Eulogy for Douglas Mathew Wyatt by Blake Holliday

When I first met Matt I was this quiet naive kid that for some unknown reason Matt had taken upon himself to educate. And I guaranty that I wasn't naive for very long, quiet maybe but not naive. It was too dangerous being naive around Mathew. He took me up to his room one day and showed me this most amazing stack of records ( well, actually it was several piles ) Now he had the usual records from Cream and Deep Purple, and Jethro Tull which by themselves were an education for me. I grew up listening to classical and folk music. But mixed in with the popular bands were obscure bands whose albums he bought just because he likes their name or the name of the songs or how the album cover looked. I remember an album from some band called Tagget, don't quite know what the attraction was there, but he also had an album from a group of clowns called KISS, they looked cool. He told me later that he didn't like them anymore because they got popular. I was sitting in his office the other day and I decided that I needed to put on some music. I was going through his CD collection and there after the 10, or rather 20 Jimmy Buffet CD, I found these gems: "Music to Strip by" by the Keep Your Shirt On Band playing well known tunes like the "Take it off Polka" or "Melody For G-String" or "Belly Ballet"... here is another one "Buck Naked and the Bare Bottom Boys" playing ... well, I can't really read that one in mixed company. Even after he's gone he can still educate me.

As our friendship grew, Matt and I developed a very complementary relationship he was the one who thought up strange things to do and I was the fool who would do them. I think he delighted in making suggestions just to see how far I would go. One day he came to me and said, "Hey Blake, a bunch of guys want to get a band together and we need someone to play bass. Wanna play?". I think I told you already, I was this quiet, introverted kid, had NO experience with playing the bass and getting up and performing in front of an audience was the LAST thing on my mind. Scared the heck outta me. So I look at him, "OK" I say. He grins that devilish grin of his. I don't remember where we played at first, it was at some one's house, maybe it was Matt's, but we couldn't do that for long. We racked our brains trying to figure out where we could practice. Matt's parents were teachers so he knew from them that the school district would let certain groups use the school rooms for after hours meetings. All the group needed was approval from the school board. Matt knew that a bunch of kids playing rock music would never get approved so we had to make sure that we completed the application 'appropriately' to improve our chances. First things first, we had to come up with a good name, hmmm, how about "Mutual Admiration Chamber Music Society" ? he says. So we get the application and start filling it out. Name of Organization "Mutual Admiration Chamber Music Society", Contact Info ..... Matt says, "better put me they know my parents", no. of persons, day and time of use, purpose.. rehearsal, yeah rehearsal, that's what were doing right ? So we turn in the application and of course it gets approved. The first night the janitor shows up to open the room and he gets this confused look on his face as a bunch of kids start bringing in a van load of electric instruments. He goes away for a bit and comes back after we start playing, he scowls and says "That's not chamber music!" and walks away. Even back then Matt knew the power of words and a good name.

When I realized that Matt was in serious trouble, I came over to be with him and to help him with talking to the outside world. ( I just knew he would need help with that ) When I sent out the news both of his illness and his passing, I was deluged with offers of assistance and condolences literally from around the world. I have assembled them into a book that I would like to present to his wife Desak and his mother Jean. But first I would like to read a couple of letters that represent what Matt meant to us all and the kind of people he collected.

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From: "Chris and Debra Rizzi"
Subject: RE: News of Matt - resend because some did not receive
Date: Sat, 5 Jan 2002 16:28:39 -1000

Aloha Blake,

Kerry called me this morning with the news. I guess things don't really sink in with me until I see them. Upon reading your message the reality hit. A few thoughts came to me. In life - if you make a few truly good friends then you are fortunate. Matt was one of those people who made many truly good friends. I feel blessed to have known him. He was unique as you have said. I will miss that.

I knew in my heart that he would hang on until you got there. If anything ok can be found from this is that he had two people he really loved with him in the end. I only hope that when I go, I have such loving people surrounding me. I know that it doesn't make his passing any easier for you but for him, I bet it helped with the pain knowing how much he was loved.

God bless you for being there with him and Made. Please send my love to Made and tell her how very sorry I am and that even though we are not there, we feel a great loss too.

All of our love to you and to Matthew's family.

Debbie, Chris and Shasta

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And here is one from one of his internet Friends...
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To:
From: "Raewyn Waterman"
Date: Sun, 6 Jan 2002 02:48:59 +0800
Subject: [ourbali] An empty space

G'Day guys

I don't often contribute much to the group, but tonight I feel I have to write something to express my sadness. Matt was many things to many people, a father and husband, a friend and companion. To me and probably some of you he was a great source of laughter, information and inspiration.

To be able to provide the things that people needed to know when it came to their Bali Holiday was obviously a joy for him. Also to give the Nay-sayers a belting seemed to give him pleasure.

He seemed to be a man who could live his life on many levels and cope with them all simultaneously. It will not surprise me to find out that he was doing more on other levels that were never expressed in a public way.

I know we have all coped with the passing of a friend or loved one at some stage, but I feel that the relationship that we share here, the simple ability to enter each others homes at the click of a button, will ensure that we never forget Matt.

I have spent a few marvellous hours tonight in the archives of the BTF. It is amazing to read from his first post through to his last. His wit and charm are there for all to see along with a determination to right the wrongdoers and have a small shot at the establishment when he can.

A man to be admired and a man who'll be missed.

