VALE – Henry Stephenson

Another Sunnyfield stalwart has left us.

Henry died at six o'clock Tuesday morning (8 March 2011) after a protracted illness.  He was mobile & in good spirits when friends met him last Sunday and this has been my overriding memory of him as he battled with his illness over the last 2-3 years – occasionally tired, not always happy but always realistic and determined to make the best of it.  He was, in my opinion, a man of great courage.

It was a great relief for him and all his family that Sunnyfield could work to convince ADHC that his son Warwick should be funded for accommodation in a Sunnyfield community house a year or so ago. After 20 years of hard work for Sunnyfield it seemed the right and best thing to do. Warwick has worked at Sunnyfield Enterprises Allambie for many years.

Henry was old school Sunnyfield and some ten years ago wrote a letter to my wife & I that documented his views on Sunnyfield and what Membership meant. He also attached a short history of Sunnyfield that he helped complete 25 years ago. He regretted the “something for nothing” attitude (my words not his) prevalent today and did think that Sunnyfield had to find a way to get Members to be actively involved in Sunnyfield’s present and future.  He certainly did his bit for the best part of twenty five years to make a very positive difference for all of us.  Every Member should read this letter (click here).

Our thoughts are with Henry’s family.

Chris Howells