often recalls, Will's patient teaching to someone who could not even turn a computer on! Now look at me! Rest in peace.

A wonderful man taken to soon. So grateful that we reconnected at our 30 year high school reunion just a few short months ago. He will always be remembered with a smile.

I light this candle in Will's memory and pray that peace be upon his family and friends in this time of sorrow.

You were one of the good ones Will. My heart and prayers go out to your family. You will be missed my friend.

Remembering you as a good friend from Phillip College 1985. Thank you for being a part of my life and all that it teaches us.

Will, words can't express how sad I am that we will never meet again. I will always remember our tour around DSTO where we scored the upgrade to the flash apartment, our times spent playing volleyball and the years we spent laughing our way through the work day. I hope you are able to rest easy knowing you are leaving a powerful legacy behind you both in your beautiful girls but in your friends who all love and miss you dearly.

I light a candle, remembering the fun afternoons when you looked after me.

I light a candle in memory of a friendship from many years ago. Rest in peace Will.

I remember Will in Phillip College. He was always pleasant, polite, funny and played the best 'Officer Krupke' in our 'West Side Story' school musical that I have ever seen! My heartfelt, sincerest condolences go out to his lovely family and all of the friends that knew him. Rest in peace Will. With Love Vivianne.

I light this candle for Will in memory of your kindness and warmth you gave to so many people. Rest in peace Will.

Will, you are remembered from our days at Fern Hill Park, the labs we worked in & the fun at lunch time playing sport over at Univesity of Canberra. You taught me the rules of basketball, but regret that I never followed it though. You and you your family are in my thoughts & prayers.

RIP Will, gone too soon.

Lost for words. My heart goes out to your family. Rest in Peace Will.

So sorry, so sad.

Will - we were long time ago friends, but your memory will never be extinguished for me as you were one of the kindest, most loving, genuine, compassionate, funny and nicest people I've ever had the privilege of knowing. My thoughts and prayers go out to your family and friends. Rest in peace.

Some of my fondest times at college and the University of Canberra in the 80s were my times spent with Will. We did day ski trips together which were so much fun. I also remember going to his parents coast house with a group of friends. Will always wore a smile even when things were tough and he never had a bad word to say about anyone. Will was like another brother to me back then.

Cate, Emily, Mary, Bronwyn & Bellatrix

Will was a wonderful team player and remembered fondly by all the Masters players at Gungahlin United FC. The Club's thoughts are with you all at this difficult time.

Emily, Mary and Bron, I am so sorry and shocked to hear of your Dad's passing. I hope your memories will bring you some comfort in the days ahead

Oh Will ... I will always remember you fondly and am very very sad to hear that you have left our lives, left them brighter having known you, but left us sad that you're no longer with us .. I'll miss your gorgeous smile and beautiful kind soul .. Love Kathy x

Will Sargeson was a force of nature. One of those blokes that every school needs, a sort of cartoon super hero type.

At North Curtin Primary School, Will stood out because of his height and because of his goofy grin. He always seemed happy, be it doing skids in the frost on his bike, playing soccer, engaging in the occasional tan-bark war or just mucking about with his mates.

The only bloke I know to play representative rugby in his first year of the sport.

You will not be forgotten Sarge, thanks for being such a brilliant bloke.

Cate, Emily, Mary, Bronwyn & Bellatrix.

I am so sorry for your loss.

I worked with Will at DSTO in Fernhill Park. I remember him bringing in Krispy Kreme doughnuts to share with us all at work - it was before Canberra even had a Krispy Kreme shop and we were all very excited.

He was always very thoughtful and I remember him well.

My thoughts are with you at this sad time.

Remembered with great fondness by former staff and families from Rainbow Cottage Early Childhood Centre where he was a trailblazer, being one of the handful of young men working in the Early Childhood field at that time.God bless you dear Will and thank you for all the cheery memories.

Cate, Emily, Mary, Bronwyn & Bellatrix,

I am so sorry, shocked and saddened to hear of Wills passing. Like you, I shall miss his big goofy smile and hearty laugh. He made the work place a much happier place with his pranks and kindness towards all.

Will displayed a love for life and his family, he would talk of his love for you Cate and his daughters and how proud he was of you all.

My thoughts and prayers are with you all during this sad and difficult time.

Deepest sympathies