While Patricia and I have many very vivid memories of Dominique, we are both surprised at how many more have now come rushing back down the years as we begin to write. The one that stands out for me in that first year above all the rest is what happened when I called to visit Dominique in Wade House early one afternoon after work in November 1964. As I approached her room, I met Sister in the corridor and her first words to me were, "I believe Dominique is expecting you". We chatted for a moment within earshot of the room. Then as I entered I beheld the most beautiful picture I have ever seen. There was Dominique in this bright and sunny room sitting up in bed, beautifully dressed and with her lovely shiny blonde hair tied up in a colourful ribbon, her composure and face radiance itself, blessed by the most beautiful smile so pronounced by her very welcoming large blue eyes. This was the first time that I had seen her sitting up on her own and it so became her right then as she stretched out both hands in welcome! The serenity of that moment in time is one of her many great gifts to me, and one that has brought great comfort to some rather daunting situations in recent years.

Dominique loved life and spent every waking moment learning more and more about it. Patricia and I were amazed at how quickly she acquired a lasting interest in so many things. Her grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins were very important people in her life. She would chat about them in the nicest of ways and loved visiting them. It was a regular occurrence for Grandfather Pop Lynch and she to spent hours together having what she called 'a good chat' while they enjoyed a game of cards or dominoes. She would speak about my parents in Ireland, or 'in Cahermaculick' as she put it, as if she were born on the farm and reared among them and her aunts and uncles there. This familiarity was the direct result of all the information she had acquired because of her deep interest in them and their lives.

At Mars Park by the Georges River for a picnic
with Joy and Frank Kelly -1973

It was like that as well with everything else such as her interest in art, music, drama, religion and nature. She loved outdoors and visiting different places, in particular the seaside. By the water or in the water - it didn't matter- she loved it. In fact the ocean held a special fascination for her. She never tired of talking about it, its enormous size, what lived in it, the ships that sailed it and the countries it joined. Quite often, as she sat there by the ocean, she could be seen to muse about it. Regularly, she questioned me on different aspects of my trip to Australia in the ship the 'Orion'. She loved to hear about life aboard the ship, the games, the entertainment, the different parties and socials organised for those who helped out in some way. She knew that I had taught maths for an hour and a half a day to the children aboard who spoke English and so was a regular guest at the captain's cocktail party just before dinner. She liked to hear again and again about the places we visited such as Egypt and the Red Sea as they held a special mystique for her having met them in her bible stories. From the time she could speak, and that was at a very early age, she put her request in regularly for a visit to the beach or the shore or a particular pier. So on a few afternoons a week after school we would head off for one or the other with all the children who, by the way, also enjoyed the sing-song and folklore with Patricia while in the car.

Mrs Carson who lived on her own just across the road from us looked forward to Dominique's visits and their long chats together as they sat on the front veranda. Often she remarked to Patricia that talking to Dominique was like talking to a very kind and wise, little old woman. "Oh, it's so peaceful here away from those boys! You know they can be so noisy!" This and many similar comments that were likely to punctuate their talks were a source of great enjoyment to our neighbour.

Dominique looked forward to going to school and liked to chat about what she would learn there at St Jerome's. As the time approached, she set about putting together with Patricia's help all she needed making sure nothing was left off that list provided by the school. As it worked out, Martin Pat and she began school together. In fact they were both in the same class, something that was very helpful to her as her attendance was not as regular as she would have liked it to be. She loved school and got on well with everyone there. Whenever she was hospitalised, all she wanted was to get better quickly in order to return to school, and she tried so hard to be there as often as possible.

Bernadette and her friend, Tracey, often talk about how Dominique loved to play school. "Tracey and I would play school and, most of the time, this was with Dominique who loved playing the teacher. Thinking back, we have often wondered why she wanted to play the teacher all the time. The two little white wardrobes in her room served as her blackboard. We would open up the end doors and put up a piece of paper or cardboard, stuck to or tucked into a drawer to keep it vertical, so that she could write on it. Quite often she got mad at us for being naughty and not paying attention, and would have us sitting up straight, listening to her and not making a sound. We played many other acting games as well and the story was always the same. Whether we played hospital or down on the farm or whatever, Dominique was the doctor, the farmer and the boss and we paid attention!"

While in hospital and during those periods when away from school, she took lessons by correspondence. The teacher in charge of her at the Correspondence School was wonderful to her. She enjoyed working her way through those lessons at home with Patricia. Often she called me into her bedroom when I arrived home from teaching at Fort Street Evening College. I would sit on the side of her bed while she explained what they had done and what a great time they had together and how they had laughed so much at this and that. Those happy times with Patricia she relived as we laughed our way through her descriptions of them. She had such a hearty laugh and wonderful sense of humour! Patricia reminds me of an incident that occurred at school during Education Week and after their special sports Mass in the church. The School Principal, Sister Ann, who was always so kind to Dominique, had invited her to carry the basketball during the Offertory Procession. Dominique was delighted to be involved, but at the end of Mass as they walked across to the school, she gratefully and quietly said to Patricia, "Mum, I prayed silently to Mary to give me enough strength to be able to walk around the school to all the classrooms". She couldn't have been feeling well, but of course she had been looking forward tothe exhibits in the classrooms as part of Education Week, and was so grateful to be able to do those things or at least some of them that other children her age took for granted. 

