Marilyn Koolstra

The area in Patagonia on the Chilean side was their destination, so they did the Torres del Paine.

The area in Patagonia on the Chilean side was their destination, so they did the Torres del Paine.

Alan, being younger, would walk faster and taller, had a longer gait. So there would be space and time to contemplate, not have to consider somebody else side by side.

Alan, being younger, would walk faster and taller, had a longer gait. So there would be space and time to contemplate, not have to consider somebody else side by side.

Growing up in cold Scotland, he wasn't a skier and he would not even contemplate a skiing holiday. He would prefer not to be hiking through snow or going through snow. He certainly would try to go around that.

Growing up in cold Scotland, he wasn't a skier and he would not even contemplate a skiing holiday. He would prefer not to be hiking through snow or going through snow. He certainly would try to go around that.

That was probably the highlight of their first foray into mountaineering, glacial snow places together. It was a stunning place.

That was probably the highlight of their first foray into mountaineering, glacial snow places together. It was a stunning place.

When he came back, he was so full of this beautiful place because the rock formations, the snow, the animals, the plains, the Chilean people. He was waxing lyrical about this for months on end.

When he came back, he was so full of this beautiful place because the rock formations, the snow, the animals, the plains, the Chilean people. He was waxing lyrical about this for months on end.

Eric said, so when I die, I would like you to scatter my ashes, some with my mum in Scotland, some in the Grampians in Victoria, and get Alan to take some ashes and scatter them in the Torres del Pane National Park. That's how significant that trip and hike up the Grey Glacier was with him.

Eric said, so when I die, I would like you to scatter my ashes, some with my mum in Scotland, some in the Grampians in Victoria, and get Alan to take some ashes and scatter them in the Torres del Pane National Park. That's how significant that trip and hike up the Grey Glacier was with him.

And he'd always said that he preferred his own company

And he'd always said that he preferred his own company

Glenn had moved out, gone to Queensland, and I think he realized that, yeah, okay, your company's fine for a while, but ultimately you're living on your own, and there's a relationship happening that maybe it would be much nicer to enjoy that together.

Glenn had moved out, gone to Queensland, and I think he realized that, yeah, okay, your company's fine for a while, but ultimately you're living on your own, and there's a relationship happening that maybe it would be much nicer to enjoy that together.

He said, I had a thought. He said, how about you come and live at my place?

He said, I had a thought. He said, how about you come and live at my place?

We were out to a family lunch on a Sunday. We were having yum cha, and it was dripping rain, and underneath a tree in a busy suburban street in Doncaster, he proposed.

We were out to a family lunch on a Sunday. We were having yum cha, and it was dripping rain, and underneath a tree in a busy suburban street in Doncaster, he proposed.