TRIBUTES FLOW FOR ALLAN DREW

Tributes have been flowing in for funeral director Allan Drew who passed away at Norwest Private Hospital on Monday. He was 69.

Allan Drew was an institution in the Hills and helped thousands of families during their darkest times for almost 40 years.

He was also a tireless volunteer who was awarded an OAM on Australia Day 2009 “for service to the community through a range of charity and service organisations, and to the funeral industry.

Despite failing health this year, Allan continued with his tireless efforts with the annual blanket drive for Parramatta Mission, a drive which saw hundreds of blankets collected for those in need this past winter.

A Lions club member for over 20 years, Allan was also a big supporter of the Lions Recycle For Sight program and helped collect more than 4000 unused eye-glasses for distribution to communities in need around Australia and South-East Asia.

Allan volunteered his time with the disaster relief agencies, Kenyon International and GAIN (Global Aid Network), where he supported colleagues in Bali who were repatriating the bodies of those killed in the 2005 Bali terrorist attacks. Allan had the demanding responsibility of meeting with each family and receiving the victims’ remains as they were returned to Australia. He was also seconded to Phuket after the 2004 Tsunami Disaster to support the team working to identify the deceased.

Long-time friends Zoe and Pete Graham said Allan’s compassion and professionalism as funeral director and founder of Allan Drew Funerals bought him into many people’s lives.

“Since 1980, Allan has helped grieving families through the most difficult chapters in their lives, carried out with the dignity and kind nature that we have all come to know as quintessential Allan. Softly spoken, warm hearted. An old friend, even if you have only just met him. “

One of the first to pay tribute to Allan on Facebook was Federal Minister and Member for Mitchell Alex Hawke who said: “Our Hills community has lost an absolute icon and one of the people who has helped make us the community we are today. Allan was a person who spent his whole life caring for others and giving back for the things he had received.

“The first time I met Allan… he helped my family through the very difficult passing of my mother, when I was ten. I can still remember him, at one of my family’s lowest points, quietly doing what he did for so many others over the years. In everything Allan did he prioritised others.”

Allan is survived by his wife of 51 years, Lesley, children Gillian, Tim and Leah. Sonsin- law James and David and grandchildren Chloe, Kieran, Jade, Lily, Hayley, Evie, John, Tania and Talia.

His funeral service will be held at All Saints Anglican Church, North Parramatta on Monday, December 9 at 11.30am.

In lieu of flowers, please consider registering for Donate Life at donatelife.gov.au