[ANU Pacific.Institute] Farewell, Darrell, Fare Well

[Mike Cookson]

Dear Colleagues
This note of appreciation for the life of The Late Emeritus Professor 
Darrell Tryon from Professor Brij Lal.

* * *

Farewell, Darrell, Fare Well

By now you all will have heard of Darrell Tryon's passing. A full 
account will appear in due course on his life and contribution, but for 
now I write simply to express my deepest sorrow at the sad news. He was 
my dear friend. We co-shared Coombs for over twenty years. He was our 
senior Pacific scholar (in Linguistics), our main link to the 
Franco-phone world of Pacific scholarship, and a leading scholar of 
Vanuatu languages and cultures. France conferred upon him its highest 
civilian award, Legion d'Honour. He walked tall, literally and 
metaphorically, but his feet was always firmly planted on the ground. He 
liked the good things of life, but his heart lay in the islands. He was 
their steadfast friend.

For many years under Jim Fox, Darrell served as the Deputy Director of 
the Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies. We served on many 
committees together. He was a founding member of the Pandanus Editorial 
Board and the School's representative on the Management Committee of the 
Pacific Manuscripts Bureau. He was always fair minded but also fierce in 
the defense of  the School's interests. Those across the table from him 
feared his wagging finger. Darrell was a serious scholar but not a 
solemn one, to use one of Oskar Spate's favourite expressions. We 
'wasted' countless summer hours in the Coombs Tea Room dissecting the 
previous day's game of cricket. Who could not love a man like that?

It was Hank Nelson last year and Darrell now. We are beginning to 
witness the passing of the pioneering generation of ANU's Pacific 
scholars. What a great bunch of men and women they were. They produced 
enduring scholarship and built up the university's reputation as the 
world leader in the field. We who succeeded them stood on their 
shoulders. We owe them a huge debt of gratitude. Shukriya,  Darrell, 
Moce Mada.

Brij V Lal