By Kath Gannaway
HEARTBROKEN and brave, Jai Fisher gave a moving tribute at a memorial service to her father, Steve, and his partner, Kate Ansett, on Saturday.
Through tears, Jai, 10, spoke lovingly of the Healesville soulmates who died together at their Toolangi home on Black Saturday.
They had lived in what they regarded as their haven in the bush for just a few months.
“It is true what they say, that blood is thicker than water, but love is thicker than blood and water combined,” she said.
“Love is what all of us felt for Steve and Kate.”
It was a sentiment borne out by the large and diverse gathering at Rivendell in Healesville, and in the tributes delivered by family and friends.
“My dad Steve was kind, caring, generous and above all he loved me. Kate was caring, loving and willing to help me. The dogs Marly and Ralf were so gentle,” Jai said.
Celebrant Dee Kaylock spoke of the natural world which Steve and Kate so loved, of the majesty, the beauty and of the destructive devastation that was also within its powers.
Steve and Kate met as colleagues at Mitre 10 when it opened in Lilydale, but it was their creative spirit and love of nature, gardening and music which created the magic in their lives.
They also found mutual friendship and support at Rivendell and as part of Healesville’s music scene.
Kate’s mother, Jackie Hartnell, spoke of her daughter’s early life – beach holidays, a beautiful smile, creative spirit and love of dancing.
Kate was born in 1965 and at 15 was accepted into the Australian Ballet School.
She worked in a number of jobs before, at 21, cutting her hair, dying it bright pink and flying off to New York to become a bus boy and to dance.
She also lived and danced in cabaret in Thailand, Hong Kong and Japan. She lived with local families and learned to speak their languages.
After moving to Healesville Ms Hartnell said Kate’s creativity moved towards gardening and helping people. “She never lost her love of the bush,” she said.
“After she met Steve her creativity shifted again and she made wonderful bags and jewellery.”
Steve’s parents, Derek and Pam Fisher, came from Queensland for the service. Mrs Fisher said her son was three when the family arrived in Australia in 1967.
He joined the navy after leaving school at 17 and later moved to Healesville with his wife Alison and her nephew Dale.
Mrs Fisher said Steve and Kate moved to Toolangi five months ago and they were at their happiest there.
“Steve’s passion was the bush, his music and his family. He lived for them,” she said.
Kate’s friend Bec Marchant spoke of Kate’s energy, loving nature and generous soul.
“She loved plants and gardening, which of course led her to Steve. She loved animals and they loved her right back,” she said. Another friend, Jeff Jenkins, spoke of Steve’s connection to the local music scene .
He recalled their last, recent, meeting.
“He told me about Kate and I have never seen him look so happy, so together … clearly Kate completed him,” he said.
“That’s the way I will remember him, happy with his life, loving Kate, happy where he was.”
Jai’s beautiful tribute again spoke for everyone. “Even though they are not here, they are guiding us to see the brighter side of things,” she said.
An altar with treasured mementos of Steve and Kate provided a focal point for the service and people were invited to take a seedling and plant it in their memory.
joking that he was always happy to make a move on an unattended microphone, and equally to share his talent and knowledge with others.
