Beloved Newstead resident, avid gardener and bonsai fanatic, Barry Lacey, was recently told he only has months to live.
Barry, being Barry, has decided to take this news in his stride and is inviting neighbours, colleagues, friends and family to the ‘Festival of Barry’s Life’ in his picturesque garden.
The event will be held three days before Barry’s 75th birthday and his wife of 54 years, Jen, says if people don’t want to come to the ‘living wake’, they can simply come and celebrate Barry’s birthday.
Volunteer-run charity organisation Shannon’s Bridge, which helps connect patients to palliative care services and supports, is supporting Barry with his end-of-life care and his desire to end life at home. The organisation has given the gardener an enormous bonsai that now takes pride of place in his sprawling Newstead garden.
“The wonderful people from Shannon’s Bridge came out and told me that I don’t have days and I don’t have years, I have somewhere between three and six months. I asked them if they could set up a tent in amongst my bonsai where I can enjoy my final days!” Barry said.
Barry has been living with Parkinson’s disease for 15 years now but says other health issues have led to the latest diagnosis.
“I’m not dying from the Parkinson’s. I have a huge list of other health issues. I have two artificial hips, a pacemaker and an artificial metal aorta. I’ve struggled with infections in one of my artificial hips for the past four years and now I have a carotid artery that is 95 per cent closed, is paper thin and can’t be operated on.”
Despite his Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2009, Barry has continued to live life to the fullest teaching tai chi to the local community, running regular bonsai workshops, and being active member of the Newstead Men’s Shed.
He has also provided support to others experiencing the debilitating disease, giving a moving speech at the Castlemaine and District Parkinson’s Support Group’s ‘Parky Pals’ meeting at the Castlemaine Golf Club in January.
“As my symptoms are progressing, I don’t try to hide them. I drink out of a straw where I have to, wear special underwear and I don’t hide myself away….” Barry said at the meeting.
“Stand up, if you have a tremor in your hand, your feet freeze, bladder problems, act out your dreams… Remember, you are a unique person each with your own different set of symptoms and never let Mr Parkinsons stop you from enjoying your wonderful life.”
Barry said you could have heard a pin drop at the end of his speech.
In true Newstead style, the community has rallied around the much-loved local identity, helping to make his living wake a truly incredible weekend-long event.
Locals Peter Skilbeck, Graham Lees and Ron Archer will help with set up and pack up. Jerry, a former tai chi pupil of Barry’s, will be giving tai chi demonstrations, and a karate student of Barry’s from 20 years ago will be offering karate instruction.
Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards, who helped the Newstead Men’s Shed get off the ground, will also be attending on Saturday to show her support for Barry.
Local musicians from Melinda’s Band will perform and Enda Kenny will play the harp and violin. There will even be a film crew from the Marvel Stadium, filming at the event.
There will be roving musicians, a free barbecue and drinks on hand and a chance for neighbours, friends and ex-workmates to ‘roast’ Barry.
Community members are urged to get along and help Barry celebrate his amazingly diverse life journey on Saturday February 17 from 11am to 8pm and on Sunday February 18 from 11am to 4pm at Lacey’s Hidden Garden 6 Canrobert Street, Newstead.
