Emotional farewell to ‘farm friend’

Hundreds of mourners, from all corners of the globe made their way to the Valley View Farm on the R103 for a public memorial service which was held on Saturday, January 10 at 11am to honour the life of their “friendly, funny farm friend”.

Deep feelings of gratitude infused with sadness were voiced at the public show of support and acknowledgement of Malcolm Green’s life. Mr Green was remembered with speeches filled with humour and honoured with moving poems, which highlighted the significance of his life to those dear to him.

After all present were welcomed, prayers were recited, thereafter eulogies were read out by close family and friends, of which all echoed what an amazing, humorous, wise and bubbly person Mr Green was known to be.
Mr Green’s God Daughter, Jenna Faulds, recited a heart-warming poem during the memorial service, which brought many to tears.

“Thanks dad for making me the person I am today, thank you is inadequate,” said Mr Green’s son, Stafford as tears flowed down his face, with bothers Kent and Harley supporting him at his side. In closing, after final blessings, Ruth Green thanked the community for their words of comfort during their the time of loss as well as family, friends, colleagues and neighbours for their unconditional support. Thereafter a solo bag pipe version of Amazing Grace was performed before refreshments were served. It was clear that the well-known farmer will be sorely missed by his school mates, army friends, the farming community, friends, fellow author and teacher friends, which he made while working in those career fields.

On Friday, January 9 a private cremation service was held. 69-year-old Malcolm ‘Stick’ Green was gunned down at his home on the R103 in the early hours of Monday morning, January 5. His death moved many residents as they have taken to social media platforms this past week to express their condolences.

Mr Green suffered a single gunshot wound to the abdomen inflicted during an attack. He was wounded during a confrontation with four men who had forced their way into his farmhouse. Mr Green’s attackers fled with electronic appliances in his bakkie, which was found abandoned at 9am in the Ezakheni township near Ladysmith. No arrests have been made at this point. After being shot, Mr Green called his wife, Ruth Green, who was on holiday at the time and she raised the alarm. Oxsons Security head, Hayden Smith was one of the first at the scene after receiving a call from Mrs Green, saying her husband had been shot. Mr Smith contacted the ambulance and other emergency services, after two hours of trying to resuscitate him, Mr Green was declared deceased.