Vale AFF member - Penegal

[ellen10]

So sorry to hear of @penegal (Marks) passing.
I didn't have the fortune to meet him, but he sounds like he was a great guy, with lots of fun gatherings and a good friend to many.
Treasure your memories everyone.

 

[samh004]

To me, having been AWOL from AFF for a while and not attending events as much, this has really hit me. I just assumed we’d cross paths again some day.

@Bundy Bear let me know about this thread in a text this evening on my way back from acrobatics with the girls, otherwise I probably wouldn’t have known. I thank him dearly for clueing me in. I managed to talk about his exploits on my drive back and broke down when I walked through the door.

I’ve looked through my photos and memories tonight and I want to post some to remember Mark, but I’m so sad. I’ve done what everyone else has tonight, shared a bottle with my partner. Went for a Rod & Spur 2020 and some Shiraz VP 2017, admittedly after I saw Bundy’s post.

Someone please let me know if there ends up being a public service. I’ll book a last minute ticket to pay me respects.

 

[Aeolus]

A photo after an evening out with Mark and a few other Affers. Some will know the location this was taken at.
View attachment 508914

Remember your first AFF meet up at the Greek restaurant when Mark rocked up with a backpack full of wines? Poor JT and I bailed but dinner continued till god knows when? What an induction into AFF function it was! That was classic Penegal generosity. We should organise an OT meet up in honour of him.

 

[Bundy Bear]

@kpc rang me this afternoon and we shared our memories of Mark. We think we both met him at Ozfest 3 (the one that I organized), so it’s been 20 years. We then reminisced that when he was the last person on board the bus in Alice Springs (another Ozfest) , I had gone to his room to find him stumbling to the door, opening it bleary eyed and apologizing he’d slept through his alarm (assuming he’d set one ). I helped him pack and get down to the bus (after checking out). Remember he wore his glasses on the bus all day.

Like most here, a trip to MEL always meant contacting him to see if he’s was in town. Generally meant an evening drink, or meal and a bottle or two and not just us - he could corral a group at short notice . Too many times I was a bit dusty and hadn’t had enough sleep at client meetings or work functions the next day.

In more recent years, when he was at Deloittes, we’d meet for a coffee / hot chocolate. We’d spoken about some of his health challenges but he was still the same ol’ Mark.

I’m going to miss him. @kpc and I brought up those who’ve gone before us. Now have to add him to the list

Hi QF WP @penegal joined AFF in 2009
Mark did attend the AFF Brisbane gathering in 2010

 

[CaptJCool]

Remember your first AFF meet up at the Greek restaurant when Mark rocked up with a backpack full of wines? Poor JT and I bailed but dinner continued till god knows when? What an induction into AFF function it was! That was classic Penegal generosity. We should organise an OT meet up in honour of him.

It’d be the Penegal Copper Award tribute

 

[kpc]

Hi QF WP @penegal joined AFF in 2009
Mark did attend the AFF Brisbane gathering in 2010



View attachment 508937

As usual @Bundy Bear is on the money. I first met Mark (@penegal ) at AFF gathering #4 in 2010 in Brisbane

Post in thread 'AFF Gathering #4, Brisbane, October 22-24, 2010'

Sep 21, 2010

Updated Attendance Numbers [Last Update: 22/09/2010 0011h]

[B]Handle           Fri  │   Sat    │  Sun[/B]
[B][U]                PD DN │ DA PD DN │ DA LN[/U][/B]
Bundy Bear       1  1    1  1  1    -  1
Skoogle          -  -    1  1  1    -  -
Mal              1  1    1  1  1    -  1
notzac           1  -    -  -  1    -  1
QF009            2  2    -  2  2    -  2
samh004          1  1    1  2  2    -  1
kpc              2  2    -  2  2    -  2
oz_mark          2  2    2  2  2    -  2
straitman        -  -    -  2  2    -  2
Lindsay Wilson   1  1    -  -  1    1  -...

• anat0l

P

Post in thread 'AFF Gathering #4, Brisbane, October 22-24, 2010'

Sep 21, 2010

Sorry for the late response.

I shall be attending. anat0l, I have filled in your webform. At this stage I have flights booked, and will be staying at the Hilton, weather permitting.

Given my later arrival time on Friday I will miss welcome drinks and dinner, but will possibly be up for some post-dinner beverages if the group kicks on, otherwise I will see you all on Saturday morning.

John K /MAX_1 - I am definetly interested in golf. My game is rusty to say the least, but it would be good to get a round in before lunch on Sunday if there are still spots up for...

• penegal

 

[lovestotravel]

RIP - Was a great guy, sad I only met him once, about 10 years ago, the only AFF/Flyertalk forum person I've ever met!

Should have attended more wine nights

Life is precious
Travel more
Love your family and pets and friends

 

[Noah Count]

As I have taken some time to digest this information I did consider if it would be appropriate posting the following. I knew Mark, maybe not as well as others and only posting these comments as a celebration of his life. I knew him 'no names no pack drill'. Mods please delete if not appropriate.

• I first met Mark many years back and on that occasion there was the 'magic back pack' magic not so much but I have never seen a back pack that looked so small but produced so many bottles of wine. I remember this as by about 5 or 6 am I tried to excuse myself to go home, get cleaned up and go to work only to be told 'I could walk to work from here'.
• We joke about 'copper' on one occasion I was less than 'copper' I had flown in (international) and forgot I was meant to catch up and showed up with the wine that was provided by Accor. Mark never let me live this down and stated that if we were to catch up again I was to send in advance what I would be bringing.
• At a dinner when Mark was asked about a 30+ Grange and a 20+ Wendouree Shiraz, he just smiled and said I think I have better.
• At another dinner he had provided his version of decanters as the restaurant had broken all of theirs. They were science beakers but as far as Mark was concerned they did the same job, but not as flash.
• One evening at his place, we were bundling another into a cab and giving the driver money to make sure the person got home. That person is on this thread and most likely does not remember this. Any how after that was taken care of we went back inside and debated wine - be it what was acceptable, at what stage do wines come from cellaring to drinking and what is considered to be acceptable as general drinking.
• On more than one occasion at Rockford lunches, waiting in the bus while he was debating with the staff sending wine and what he would take with him.
• Being called on a Sunday asking if I could come to the airport earlier with either a large carry on or check in (both empty) as he was over the offical weight limits (check-in and luggage) not physical.

He is someone I will miss.

 

[cove]

Very sad news about penegal. Always looked forward to seeing him at Olive Tree or at other frequent flyer gatherings over many years. Rest in peace Mark.

 

[Lowjhg]

I have now started to digest the information that this is real. I can't help to tear up every time I see this thread.

When I moved to Australia in the early 2010s to begin university in Canberra, that's where I met Mark, SQ421 and *A Flyer. Our brothership bond was strong. We'd regularly text each other. Apart from my universe at school and my actual family, I felt the group, and especially Mark felt like family, in a very foreign land.

Even after moving back to Singapore in the 2017s, I still kept in contact with Mark, and would still come down to see him at DOs or during personal holidays if time allowed. Hence, it was heart wrenching to hear this news earlier today.

I am typing this onboard EK357. Mark, if your soul is here, come, allow me to accompany you for one last flight in the skies. Though we may never have had that kick@ss burgundy dinner that we really wanted to organise, you'll be sure that I'll now organise one in your name every year. Till we meet again. Vale, Mark.

 

[JessicaTam]

Just one example of his generosity:

Mark and I were overseas at a fellow AFFer’s 50th. Mark decided we all needed something to drink at dinner. He came back from the bar with 6 bottles of Veuve. .

Generous to a fault.