Chris Payne

Thanks for clicking on the link and sharing my memories.

I'd like to tell you about Chris Payne.  Chris Payne was my friend.  I'd like to share with you some Chris Payne factlets.

· I moved away from my home town and our contacts were infrequent.  Everyone was very busy. 

· Then he got cancer and within a year he died. (1st March 2006) I visited him sometimes, talked to him sometimes, but not enough.  Now it's too late.  Much too late.

· The first release of Webby Mobile was posted on the day he died.   It included a dedication to Chris, as does the version you're using now.   Webby Mobile is now running on thousands of devices around the world, each including his name.  I think he would have got a kick out of that.

· Chris loved animals, particularly dogs and birds.  Growing up he kept an aviary and had a loyal Labrador dog named "Ben".

· I met Chris in Grafton High School, where he was a senior and I was a junior.  Our paths crossed in the "Grafton High School Computer Club".  The computing power of which consisted of an Apple ][, TRS80-Model 1 and numerous Vic 20's.  Chris was really good with the Apple ][.

· He liked reading, particularly fantasy novels and enjoyed Star Trek - Deep Space 9.  He named his children Ronan and Jadzeeah (DS9).

· You see, Chris always enjoyed tinkering with computers, especially Commodore Amigas (although this may have been due to the game "Bards Tale" which he loved playing).  I think he would have found Pocket Pc's rather cool. 

· In his career, Chris decided to become a teacher.  After University at Southern Cross (Lismore) He began his career "out west", then moved back to Grafton.  After many casual teaching positions he taught briefly at Maclean school.  He had problems with the headmistress of that school and had difficulty finding teaching work in "the system" after that.  He then began a private tutoring service, which was very successful.

 

This page is utterly inadequate as a description of Chris.  Think of it as some sketches of my experience of him.  Perhaps I will make it better over time.

Chris was a great guy, who deserved to live longer than he did.  The lesson I have learnt and my advice to you is this:

Never take any moment for granted, every moment is precious.

Dont spend it arguing, bickering or feeling angry.  That's pointless.

Never miss an opportunity to send a letter, make a phone call or write a note to those you love because you never know what's going to happen tomorrow.

 

Thanks for reading.