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Declan and Noel Beare racing at Broadford Track (State Motorcycle Centre)
Learning to live with the pain of loss and grief
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“Declan is the driver because I have wanted to be the passenger from when I was eight years old and my father took us to see motorbike racing. I was absolutely transfixed by the sidecar racing, the passenger climbing all over the back and hanging onto the side. I thought that would be the most amazing thing to do – it just took me to the age of 48 to actually do it.” But with speeds at Phillip Island’s race track reaching a punishing 220kmh, the But while Noel is happy to take part in races around Australia he will never again Daylesford postie, as he hung off the side of the vehicle just clearing the asphalt, was compete at the Isle of Man. wondering if he was finally reaching his use-by date. “We went back last year, a year after Dwight had passed away - myself, my wife The accidental death of his eldest son, 27-year-old Dwight, while driving a sidecar Robyn, Dwight’s partner Tash, and Declan, and it was bittersweet but really fantastic. at the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy Race on June 4, 2016, was also weighing heavily. I really love the event and am proud to have participated in it and there was so much But it was then that Noel felt that something remarkable happened. A wall of fog rolled over the circuit, something never seen before there, but something well known love for us there. We put up a plaque at the place he died on the circuit and there is a plaque in the cemetery devoted to all the fallen riders. at the Isle of Man. “And at the housing estate where Dwight worked as a tradie, all the workers asked The thick sea fog that occasionally smothers the British island's lowland areas is known as Manannan's Cloak, a reference to the Island's ancient Sea God, Manannán permission from the council to call the park, which all the houses face, Dwight’s Park. To be there after a year, and sit and shed a bit of a tear was quite emotional. mac Lir, swathing his kingdom in mist to protect it from unwanted visitors. “I wouldn’t do it (race there) again because I have seen first-hand what happens Noel saw it as a sign from his Dwight. “No-one had seen anything like it but if someone is killed or injured – what happens to the people left behind. I never I just had a feeling that it was Dwight protecting me, that I was OK.” The Irving thought of that before. And it is a dangerous race. You go within inches of 600-yearVincent team, with Noel, went on to take home a win in the class, a third, two old stone walls, telephone posts, gutters, buildings and trees, banks and hedges. And fourths and a fifth along with breaking the lap record for the class. Noel said the death of Dwight, who grew up in Daylesford but moved to the Isle the average speed is over 106 miles (170km) per hour.” Noel said he had also thought whether he should have regrets over introducing of Man to follow his dreams 18 months before he died, was “the saddest thing I have Dwight to the sport that killed him but ultimately it was a part of his son and ever experienced”. something he “absolutely loved doing”. “Sometimes when you are in a down moment “But one thing became clear over time and that is the love of the community you think: ‘Shit, would I rather have a boring son but one that is alive, or do you for our family and the love from our family. People have really rallied behind us and have the dynamic son who was literally chasing and living his dream?’ I am proud of while that doesn’t alleviate the loss, it helps us to carry on. “People say it gets easier with time but I think you just learn to live with the pain that and I don’t have regrets.” Noel said he still had many people in the community coming up to him and better. You have two choices, you can curl up in a corner or get back up and keep asking how the family was coping and while sometimes words were difficult, “a bit of going and doing the things you love. It has definitely highlighted that life is fragile and it has reinforced that you need to treat every day as special and do the things you a hug is always a good thing”. “We are very proud of helping make him the person he was. He always went out love.” of his way to connect with people and there are heaps of people on both sides of the Noel said a number of people had expressed concern when he said he was going word who classified Dwight as their best friend. to continue with his racing after Dwight’s death. The father and son team had raced “And he lives on. We hold him in our hearts and he inspires us a little bit by together for many years, always with Dwight as the driver and Noel as the passenger, encouraging us to do the stuff we love. And sidecar racing is what I love, doing it even competing together twice in the Isle of Man TT, a race universally considered with my other son Declan and getting exotic rides like the Vincent. You have to keep among the most dangerous in the world. living the dream.” “Racing is something I really love doing and just because Dwight died doesn’t Noel, Robyn, sons Hudson and Declan, and Tash would like to thank the mean I should stop doing the things I love. The sidecar is one of my big passions and Daylesford community for its love and support over the past 18 months. it was very special doing it with Dwight. "And when Dwight went overseas I started racing with my other son Declan, and Words: Donna Kelly | Image: Contributed that is very therapeutic, to still be racing with my son. It’s also a lot fun.
N THE last weekend of January, Noel Beare started to doubt himself. He had been asked to be the passenger on the Irving Vincent team’s sidecar, “a brand-new vintage style machine and one of Australia’s most iconic”.