Godspeed To A Man Of Honour

Newcastle Herald

Tuesday December 18, 2007

By TAHNEE WATSON

TWO fathers put into words yesterday what only dads could as they told how Newcastle lawyer and cyclist Dominic Mason touched the lives of those close to him.

"There's a bit of an urban myth that no man is good enough for his daughter. . . but that wasn't the case with Dominic," John Griffiths said in a eulogy for his son-in-law, aged 33, who was killed last Tuesday after falling under a north-bound truck while riding with 19 cyclists on the Pacific Highway at Blacksmiths.

He is survived by wife Michelle and children Rebecca, 5, and Nicholas, 2.

"Dom's love for his wife, daughter and son had no boundaries," Mr Griffiths told a packed St Therese's Catholic Church at New Lambton.

"They were first and foremost in every way, in every deed. They were the backbone of his existence."

Dominic's father, Stephen Mason, spoke movingly about a young man who was "bubbling with enthusiasm for life".

"His joy was palpable," he said.

"He was an honorable man, full of life and energy . . . full of love and happiness."

Known for his "quick wit, cheeky grin and sparkle in his eye", Dominic was described by friends as a sports nut and joker who was able to "give as much as he got", particularly when it came to his cricket team, The Lime Spiders.

"Ask not what The Spiders can do for you, ask what you can do for The Spiders," Dominic wrote in a recent online discussion with members of his team.

A colleague at Harris Wheeler Lawyers and member of the Kooragang Cycle Club, Brian Glendenning, said his friend was "one of the nicest blokes you'll ever meet".

"He was an excellent lawyer, thoroughly prepared and passionate about his clients," he said.

"He pursued their interests vigilantly. The one thing I loved about Dom was his strong sense of right and wrong. He had a real sense of social justice in every situation."

Mr Mason's death has renewed calls from the Hunter cycling community for improved safeguards to protect riders.

© 2007 Newcastle Herald

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