Being among others and seeing them enjoy themselves gave her a lot of pleasure. Her birthday parties were always great occasions with all her cousins and friends celebrating with her. She enjoyed celebrating all our birthdays and times like Christmas and Easter, and bought that special present in plenty of time. As my father would have said, 'She really felt for you to the heart if she knew that you were unwell'. In her own quiet way, she went about both humouring and helping you in the hope that you felt better quickly. One Sunday morning while visiting her in Wade House, we decided as it was such a beautiful day to take her for a walk in the garden. On our way there along the corridor, we passed by a number of rooms including the children's Oncology Ward. The sight of other children so obviously very sick concerned and visibly upset her. She talked about them and hoped that the doctors and nurses would get them well soon. She was capable of extraordinary compassion always seeing their situation and suffering as worse than her own.

Dominique loved Ballet and Ballet music like 'Swan Lake' and 'The Nutcracker Suite' and enjoyed attending with the family stage or screen performances. She liked all types of music, playing as Patricia recalls her Ballet music ever so softly but then increasing the volume for Rock n Roll. She was very familiar with all the popular Musicals and knew the score of 'Joseph and His Technicolour Coat' from start to finish which not only bears testimony to the number of times she played it but also to the number of impromptu performances started by Patricia or Dominique when we were all together after dinner or travelling out together in the car. "Edelweiss" was a favourite of hers long before the "Sound of Music" became popular. A scene never to be forgotten for its calm and lyrical beauty was Dominique's going asleep to Patricia's singing of 'Edelweiss' while sitting on her lap. I would love to be able to describe properly the relationship that existed between Dominique and Patricia. There was something extra special and unique about it. I have nothing but absolute admiration for the way Patricia coped during those years, caring for Dominique and our other three children. The assurance, the care, the beauty, the love and kindness, and indeed the joie de vivre with which she invested those years and Dominique's life have no parallel. 

A big farewell had been organised for us at my brother Michael's place in Revesby. It was a great occasion with lots of families present including those of my two sisters, Delia and Margaret. Using a super 8 camera, I filmed the event so that I had plenty of footage of all my parents' grandchildren and extended families in Sydney to take back to them. As it so happened, I had quite a few other films of birthdays, outings and other occasions to take with us as well. It was a very exciting time for all of us and Dominique had her presents and letter all parcelled up for me to take to Nan and Pop. Where Patricia got the time to make so many lovely items of clothing for the two boys including two very stylish leather jackets I'll never know!

Since settling in Australia in 1958, the first real opportunity to visit my family in the west of Ireland came in May 1974. I couldn't get over how happy everyone was for me now that I was at last going to see my parents after so many years. Dominique was delighted and talked about it with great excitement at every opportunity. In fact it was she who suggested to me that I should take Martin and Michael after Michael had told her how he would love to go Ireland. My desire was for all of us to travel there together but unfortunately our doctor had advised against our taking Dominique. I could understand his concerns but it is to my everlasting regret that we had not all travelled there together. I know now that all would have been fine and even felt so back then.
Going overseas back then was seen as quite an undertaking and a number of family and friends came to see you off at the airport. There was a lot more excitement and emotion associated with it. Dominique, after saying how she wanted me to write plenty of letters and bring back films of Nan and Pop and the farm, whispered, "I'll miss you all and I'm so sad we can't go with you". I had already assured her, before we got to the airport, that one day when she was well we would all make the trip together.
After eight very enjoyable weeks in Ireland, we were glad to be back home with the rest of the family. We had so much to talk about and so many films to view. Dominique loved the boys' stories about the funny things that happened to them along the way and on the farm. She wrote to my parents regularly and in fact I recall my mother writing in one of her letters that Dominique was the only person who wrote to them.
I'm sure that Dominique believed that grandparents are the loveliest people in the world. Two of the most important people in her life were Nan and Pop Lynch. They helped care for her, sat with her and played games together for hours on end. Pop kept a very impressive vegetable garden where he spent a few hours every day. She enjoyed working with him in the garden and learning all about the different plants and vegetables. Nan and Pop couldn't have been more kind and wonderful to her. I'm sure that the attitudes and love she experienced with Nan and Pop Lynch influenced in a very positive way her love for my parents.

