His love was Lindy and they went on to spend 33-years together, until Lindy lost her battle with pancreatic cancer on March 30. Chris is now determined to finish the last thing they began together.

After Lindy was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in September last year, the couple decided to raise about $5000 for awareness and research into the disease.

 But Chris said Lindy died before this Saturday night’s event could be held.

“When we arranged this, we thought she would still be around,” Chris said.

“I miss her. It’s been a bit of a struggle. She’s left a big hole in my heart, but if I didn’t have faith in the Lord it would have been a lot harder than it has been.”

Chris was born in England and his parents were ‘10 pound poms’ who moved to Australia in 1963. 

The family moved to the Hawkesbury district, and he met Lindy while he was a lighting technician with a band called ‘Jailbait’.

“I persevered with her for over a couple of months before she actually went out on a date with me, and she told me I swept her off her feet that night,” Chris said.

They were married in 1983.

Chris’ career progressed and he said he was a lighting technician for larger Australian acts including John English, Marcia Hines and Midnight Oil.

From the music industry, the couple then went into business in Newcastle, first a large lawn mowing concern, then a contract painting business for eight years and finally they moved to Tingha as proprietors of Tingha Auto Port. “We had fun together all the way through it,” Chris said.

The couple had four children and seven grandchildren. 

“Three of our children live back in Newcastle, where we were before we moved here 11 years ago,” Chris said.

“We both loved Tingha. And since her passing, all the children have asked if I am going to sell up, and no, I want to stay here because I like the country life.”

Lindy’s fundraiser will be held at 6pm at the Tingha Sport and Recreation Club on Saturday, May 28.