A lasting tribute
5:16p.m. 15 January 2008
| By Kathy Sundstrom


Rhonda Dayman lives on Dayman Lane, Pacific Paradise, named after her husband.. Photo:Barry Leddicoat


The simple, practical gesture of naming a street has given a Pacific Paradise family a lasting tribute memoir to a dying man.

For 20 years the Daymans have been the only residents of a little unnamed lane off Richardson Street – and for 20 years they say it has been a headache telling people how to find their address.

The odd configuration of the street was also a headache for Maroochy Shire Council. Councillor Tony Northey said it confused everyone, including emergency services.

Mr Northey contacted the Daymans in December to find a solution.

The result could not have been better .

The family, as well as the community, have welcomed the idea of calling it Dayman Lane.

The timing of the new street sign couldn’t have been better – So, on Christmas Eve, Maroochy council workers put the sign up.

That was a year almost to the day since Chris Dayman learned he had the terminal and debilitating motor neuron disease.

“A year ago he could walk, now he’s in a wheelchair,” wife Rhonda said.

Mrs Dayman said the family had tried to change the name of the street some years earlier “but with no success”.

"We recently talked to Tony Northey our local councillor. He was very agreeable for this to happen and asked us if we had any suggestions,'' Mrs Dayman said.

"Dayman Lane was the obvious choice. We were the pioneers of this road.''

Mr Northey said he was happy that the name change had provided such a positive outcome for the community as well as the family.

"I’m glad Mr Dayman was there when the name was changed,'' he said.

For the Daymans, it is more than a street sign.

“My husband’s name will be forever remembered,” Rhonda said.


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