By Casey OÇonnor
It was with deep sadness that I received the news early on Saturday evening that David Haynes had passed away.
I had the absolute pleasure of knowing David all my life.
Although older than me, David and I grew up together in Ballandean. As a young lad one of his first jobs was working for my father, Jack at the Iona Cold Store in Ballandean.
We played footy together back when the earth was flat.
He always said, “I hogged the ball.” – my standard reply was, “Your just too slow”.
We also played a bit of cricket together and managed over the years to get into a little trouble here and there but not too much.
David loved his family, his ‘Martys’ (Tomatoes) and ‘Cappies’ (Capsicums) and Ballandean and the Granite Belt.
He was the go to man to source donations of product and $$ for the Apple and Grape Festival for many years from the Brisbane markets where he was considered a wag and a bit of a legend.
It is fair to say David was unique, a real character and when they made Haynsie they certainly broke the mould because he was most certainly one of a kind.
He was a man of honour who served with absolute distinction in Vietnam earning Military Medal for his bravery.
A portion of the citation reads, “His selflessness and courage displayed a standard of bravery that reflects great credit upon himself, his Battalion and the Australian soldier.” That was David.
The wounds and trauma he suffered in Vietnam remained with him throughout his life, but not once did I ever hear David complain.
Life has not been easy for Haynsie or his family over the past few years as his health paid the price of his bravery.
David John Haynes was unique, a good friend and a great mate and he has left me with a million memories and funny stories.
We, who knew David, know that another good one is lost to us.
The O’Connor family and I extend our deepest sympathy to his sons Rodney Christopher, the extended family and his partner of many years Shirley.
RIP David John Haynes 1945 – 2023
