BEVERLEY Murray can’t help but smile every time she steps into her garden.
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Taking pride of place is a stainless steel statue created in memory of her late partner Michael Kelton.
It is a replica of one that stands in the garden created in Mr Kelton’s honour at McWilliams Wines in Hanwood.
Mr Kelton died on October 14 when he was involved in an accident on the Kidman Way. The Darlington Point man was on his way to work at McWilliam’s when his motorbike and a panel van collided.
McWilliam’s Wines maintenance manager Karl Leaver said a number of Mr Kelton’s former colleagues, including John Favell, wanted to create a tribute to remember their friend.
“He was a very hardworking, honest man,” Mr Leaver said. “He was always going 100 miles an hour and doing his best, which is what you want from an employee.”
Mr Leaver said he was a character, who always put a smile on the face of those he crossed paths with.
“He always had a few funny sayings,” Mr Leaver said.
“We all think of him a lot – we try and get on with life, but it’s hard.”
Ms Murray said she was touched by the memorial and delighted to have one in her own garden. She said the stainless steel statue always put a smile on her face.
“I miss his presence,” Ms Murray said.
“There’s a lot of things that you remember of Mick that will put a smile on your face.”
Mr Leaver said the statues perfectly captured Mr Kelton.
“I think it captures him well – he used to tilt his head and look at you,” Mr Leaver said. “He had a heart of gold.”
Mr Leaver said he, along with other colleagues, had a bad feeling when Mr Kelton was late to work on that fateful day. “It was very rare for him to be five minutes late,” he said.
“Usually he’s 20 minutes early so when he didn’t turn up to work we had a bad feeling.”
Mr Kelton was responsible for taking care of the gardens at McWilliam’s and took a lot of pride in what he did.
Ms Murray said she was touched by the gesture from McWilliam’s.