THE FIRST motorcycle hearse used west of the Blue Mountains stopped traffic in Dubbo yesterday for the funeral of Richard ‘Dicko’ Smith.
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The Harley Davidson hearse - complete with purpose-built sidecar - was an extraordinary sight as it left St Brigid’s Catholic Church shortly after 3.30pm.
The hearse made its way to New Dubbo Cemetery accompanied by three Harley Davidson escort vehicles, about 40 members of the Blue Liners Touring Motorcycle Club and a stream of cars.
The motorcycle hearse travelled to Dubbo from Sydney to give Mr Smith the send off his family requested. The Blue Liners came from throughout NSW to farewell a mate “who was never without a smile”.
Mr Smith, 50, died in London on December 15 shortly after he stepped off an international flight from Australia.
Funeral director Chris Evans of Abbey Funeral Home said Mr Smith was understood to have developed deep vein thrombosis.
“He died in hospital within hours of landing in London,’’ Mr Evans said. “There was a delay in getting the body back to Australia due to the necessity for a coronial investigation and service closures related to the Christmas and new year holidays.’’
About 300 people gathered at St Brigid’s to farewell Mr Smith. Mourners included family and friends and a large number of colleagues from the Department of Corrective Services.
A service conducted by parish priest Father James Cutcliffe was concluded by the pomp and ceremony of a slow march performed by the Sydney-based NSW Corrective Services honour guard.
The ceremonial guard reassembled in front of St Brigid’s while Mr Smith’s coffin was clamped onto the motorcycle hearse’s sidecar.
The church bell tolled, motorcycles revved and Corrective Services personnel wearing black arm-bands removed their hats as the cortege started the journey to the cemetery.
An eight-page order or service handed to mourners at the church featured a series of photographs of Mr Smith in formal, casual and sporting attire and motorcycle leathers.
Mr Smith was the son of Ken and Barbara and brother of Keno, David, Byron, Donna and Sonya.
The motorcycle hearse and escort vehicles used in yesterday’s funeral were imported from America by Sydney man Steve Lunam. They were formerly used by the California police highway patrol.