Brian James Carter
(1946 - 2008)

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General Details

Name:	Mr Brian James Carter
Gender:	Male
Age:	62 years old
Lived:	Thursday, 17 January 1946 - Thursday, 28 February 2008

My Story

Brian Carter was raised in Wodonga, Vic. Both his parents Percival and Annie Carter were horsemen, and it became apparent at a very early age, that Brian would also make horses his career.
Brian was put on a horse at 18 months old, and was a very competent rider by age 5 years. At 14 he commenced his apprenticeship as a Jockey. Brian rode many winners around the Albury, Wodonga area of North East Victoria. He had a massive accident at the Wodonga Race Track, when his horse fell and Brian hit the guard rail. He was not expected to live. But Brian proved throughout his life, that he had a massive will to live, and he would defy death on several occasions.
Brian not only rode and won many races with the horse Example, but he eventually trained the horse and owned Example.
Brian then made his move to Werribee in Victoria, where he again trained some wonderful race horses. I recall the horse King Bend, who was blind in one eye. Benji was his nickname, and he was a handful of a horse. King Bend broke the Sandown track Record for the 1200 metres, and that record was unbroken for many years.
Brian loved the sea, and he swam his horses at the beach at Werribee.
His next move was to Townsville and finally onto Cairns. Brians brother Richard joined him in Queensland, and they had great success, including bringing good horses from the south, to race around the Qld tracks.
Brians health was always an issue after that fall at Wodonga when he was in his 20's. He eventually stopped being a jockey and just concentrated on training the horses.
At one stage he took a job at Korrumburra , in the construction industry. In an unfamiliar place one night, whilst staying at the local hotel, he took a wrong turn, and the balcony collapsed. Brian fell 10 metres or more, and again he was not expected to live. He had massive head injuries. The Doctors believed he would not live, but if he did, he would be but a vegetable for the rest of his life.

Hi sister Judy spent most days at his bedside, telling him stories, willing him to come back to us, and praying for his life. After six weeks of being in a coma, she told the Doctors she had seen Brian's eyes flicker, but the Doctors's scoffed at her, said she was imagining things, she was only wishful thinking.
But sure enough, within days, she walked into his room one morning, and there he was, eyes open, and basically proof of a miracle. It was a long slow road back to recovery, but the idea that he would work with his loved horses again, brought him back.

Then at age 50 Brian experienced illness, it took a long time for the Doctors to diagnose him with Kidney Failure. Brian battled the illness, whilst working full time at various jobs around Cairns.

At one stage he was in charge of the Recycling Department at the tip. Then you would not believe it, his third massive injury, and again he was not expected to live. A gas bottle blew up on him, he had burns to 60% of his body. Again Brian defied death, and remarkbly pulled through, after months in hospital.

Eventually the Kidney Disease took over, and he was confined to bed, with the dreaded Dialysis Program, of the painful needles and hospital visits, just to stay alive. Brian was eventually hopeful, that there might be a natural therapy approach to his disease, and was doing the dialysis at home.
He even drove back to Wodonga to visit his family, in 2006. An almight feat given his illness and his condition.
I was living in Melbourne, and had moved there over 20 years ago. I thought I might catch up with Brian down there. But he had already made plans for Queensland.

In December 2007 Brian was sent from Cairns to Brisbane for an operation on his valves. He was in good health, and good spirits at the time, and was looking forward to coming back to Albury Wodonga to live with his sister Elizabeth, and brother Richard.

Unfortunately, he was barely in hospital in Brisbane, when he became sick again. It was such a set back, he was in so much pain. He would constantly ask me to ask the Doctor to give him more morphine. He tried his hardest to beat whatever it was that overtook his body. We suspected the dreaded hospital diseass of Golden Staph, had attacked his body. He had barely any immune system left to fight this most insidious of germs.
I spoke to him of the morning of the 28th February 2008, and said said his goodbyes, he said he could not hang on any longer. I asked him if he could hang in, until I came to see him, and try to sort out the Doctors, get him moved, keep him alive. But at 2.30pm the Doctor called me and told me Brian had passed on.
He was only 62, it was unfair. He was the most beautiful person. Brian and I were best buddies. We were the middle children in a family of four children.
We had spent so much time together growing up, riding our horses and having fun. Then as young adults, we partied with our families, most weekends. At one stage we seemed to dine at the Steak Pit in Wodonga, almost every second week, after celebrating another win with one of Brians horses, or his wins as a jockey.
I missed my brother terribly when he moved to Melbourne, and then to Queensland.

We held a private funeral for Brian in Albury, and he is buried with his parents at the Wodonga Cemetary.
It is now almost four years since he passed on, and his memory is as alive today, as it was when he was still with us.
The priest who conducted the ceremony, told me the most beautiful words, that kept me going.
He said Brian has not left you, he is just in the next room, you cannot see him, but he is there. Talk to him and involve him in your daily affairs, you still love him, and he loves you, and he will enjoy your company, as you will enjoy him being with you.
So my darling brother, this is our internet memorial to you. We miss you, your happy face, the fishing trips, the horses, and all the fun and love we shared all our life together.

Latest Tributes

12 / 25 tributes

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From: Beccky

My darling brother, it is now 6 years since you were taken from us on 28.02.2008, when your life was cut short, befor...

From: Beccky

I have started writing a book about our life growing up on the farm. I will feature stories about you and your wonde...

From: Beccky

It is 5 years last month, 28th February 2008, when god ended your pain and suffering, and took you into his arms. Th...

From: Beccky
Song Name: You are always on...
Artist: Sam Cooke

We remembered you on your birthday on the 17th January,2013. We love you and...

From: Beccky

It is now my 5th Christmas without you. My life is no longer filled with hope and joy, but I do have the happiest of...

From: Beccky

BJ you would have loved the Melb cup winner this year, a runner up from last year, Green Moon. Thinking of you today,...

From: Beccky

BJ, love you, and thought about you and your love of horses. I watched the WS Cox Plate last Saturday, I never miss i...

From: Beccky

It is the anniversary of Brian's mothers death today, 5th June 1965. I have set up a memorial for AnneBCarter on thi...

From: Beccky
Song Name: Heaven doesn't care
Artist: Mike and the mech...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkFHuNKheUg Heaven Doesn't Care" I spoke t...

From: Beccky
Song Name: The Rose
Artist: Bette Midler

the 1st verse is so poignant Artist: Bette Midler Song Title: The Rose W...

From: Beccky

Brian was so successful as a jockey, and then as a trainer, firstly at Wodonga, Vic, then in Melbourne, and finally i...

From: Beccky

Brian was probably riding horses at 2 years old, at 14 he was an apprenticed jocky to Ollie Cox, horse trainer in Wod...

Biography

Fathers Name:	Percival John Theodore Carter
Mothers Name:	Annie Beckensal Carter ( nee Spencer)
Siblings Names:	Richard Hugh Carter
Country of Birth:	Australia
Occupation:	Other
Marital Status:	Divorced
Religion:	Anglican

Interests

Favourite Sport:	Horseback Riding
Favourite Music Genre:	Rock
Favourite Artist:	Darryl Braithwaite, Horses

Passing

Place of Passing:	Brisbane
Date of Passing:	28 February 2008
Cause of Passing:	Illness
Type of Funeral:	Private in a Chapel
Place of Burial:	Wodonga
Funeral Director:	Lester and Sons