CBE

Cracker
Craig Waterman
PS Were there really surfing Elvis impersonators from Mars on Kuta Beach? Or did Matt just make that up?

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Rest in Peace >;-)>
Posted by sharkie koala little scotty on Saturday, 5. January 2002 at 22:35 Bali Time:

In Reply to: Brother Matt...aka, White Devil posted by Roy on Saturday, 5. January 2002 at 18:06 Bali Time:

Our Deepest Condolences,

Although we did not have the chance to meet Matt in person, we did share comments and a love of Bali.

I would like to re-post an analogy of Bali, from "White Devil" that was posted on Saturday, 3. November 2001 ( http://www.balitravelforum.com/archive200111/79753.html )
______________________________________________

"Posted by White Devil"

What Exactly is Bali ?
The very word "Bali" fairly reeks of exotic tropical mystique, conjuring images of white sand beaches, palm-lined sunsets, bare breasted native maidens and bizarre pagan rituals conducted by the pale bluish light of the jungle moon. All of this is true, naturally enough, but it begs the actual question: What is Bali ?

The Island of Bali:
- is one of the 13,308 islands in the Indonesian Archipelago.
- is located between 8° and 9° South of the Equator.
- is currently some 2,000 miles East of the South Pacific, despite persistent rumors otherwise.
- is relatively small at 2,176 square miles (roughly the size of Hawaii).
- has ten active volcanoes, two of which have erupted in this century.
- enjoys average daytime temperatures of 70° to 85° year round.
- was part of the former Dutch East Indies colony from 1846 to 1949.
- is a Hindu stronghold in the largely Islamic nation of Indonesia.
- has somewhere between 20,000 and 50,000 public temples, depending on who is doing the counting.
- is home to a unique culture with distinctive dress, music and art.
- has 3.5 million inhabitants of Polynesian, Malay, Chinese and Indian extraction.
- is a popular vacation spot for Australians, Europeans, Japanese, Americans and Indonesians.
- receives as many as 2,000,000 visitors a year.
- is blessed with geckos, sprinkled with monkeys and cursed with dogs.
- boasts two of the world's best surfing breaks (Padang-Padang and Ulu Watu).
- is arguably the friendliest, most exciting destination in the Third World.
- is an international center for clothing and jewelry design.
- is remarkably affordable.
- is a relatively safe, if overly attentive, place for women to travel alone.
- is potentially addictive.

Bear in mind that for all of its virtues and qualities, the island of Bali is NOT an unspoiled tropical paradise. Tropical, yes. Paradise, possibly. But unspoiled ? Not bloody likely, Mate ! Today's Bali has everything but 8 lane toll roads and skyscrapers, and some enterprising government varmints in Jakarta are no doubt working on those. FYI - The original line was "everything but Time Share Condos and Cable TV", but these are already old news,along with faxes, cellular phones, alphanumeric pagers, LaserDisks, VCD's, DVD, DAT, Satellite Dishes, pizza delivery, Bungee Jumping and Go-Karts.

Still, despite the modernizations and predatory hucksterism that emerge in all tourist locales, Bali is still a special, magical place and many of the people who visit there are deeply affected by the friendships they form with the natives.

Who Goes to Bali Now ?
Although the wave seems to have crested in the late 80's or early 90's, tourism remains the island's major industry, and Bali continues to attract all kinds.In various parts of Bali you will meet Australia's loudest lager louts, the most radically excellent of surfer dudes, penny-pinching Euro-backpackers,conventioneers, art collectors, anthropologists, ethnomusicologists, dance students, carefree honeymooners, English rock stars and every travel photographer who ever figured out how to take a tax deductible trip to Bali. Heh-heh-heh...

Why Should You Go To Bali ?
I don't know. Maybe you shouldn't. Lord knows I've met plenty of people in Bali who I jolly well wished had stayed home and cheesed off their neighbors a bit more instead of hopping over to Bali to torment the natives and my honorable self. Then again, Bali offers something for ALMOST everyone, and it may be just the place for you so long as you enjoy one or more of the following items or activities......
Snorkeling Foreign Cultures Painting
Scuba Diving Exotic Food Wood Carving
Surfing World Music Stone Carving
Hiking / Biking Ethnic Dances Mask Making
Whitewater Rafting Temple Hopping Handicrafts
Para-Sailing Anthropology Cheap Food
Resorts / Nightlife Sightseeing Cheap Lodging
Massages Cloth & Clothes Cheap Transport
Photography Jewelry Cheap Everything

Old folks, layabouts and lushes can also enjoy indolence, sloth and wild drunken abandon, though there is little reason to fly to Bali for these.

Just to maintain the balance I should point out that Bali isn't all beaches and cream. Most visitors find the pleasure to pain ratio to be quite favorable, but all visitors should be prepared to endure the following horrors:

Non-English speaking natives * A marathon plane ride
A tropical island climate * Pushy street vendors
Primitive phone systems * Mangy, sometimes vicious dogs
Other tourists * Authentic 3rd World plumbing
Time Share Condos* The lingering threat of Bali Belly

* Some people may actually consider these desireable, a warning in and of itself.

Of course the best reason to go to Bali is to see it before it is completely ruined. And you'd better hurry: I will be going back soon.

>;-)> _____________________________________________
Rest in peace our Bali friend ....

shar^kie, koala and little scotty ......

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