The second half of 1975 was a particularly difficult period for her. Of all the doctors who had treated her, none was more kind and caring than Dr Paul Roy, a young Urologist at the Children's Hospital. All through her life, Dominique had shown remarkable strength of character and courage in the face of much adversity. Her resilience was remarkable. I remember our putting in an urgent call one morning to the family doctor where Dominique had become very ill. After seeing her, the doctor was so concerned that she contacted Dr Roy. If her condition showed any deterioration, she was to be hospitalised immediately. A couple of hours later there was Dominique sitting next to me on the seat in the garden saying how we should go for a drive on such a lovely day. I don't know why I agreed but about forty minutes later we were down by the bay at Ramsgate enjoying an icecream. From there we drove to Kingsford and along Anzac Parade to the city where she had convinced me that we should visit Luna Park. My hate of Big Dippers and Scary Cats and Ferris Wheels I had to push aside as we rode one after the other. When we got off the Scary Cat, my head was so light and my legs so wobbly that I had to make for the nearest seat. You should have heard her laugh and didn't she enjoy it! Before we left there, we played every game and ride that was on offer. I don't know how she had the strength to keep going! 

As Christmas 1975 was rapidly approaching, Dominique bought her presents for the family and sent a card to her Nan and Pop in Ireland in time for Christmas. On 16 December, she was back in Wade House and the prognosis was bad. Patricia and I were told not to expect her home for Christmas as the medication prescribed could have serious side effects that required constant monitoring. Patricia was with her for some time on the morning of Christmas Eve and had told her that I would call in the afternoon on my way to her brother Gerald's shop to collect supplies that had been ordered for Christmas. As I walked along the corridor to her room, I couldn't but notice all the empty rooms and wards. "Dear Dominique, what must she be thinking?' Not knowing what I was going to say, I entered her room. She was sitting on the side of her bed looking more beautiful than ever, and before I could say a word she greeted me with "I'm going home for Christmas, Daddy!Dr Roy said I could, and Sister has helped me pack" Oh, she was so excited and talkative, it was wonderful!

As we drove away from the hospital along Pyrmont Road, I happened to remark, "Wasn't it great of Dr Roy to let you home!"
I can still see that twinkle in those smiling blue eyes as she whispered, "I told him I would blow the place up if he didn't let me go home; and he said, 'Well, we can't have that happen, can we?'"
A little further on at Glebe, we stopped to allow a very elderly nun cross the road at the pedestrian crossing. Dominique waved to her and turned to me and said, "I'm going to live till I'm a hundred like that nun!" And the excitement continued!
We stopped at a few places along the way including the beach at Manly, where to my surprise she asked if she could have some chicken and chips. I was delighted that she was feeling well and excited about coming home for Christmas, but I knew that things could change quickly and was hoping and praying for that not to happen and for her to have a happy Christmas with us all at home.

Gerald was delighted to see her and was as excited as we were about her going home. We visited a few of the shops closeby to have a look at the Christmas decorations. I could see that she was getting tired and so I arranged the car seat for her to have a rest. About forty five minutes later and some five kilometres from home, she woke up looking and feeling very ill. In fact she looked so ill I thought she wouldn't make it. I rushed home as quickly as I could in order to get her help, and as we entered the driveway, she sat up looking much brighter. I'm convinced that she summoned every ounce of energy in her little body at that moment in order to be ready to meet her Mum and Nan and Bernadette and Pop and Martin and Michael. She was so very brave!

We had a lovely Christmas Day and later that afternoon were joined by Dominique's uncles and aunts and cousins. Dominique spent most of the afternoon and evening in bed but had many visitors. Among them was one we shall never forget for his selflessness and kindness towards her. He was her twenty year old cousin, Patrick Lynch, who stayed with her for most of the evening chatting about different things, playing cards, telling her stories and jokes. Later that evening, after she had said good bye to everyone, she said how really nice Patrick was and how much she had enjoyed his company.

Early next morning, Boxing Day, the side effects of the medication were all too obvious as we hurried to her aid. Fortunately and I'm certain with the help of a greater power, we were able to successfully counter the severe side effects with skills we didn't realise we possessed. A short time later, she quietly asked me a question that took me completely by surprise: 'Dad, am I going to get better?" I tried to answer but for a moment my emotions got the better of me. Seeing this, she immediately sat up and with the bravest face I've ever seen, pointed to the side of the bed and invited me to sit with her and started to talk about Christmas Day. About two hours later, we took Dominique back to Wade House. With her mother by her side, she passed away on New Year's Day at 9.05 in the morning. Soon after my mother retired for the night late on New Year's Eve, she was woken up by a 'very real' dream that caused her great distress. She kept saying to my father that something terrible had happened in Australia and she feared that Dominique had passed away. Ironically, Dominique's Christmas card was the only one her Nan and Pop in Ireland received that Christmas as it got through before the mail strike began. Tragically and very sadly, her dear cousin, Patrick Lynch, lost his life in a road accident a week later on the 8th January, 1976.