Kelly was the loved husband of Heather for 64 years, dearly-loved father of Cheryl, Diane and Vicki, loving Pop of Angela and Matthew, Troy and Sarah, and Dale and Kasey, and special loved Poppy to Zach, Oliver, Ned and Max.

The Thurling family would like to thank everyone who attended the service at Brown Hill Uniting Church on 23 June 2017. It was a great testament to the kind, welcoming man Kelly was.

Many Brown Hill Uniting Church members reminisced that, during his time as a member, Kelly was there to welcome everyone and made each person feel at home from the first day they arrived. He would never forget a name and always remembered the last conversation he had with you, no matter how long it was since you last spoke. He loved everyone in their humanness, in their fallibility, in their realness.

Kelly was a joiner at his shop 'JB Thurling Joinery' (later known as Mathersons after Kelly sold it) on the corner of Water and Thompson Streets (across Thompson Street from Caledonian Primary School). The building is no longer there. He later moved on to run woodwork classes
for children with disabilities at Pennyweight Park in Canadian. When he finally retired, Kelly moved to Portarlington with his wife, Heather. Before their move, Kelly was involved with the Brown Hill Uniting Church as a 'greeter', Council member, Kids' Club leader and toy-maker. Many Brown Hill children of the 1980s went home with a foot stool and wooden toys made with Kelly's help. Even up to Kelly's last days, he was still thinking of new projects to start. 

We also remember fondly Kelly's love of cooking; his Sunday roasts, sausage rolls, cream horns and prize-winning scones, which he was always happy to share with everyone, will be sadly missed. Kelly, you had a smile for everyone, you had a heart of gold, you left behind the memories that everyone will hold. A dedicated Brown Hill community worker, now at rest.

Thurling Family