YOUR local
ISSUE 035 FRIDAY, 3 AUGUST, 2018
6 PAGE RACING GUIDE
YOUR INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY
PAGE 13
PAPER
FULL LIVESTOCK REPORT PAGE 29
Remembering Andy Tributes flow for young rugby star and loveable larrikin
ANDY Stanham was a young man of deep contrasts – a larrikin with a heart of gold and an unquenchable thirst for life, and a court jester who was a ferocious competitor on the rugby field. He was a young man of many gifts also, most notably his rugby prowess and his ability to make everyone in his company relaxed and build their confidence. Tributes are pouring in for the popular CSU business student, who tragically passed away on 18 July, aged 22. The Aggies first grader and Southern Inland Rugby Union representative player will be given an emotional farewell on 2nd August at a funeral on the ground he so cherished – Beres Ellwood Oval at CSU. Just days after his passing, 1000 people formed a guard of honour at the same ground as his side prepared to take on 2017 premiership winners, the Leeton Phantoms – a moving illustration of how many lives he had touched. Andy was passionate about sport, family and his huge band of friends who knew him as “Col”. “His friends were so important to him and he was always the life of the party,” Andy’s mother, pennie scott said. “He was a dedicated clown and loved making people laugh. He used to say ‘my passion is making people smile’. “I think he used humour to connect with everyone and, in addition, he was so kind. I’ve been contacted by many of his primary and secondary school friends and the common theme of their messages is how kind and generous in spirit he was. “He was a natural mentor and would take people under his wing and help them with whatever they were struggling with. They became part of his family. He had that ability to bring people together,” pennie said. Originally from Camden, Andy is the youngest of five boys and completed his primary schooling at Tudor House in Moss Vale before attending The Scots College in Sydney. He returned to Wagga to undertake a degree in business at CSU and immersed himself in university life – especially the social and sporting sides. “Rugby was his focus, but he was definitely passionate about socialising and partying. He didn’t miss out on much,” Andy’s brother and Aggies first grade coach, Will Mitchell, said.
“He loved dressing up and taking the mickey out of himself. He would say the most ridiculous things.” And while he was an A-grade cricketer, soccer player and a ski instructor in Thredbo for a season, rugby was his true love. “He was a real competitor and his goal was to play representative rugby, which he did this year,” Will said. “Over summer he worked tirelessly at the gym to put on 9kg of muscle and he was very proud of himself.” For a taller player, Andy was deceptively quick and could slot into a host of backline positions, Will explained. pennie described how, from a young age, Andy idolised his older brother, Will. “They had this extraordinary bond from the moment Andy was born,” pennie explained. “He was close to all his brothers, but he wanted to be just like Will.” He recently started working in Will’s business – Works for You – and was a natural with customers. “He had real business nous – he just got it. He was amazing with people, even complete strangers, and would instil confidence in them very quickly,” Will said. “It was his authenticity as a caring person which really shone through.” Andy’s father, Mark Stanham, remembers his son as a class clown with a genuine and abiding love of people. “He was such a caring kid and it endeared him to so many people,” Mark said. “He also had a very strong sense of justice and would stand up for his mates and himself if he felt he was wronged. He always worried about others ahead of himself.” Fighting back tears, Mark said the Henry Lawson poem, Andy’s Gone with Cattle, would be read at his funeral. The poem includes the verses:
And may good angels send the rain On desert stretches sandy; And when the summer comes again God grant ‘twill bring us Andy.
Andy’s funeral at Beres Ellwood Oval at CSU will be held on 2nd August from
1.30pm. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested fruit and nut trees to keep Andy’s memory growing. Andy Stanham is survived by father Mark Stanham, mother pennie scott, brothers Jim, Charlie, Tom and Will Mitchell, and his loving extended family.
The gates are out of order now, In storms the riders’ rattle; For far across the border now Our Andy’s gone with cattle. Oh, may the showers in torrents fall, And all the tanks run over; And may the grass grow green and tall In pathways of the drover;
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