Good morning everyone

Welcome to this gathering of family and friends to celebrate the life of Eric Ross Coulter  known as Ross.

His family would particularly like to thank the Emu Park sub branch of the Returned and Services League for providing the venue today and for your attendance here.

Your presence, support and expressions of sympathy are very much appreciated by Kate and Mara and family.

My name is Dennis Wex and it’s my job to invite a number of people to take us on a journey through the extremely colourful, talented and well lived life of Ross. As you would expect there has been no shortage of speakers wanting to share a Ross moment with us as he had far reaching and varied interests in many organizations.

The size of this gathering attests to how well known he was, how well regarded he
was in this community and much further afield, and how he touched and influenced
the lives of so many through his life time roles as a brother, teacher, soldier, husband, father, grandfather, friend, mate, artist, Lion, fisherman, golfer, gallery member, war historian, advisor, elder statesman and visionary of our town.

That’s just some of the themes, I’m sure there are many more that are certain to be expanded upon this morning. Ross was passionate about our local environment from foreshore to Bell Park to high rise issues and his influence and his legacy lives on.

What a fitting memorial it would be if his Anzac Plaza concept were to come to
fruition right here where we stand assembled today to pay our respects to Eric Ross Coulter.

We will commence with Ross’s brother Philip Coulter