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By Michael Esposito

2nd February 2010 11:05:33 AM

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Sad loss … Mourners at the funeral of Christopher and Jaime Stroud, tragically killed in a motor accident. 42152 Picture: EMILY LANE

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A LOVABLE larrikin and his animal-devoted daughter were farewelled at a touching funeral in Kilmore on Thursday.

About 500 people gathered for the memorial service of Christopher and Jaime Stroud in the assembly hall at Assumption College, where Jaime was due to begin Year 11 this year.

Family and friends paid moving tributes to the pair who died suddenly in a motor accident in Kilmore last week.

Jaime’s equestrian friends wore purple and gold ribbons to honour their comrade and represent her pride and joy, her palomino horse Custard.

A guard of honour was formed after the funeral, where people said their goodbyes and paid their respects to Christopher's wife Andriena and son Dylan.

Good mate of 45 years Roger Martin described Christopher as someone who was always up for a laugh but was always there to help anyone out when needed.

“I tried to write a eulogy, but I couldn’t put pen to paper,” Roger said, fighting back tears. “This is coming straight from the heart.”

“He was an enormous mate, I would’ve done anything for him. As for Jaime, she was magic.”

Christopher’s willingness to come to the aid of others was a common theme among the eulogies, as was his great joy in taking the piss out of his mates.

Christopher was a police officer for 23 years, before being pensioned out in 1991 because of a bad back – caused by a shocking car crash involving a drunk driver.

But he kept busy working in the transport industry, as an escort pilot, and also in the horse racing industry.

Jaime was painted as an upbeat girl with an infectious smile.

Pam Ahern, who runs Kilmore animal sanctuary Edgar’s Mission, said Jaime was an “amazingly beautiful, bright and intelligent young lady” whose passing was all too surreal and way too unfair.

Jaime loved animals, and was no happier than when she was helping Pam look after the farm animals.

Jaime’s former school teacher Joe Panuzzo also touched on Jaime’s affinity for animals, remembering how he dubbed her the “chicken whisperer” after her egg production project was successful beyond all expectations.

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