Ben was born at Kurri Kurri Hospital on the 11th November 1989. He was Nicole's first born and Diane and David's first grandchild. Ben was "Big Brother" to Rhiannon, Billy, Jesse and Caleb.
      Ben had a strong and loving relationship with his Nan and Pop. Their family relationship became much stronger when, at the age of six, he came to live with them.
       Ben seemed to attract people to him. This started early at primary school. If Ben liked something new, the other kids liked it too.  If Ben wore a new style hat, the other kids wanted to wear one. He was a natural leader. His education commenced at the Mannering Park Primary School and then the Lake Munmorah High School.
      Ben tended to be a thrill seeker. From the time he got his first BMX bike, at age three, his love of extreme sports just grew and grew. He'd spend hours at the skate park doing high flying stunts. The more daring and dangerous the stunt, the better he liked it.
      Ben's love of motorbikes started when he got his first one at the age of four. He started Moto-cross racing where he competed with Gwandalan, Cessnock and Lake Maquarie Clubs. He made it look so easy. There wasn't a jump or stunt he wouldn't try. Ben would keep practicing until he had it right and then move on to the next challenge.
      Ben's love for cars started at the early age of eleven. He began to drive his Pop's Ute around paddocks and bush tracks, at the bike track. When Ben was thirteen his Pop's boss rang his Pop, in a frantic state, to tell him that he had just seen Ben driving past in the company car.
      Ben couldn't wait to get his licence. As soon as he was old enough, he sat the test and without hesitation, got it first go.
      Ben was a Holden man through and through. When he bought his latest Commodore, it was his pride and joy. He loved that car and he was always looking for new improvements he could make to it, to make it look hotter, or go faster.
      Making new friends was never a problem for Ben. He didn't have just one best mate as all of his friends were his best mates. Ben would never say no to spending time with his mates.
      When Ben met Toyah, his girlfriend, the whole family saw a change in him that was not there before. He was in love. Ben had previously had other girlfriends but this relationship was different, Toyah brought out the best in him and Ben was at his happiest when he was with her. They were "soul Mates"
      Ben often talked about how much he enjoyed the times that he spent with his mother, Nicole, stepfather, Mark, and his brothers at their property at Quirindi. 
      Ben always marched to the beat of a different drum. Always adventurous, seemingly scared of nothing and on the go, he seemed to survive as a boy and youth on adrenaline.
      He was a free spirited, happy-go lucky young man but he liked people and would help anyone who needed it. Ben had lots of friends and he was very loyal. And yet he was intensely private about his own feelings and emotions and would never tell anyone of his own problems. However, Ben never sought or asked for assistance for himself from anyone else, much preferring to sort through things in his own mind.
      Whatever his reasons, Ben elected to depart this life on his own terms. We can only guess or speculate on what happened and why, but a young life has been lost suddenly and inexplicably. 
Of one thing we can be sure, his death was a tremendous waste of a young life which had once held so much promise.
      We can only hope and pray that Ben didn't suffer too much and that his spirit has now taken flight and been released into new realms of freedom, knowledge and awareness.
      Ben will forever be in the hearts of all those who knew and loved him.  

                                               MAY HE REST IN PEACE    
                                             NOW DRIFTING IN HEAVEN