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Chockstone Forum - General Discussion

General Climbing Discussion

Author
Vale Paul Beattie

salty crag
31-Jan-2013
9:00:22 PM
The worlds a little sadder and darker today for me as I have just been told of the passing of Paul Beattie.
Paul represented Aus in white water kayaking at one stage ranked 15 in the world. He was an awesome surfer, triathlete, cyclist etc. He had a great love for the outdoors and I covered endless km's running, swimming, road and mountain bike riding, horse riding, hiking with him in the 90's. In the early 90's we were part of a small team running an outward bound style program for a large company. It was during this time he introduced me to climbing and we had a ball exploring the Gramps and Araps.

I lost contact with Paul for a few years when he left to pursue his dream to become a commercial pilot. He returned to Portland eventually with young family in tow still as active as ever. It was about this time he was diagnosed with cancer. It was a rare and very aggressive form of cancer and Paul had tumours in the lungs and brain, he was given a few months. At the time Paul stated to me that he couldn't die so soon as his youngest two would be too young to remember him.

He and wife Mandy then drew up the battle plan and commenced the fight.
Paul not only beat the prognosis by 8 odd years he did it in style. Always smiling, training, upbeat and positive, my last 'coffee shop ride' with Paul was only a couple of weeks ago and we were hatching a cunning plan to get him back in the water on a board.

Paul and Mandy recently organised a cancer fundraiser called the 'Beats ride for hope', a ride from Portland to Bridgewater, we thought we might get 100 riders or so. 450+ turned up on the day many not having been on a bike for years, most of the Portland climbing community were there. The ride and other activities tied in to it raised $10,000.

There's probably no one in chocky land that knew or remembers Paul but i posted this as he was one of the main reasons I scramble my sorry arse around on rock. I and a lot of people down in the southwest are in shock and deeply saddened by the loss of a great mate. So very sorry for Mandy and family.

IdratherbeclimbingM9
31-Jan-2013
9:20:13 PM
I am sorry to hear of the loss of an inspirational mentor to many.
It is good that he was able to extract a further 8 years after that terrible diagnosis.
MichaelOR
1-Feb-2013
9:41:37 PM
I'm really really sad to read this post. As a former white water kayaker and canoeist, I have enormous respect for his achievements. I recall fond memories of a few runs down flooded rivers with Paul in the group of many highly skilled paddlers. Awesome skills.
A sad loss. Thoughts to his family and friends.
Michael

There are 3 messages in this topic.

 

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