Caption: Daryl Blackwell, Founder of Blackwell Funerals.
When Daryl Blackwell passed away on Sunday, 3 May, South Australia lost one of its most caring individuals – a real gentleman whose legacy cannot easily be measured.
You may not have known Daryl personally as we did, but it would be hard to find someone in South Australia whose extended family has not benefited from the care, guidance and support provided by the team at Blackwell Funerals, the business Daryl ran for around 60 years.
Daryl was truly born into his role. The family business, a coffin manufacturing firm called FW Blackwell Pty Ltd, was bequeathed to him by his parents which Daryl turned into one of Australia’s most trusted names in funeral services. In growing his business Daryl very quickly gained the respect and admiration of the people of South Australia and of his peers around the country.
As a man of high integrity and a professional in all that he did, Daryl became a leader in our industry. A Divisional Councilor in the South Australian chapter of the Australian Funeral Directors Association (AFDA) for many years, Daryl became a National Councilor and then National President in 1973-74. During his tenure Daryl elevated the standing of the entire profession, while maintaining his dedication to serving the families of South Australia during their time of need. He was later named a Master Funeral Director, the AFDA’s most prestigious honour.
Daryl also elevated the profile of Australian funeral directors internationally when, on Australia’s behalf, he gained admission to the International Funeral Directors Association. He became president of that organisation as well and remains the only Australian to have done so.
More important than the mark he’s left on his profession is the one he’s left on South Australian families and communities. Daryl was a pioneer, not only in leading a team that delivered outstanding funeral services and support to grieving families, but also in meeting the needs of the communities around him.
Daryl was the first funeral director to really engage with Adelaide’s Italian community, understanding that their rich culture warranted funeral arrangements in keeping with their traditions. To meet this community’s need Daryl introduced many initiatives into Australia such as new products and services which, it seems, many funeral companies provide
today – but it took Daryl to do it first.
Daryl was also extremely egalitarian in the care he provided. He once took on the challenge of repatriating to Japan the bodies of 70 Japanese soldiers who were buried in Darwin. We can only imagine the sense of peace and closure this must
have provided to the families of those soldiers.
With Daryl now gone all of us at Blackwell Funerals are reminded of how much comfort he brought to many thousands of
families right across South Australia. While overseeing the arrangements for Daryl’s own funeral, we were struck by the weight of his legacy. It is our honour to have known Daryl and to have learned from him.
As funeral directors, we know we speak on behalf of our entire industry when we say we have lost a role model and a mentor. On behalf of Blackwell Funerals we commit ourselves to the people of South Australia to ensuring Daryl’s
legacy is not only maintained but is enhanced.
*This Vale originally appeared in the Adelaide Advertiser in the week following the passing of Daryl Blackwell.*