Michael would like to invite you to share your thoughts, fond (and mischievous) memories and stories of our beautiful Michelle. Pictures and tales that make us smile are encouraged!
Leave your good thoughts here or just email them to Michael. Your favourite pictures are welcome too.
Dean worked with Michelle at St Edmunds College
What a true professional with a kind heart. Always put students first and was the first person to pay other teachers a compliment on their professional ability. What an amazing team Michael and Michelle make 
a big loss to the education system, however the changes Michelle made during her time here has continued to live on in others I am sure
of it.
Miss ya mate
Michelle was Rob’s Godmother. He is the eldest son of Angela and David Egan.
It’s taken me two years to express these thoughts. Two years of contemplation, remembrance, reflection, tears and thoughts.
Michelle was a wonderful figure in my life from a young age. I still remember her hugs and her laugh. She was a shining light and the perfect person to be my spiritual guide. I did not see a great deal of Michelle after my 18th birthday in 2002, but she was forever in my conscience making sure I did things right and true. I am back at university because of her spiritual intuition, and I’m half way through my degree working to be a Librarian.
She wrote a note in my 18th birthday card which I found again recently in a tidy up. The words written then are just as poignant and enlightening as when I first read them. I will share a summary of these words:
“This is such an important time in your life. An opportunity to stop and reflect. To ask questions about the person you have become, and the sort of person you still hope to be. We live in a strange world Robert. The things that the world values, the money and the power, are not the most important things. Having the best of everything is not the highest ambition one can have. But you are lucky. You don’t have to look far to find what is really important. Relationships. Being honest with others. Family. Being true to yourself. Making a difference. You are loving, giving and honest, and you have made a difference to the world.
Remember that making mistakes doesn’t mean that you are a failure.
Remember that losing isn’t always the worst part of the deal.
Remember that you are never alone.”
I love you. I miss you. I wish I could have seen you more, but I hope I’m doing you proud.
From Genevieve Frew. I found some photos of me and Michelle at one of the holiday camps we attended together in our youth. Actually we liked this particular one so much we went twice – Camp Borambola, just near Wagga Wagga. We made friends with this little group of girls and got up to all the usual mischief that teenage girls could at camp.
Michelle and I had just over 23 wonderful years together as husband and wife and today would have marked our 24th. As a way of celebration and remembrance I wanted to keep safe and post the words of remembrance I wrote and shared at Michelle’s funeral mass on 30 May 2018.
Much love and please keep posting, Michael. Continue reading “From Michael Da Roza”
I know this is very late – I have only just found out that Michelle has passed. Ms Smyth (as she was known to us all then) was an extraordinary woman – as evidenced by the stories here – as well as a great teacher. Testimony from others indicate the esteem she was held in at various schools and school communities across NSW and the ACT. For me, it was her playful attitude, stern advice and her down-to-earth nature which made her a powerful figure to learn from in those formative years. I went into teaching because of Ms Smyth and loved her Ancient History classes with all of us. She was wonderful at bringing the ages alive and in ensuring we were doing our best. I signed up for Classics after Year 12 Grad and haven’t looked back because of her. Though, I imagine, she is still telling me I should have gone to Macquarie and not UNE! I will have to wear that.
The last few months can’t have been easy on Michelle’s family and Michael. Know that Michelle is still thought of and is still alive in people’s great, varied, many and fond memories of her and the wonderful impact she has had on our lives. She is still very much in our thoughts and prayers.
Eternal rest grant unto thee O Lord and may perpetual light shine upon her.
Elizabeth went to St Joseph’s Primary School at Narrabeen with Michelle and junior High at Mater Maria and then on to Macquarie University together to study English Literature and Education.
My deepest condolences to Michelle’s husband and family. I am so terribly sorry for your loss.
I went to primary and middle high with Michelle and then on to Macquarie University with her for four years. I used to collect her each day in my red VW and speed all the way to uni; our conversations were always about Literature, feminism, the better courses and teachers, how to avoid library fines, what bands to see and boys! She came to my wedding and had a lot of cheeky things to say about feminism and marriage. She came to my 21st and away on holidays with me to a family home in the Blue Mountains. Michelle was always laughing and chatting! There is no doubt in my mind that she made a talented teacher and a loving partner.
What a great mind. What a kind friend. What a dear dear soul. xx
Michelle was Margaret and Peter’s daughter-in-law.
Peter and I first met Michelle when Michael asked if he could bring a fellow teacher at Bathurst to stay with us over Easter in about 1987. Michelle fitted into our family so easily. We loved having her. We were so happy when their friendship grew to love and marriage.
Michelle was Godmother to Alex, our grandchild, and loving aunt to Will, Alex and Olivia.
We will always miss her, Michael’s soulmate and loving wife.
Best friends at Macquarie Uni and Godmother of our son Robert.
We will miss Michelle dearly and always loved her kindness, sense of humour and strength. Michelle and Michael were Godparents to our children, who are now grown adults having experienced their love and support.
Friends from Uni days (Alison, Lena, Jennifer, Lisa) remember Michelle’s spirit, her love of books (and Tim Tams).
The Egan family are sending our prayers and thoughts to Michael – her rock.
We were lucky to be a part of the early days of M & M getting together in Bathurst and Canberra. Our love to Brian and Rosemary.
Vale.
Angela and David
For Michelle da Roza 