Farewell to a beautiful girl

KATINA CURTIS SUCH was the love between Megan Dalley and her community that the Gerringong Uniting Church and its hall could not contain the hundreds who turned out to farewell her last Friday. All the speakers at the funeral talked of the importance of friends to the 19-year-old and this was evident in the long line of people wishing to give a final tribute to her. Megan died when her car caught on fire after a head-on crash a week and a half ago. Family and friends described her as a bubbly, passionate and determined. Her father, Andrew Dalley, said: “She was passionate about living and the people who were part of her living experience.” Mother Robyn said Megan, known as Chops to her family, had “developed a lot over the last 12 months”, while working at Kiama Council and making plans with her boyfriend Steve Kairl. Her parents told the story of her organising a Year 10 formal while at Kiama High School, when she not only convinced the Commonwealth Bank to let her open an account for it but to also regularly carry hundreds of dollars collected from fellow students in her school bag. Mr Kairl recounted how Megan put a daily reminder in his phone to remind him she loved him. He said she had wanted to be involved in everything he did and never gave up on anything. Her three older sisters supported each other as they read tributes. Ros wrote a poem for the occasion, which included the lines: “You’ll never get wrinkles or grow saggy boobs, and just as you wanted, you’ll remain super cute.” Christine read from something Megan had written, saying that “in one lifetime you can either make a splash or a ripple”, and said her sister had definitely made a splash in a lot of people’s lives. Mr Dalley thanked everyone for the support they had given to the family, saying the week between the accident and the funeral was a journey taken with a community. He showed those at the funeral two books: Prince Caspian from the CS Lewis Narnia series, which was the last book Megan was reading, and her Bible covered in denim with a stuffed Banana in Pyjamas, name tag, smiley face and filled with highlighted sections. He said Megan was a hero to him because she was never afraid of seeking help. He finished by saying: “Megan Joanne Dalley – Chops – we honour and respect you and celebrate your life.” Many of Megan’s friends, dressed in pink and black, laid single pink roses on her coffin. As the cortège was pulling away, the crowd, led by Megan’s family, released hundreds of pink balloons as a final farewell.