Kokoda victim Matthew Leonard farewelled

By CAROLYN WEBB

The Age, Australia
September 1, 2009 -

'Natural talent' : Matthew Leonard

Kokoda plane crash victim Matthew Leonard was remembered today as a happy, easygoing and generous person with a dazzling smile.

More than 400 people packed the Victoria Police Academy Chapel in Glen Waverley for a memorial service for the 28-year-old, who died with 12 others in the disaster in Papua New Guinea three weeks ago.

Mourners were told Leonard loved his job of just two years as a firefighter, and was popular with workmates.

Malvern station officer Steve Davey said that after tasting a coffee that Leonard had made, and learning he had been to a “top gun” barista school, he had told colleagues “we're keeping this bloke”.

Jamie Hansen, from AFIRE, a firefighter charity, read a tribute from the Cambodian Government paying tribute to Leonard's volunteer work training Cambodian firefighters in Phnom Penh.

When he died, Leonard was starting his first stint as a part-time tour guide on the Kokoda Track.

No Roads Expeditions chief Peter Miller said Leonard had the passion to convey the story of World War II Australian soldiers on the track to a new generation of trekkers.

Leonard's father, senior West Australian policeman Bill Leonard, said his son had natural talent in many areas of life “but he also put in the hard yards”.

His motto had been “you will never work a day in your life if you are doing something you love”.

Leonard's mentor, firefighter Daniel Gunn, said Leonard was confident and self-assured but also compassionate and humble.

“You died on a journey, not just to enrich your own life, but to enrich the lives of others. That says a lot.”

About 100 MFB staff formed a guard of honour for Leonard's family at the end of the service.

A funeral mass will be held in Perth on Friday.