GRIEF-stricken girlfriend Georgia Webb has lauded Norske Skog mill worker Ben Pascall as her best mate, soulmate and love of her life.
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The Irish dancing teacher stood before a packed St Matthew’s Anglican Church in Albury on Monday to pay tribute to Mr Pascall, who died after being exposed to toxic gas at his Ettamogah workplace on May 24.
“He was not just my partner, but my best friend, my soulmate and the love of my life,” Ms Webb said tearfully.
“He gave me the strength to do everything and he taught me how to live.
“Ben became my whole world and made every day better.”
Ms Webb told how the couple met at a gym with Mr Pascall having her heart after he invited himself to tea at her home and arrived wearing “pyjamas. moccasins and a hoodie with his own dinner that his mum had cooked him”.
She recalled him taking dance classes when she was running late and travelling across North America.
Ms Webb said she never doubted they would be together forever.
“I love you dearly and I will love you for the rest of my days on this earth,” she said in concluding her homage.
Earlier, mourners were given an insight into a “happy-go-lucky” brother by sisters Samantha and Eliza.
Older sibling Samantha told of tales behind her brother’s nicknames of Blinky, Benjamina and Boney.
“Whilst he may have been boney that little boy had spirit,” she recalled of 10-year-old Ben, who she tagged Boney after seeing his frame on the blocks at a swim contest.
“He was utterly fearless, it was Ben’s sheer determination that would see him become a state medallist and national finalist in swimming, attend camp for cross country skiing at the Australian Institute of Sport, compete at a national level in cycling and later excel at motorcycle riding.”
Eliza spoke of things her brother taught her, including how to make a flame thrower with hairspray and a lighter.
“He...showed me what it was to be caring, strong, loyal, fun, hardworking and determined,” she said.
Boyhood pals Tom Wraith-Franck and Peter Fisher gave an insight into their mate.
“It wasn’t in his nature to do a halfway job with anything,” Mr Fisher said.
Mr Wraith-Franck said Mr Pascall “would want us to laugh about his life” rather than be sad.
Big heart that was able to connect
A WEEK before he died, Norske Skog worker Ben Pascall indicated he had never been happier.
Tammy Atlee said in a eulogy her friend, who was best man at her wedding to her late husband Chris, “lit up her world” with “youthful energy and big heart”.
“It’s bittersweet that you’ve left this world so happy, the happiest you have ever been,” she told mourners at Albury’s St Matthew’s Anglican Church on Monday.
“He told me as much only a week before his passing.”
Mrs Atlee, who nicknamed her buddy Benny-Boo, ended her speech with a twist on the traditional sentiment expressed at a funeral.
“I would tell you to rest in peace Benny-Boo, but I know that you always found peace quite boring,” she said.
“May you rest in excitement, side-by-side with your best friend.”
In another tribute, Kylie Crofts, who befriended Mr Pascall in grade 3, trained and competed alongside him in swimming and was his debutante partner, said: “You were the brother I never had.”
Her father Ian, who drove his daughter and young Ben to Albury for swimming, drew laughter as he told of a cheeky boy as they motored along Wodonga’s High Street.