Simon Peter Gardner was born on the 18th February 1995 at the Royal Women's Hospital in Carlton.  Simon was the youngest son of Peter and Dot Gardner, and the adoring brother of Nathan and James.

Growing up in the country town of Gisborne with his loving family and his dog, Lola, Simon loved life and exploring the excitement of new challenges.

He attended Braemar College in the beautiful Macedon Ranges, made many friends and spent many happy, fun-filled hours with those friends.

Simon was sadly taken from us in what was, quite simply, a tragic accident.  His funeral was held at Braemar College, with many memories and photographs shared honouring a very special young man with a passion for motorsport.

Simon's love of life was an inspiration to all who knew him.  Perhaps the best way to express this is to share some of the memories and thoughts shared by his family at his funeral ...

You idolised your older brothers and loved your music.  Your passion for motorsport, enjoyment of cooking and your adventurous spirit are things we will always remember. 

You were so unselfish and gave so much of yourself.  Your love for your beautiful dog, Lola, was an example of this when you offered to pay for her operation with your own pocket money.  Lola is still here, and she can hear now because of the way you loved her and nursed her.  She still sleeps under your bed.

So many memories ... too many to mention them all here.  Cooking pancakes on a Saturday morning, motorbike rides through the beautiful Wombat State Forest where you ended up outpacing your old man, track days at Phillip Island, Sandown and Broadford, many dinner table conversations that will always be cherished, your knack of dragging out goodnights for well over an hour and our drives over the mountain to visit Gran and Pa at Woodend Nursing Home.  You were inspirational throughout their last days and now they will look after you and repay your kindness. 

You were just a typical Aussie teenager ... full of confidence and just having a go ... and what could be wrong with that.  ~  Dad

I will cherish our chats on the way to the school bus and you helping me with the HeraldSun crosswords, quizzes and your patience in trying to teach me Sudoko. 

In these, and many other incidental things we did, I noticed you changing before my eyes.  You were growing into a fine young person with your own viewpoints and opinions.  It didn't take me long to realise that if I didn't let you have the last word, we could be debating all day!!

One of your happiest days filled with sounds of teenage laughter, motorbike riding and mucking around with your friends became the worst day of our lives.  However, I know you would have had so much fun that afternoon and I sensed your energy riding your bike with the wind whizzing in your helmet.  I felt some comfort knowing your last day was filled with joy and laughter.

I love you dearly ... ride free now and forever more.  ~ Mum

With Simon's loss went a future that I will never know and it saddens me to think of all the things that I will now miss out on.  I will never know the man he would have been, the things he could have done or the places we should have visited together and I cried because there was nothing I could have done to stop it.

But tears won't bring him back.  There will inevitably be sad days, but it's not what I feel when I think about him anymore.  Like anyone that you love, I feel good when I think about him.  I may sigh from time to time, but I'm glad now that I can smile.  Like Simon, we should all find something in life that makes us feel alive and do it, wholeheartedly.  Lives are never measured in years, but measured by the amount of stories you have at the end of it.  This is how Simon lived his life and he lived it to the fullest.

Little brother I love you and I know you love me ... I will miss you forever.  ~ Nathan

You were so close to being one of the "big boys", but in many ways you already were.  My friends and others would always comment that you spoke so mature for your age and that you also knew and had experienced a lot of things that most kids of your age wouldn't have.

I have so many memories of funny moments with you and I'm sure that most people who knew you had moments like those too.  As you were getting older, I took in a lot more of what you knew and had to say and finally had to admit to myself that you weren't just my pinner little brother, you were my friend.  Whenever I was working on a car, you would be there watching and giving me a helping hand, because that's what you loved to do.

I don't know anyone that has ever hated you, you were such a selfless person.

Impressive little brother ... I love you.  ~ James

We are going over the mountain one last time together ...

sit on the back with me and feel the wind.