Bereavement Notice: Dennis La Varenne

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Stickbow Hunter
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Bereavement Notice: Dennis La Varenne

#1 Post by Stickbow Hunter » Thu Dec 22, 2016 6:45 pm

It is with extreme sadness that I inform the Traditional Bowhunting/Archery community of the passing of Dennis today at 1.00 pm.

He was a stalwart supporter of Traditional Bowhunting/Archery for well over 35 years and was a very accomplished Bowyer and especially loved the English Longbow. He was also on the committee of the Australian Longbow Muster, the forerunner of the Traditional Archery shoots of today. He was always available to anyone needing a hand with self bow making, wood arrow making or flemish string making. For his dedication to Traditional Bowhunting/Archery he was inducted into the ‘Australian Longbow Muster Roll Of Honour’ in 1997.

Dennis also worked tirelessly for over ten years on the Victorian Game Council and I think it is fair to say he was the leading force in saving Bowhunting in Victoria. For his work on the game council he received ‘Life Membership’ of the Australian Bowhunters Association.

Most of all he was a good all-round bloke and one I was privileged to call a mate and he was proudly regarded as family by Jude & I and our children and their families.

Much more could be said but I will leave it there. The Traditional Bowhunting/Archery community has lost a great man.

Jeff
Our mate Dennis
Our mate Dennis
Dennis-1.jpg (166.83 KiB) Viewed 11832 times
Our last time flinging some arrows together
Our last time flinging some arrows together
Dennis-2.jpg (274.78 KiB) Viewed 11832 times

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Re: Bereavement Notice: Dennis La Varenne

#2 Post by Stu Ballz » Thu Dec 22, 2016 7:03 pm

My condolences to his family and friends.

little arrows
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Re: Bereavement Notice: Dennis La Varenne

#3 Post by little arrows » Thu Dec 22, 2016 7:21 pm

That is indeed sad news Jeff. Condolences to yourself, Judy and his many friends and family.

Sue.

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Re: Bereavement Notice: Dennis La Varenne

#4 Post by matt61 » Thu Dec 22, 2016 8:01 pm

Sad to hear of Dennis's passing, he taught me how to make Flemish strings
Matt

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Re: Bereavement Notice: Dennis La Varenne

#5 Post by woodie » Thu Dec 22, 2016 8:02 pm

My condolences to his family.
Ronald
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Re: Bereavement Notice: Dennis La Varenne

#6 Post by perry » Thu Dec 22, 2016 8:03 pm

Rest in Peace Dennis. My sincere condolences to Family and Friends.
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Re: Bereavement Notice: Dennis La Varenne

#7 Post by wishsong » Thu Dec 22, 2016 8:04 pm

R.I.P Dennis.

Will be sadly missed

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Re: Bereavement Notice: Dennis La Varenne

#8 Post by bigbob » Thu Dec 22, 2016 8:05 pm

I know Dennis hasn't been in the best of health in recent times but this is a total shock.I was always a little awed by the vast knowledge he always displayed in his posts, and his keenness to impart some of that to others.He was erudite and a great promoter of traditional archery. My deepest sympathies extend to his immediate family and all who were close to him.Archery has lost a legend.RIP Dennis.
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Re: Bereavement Notice: Dennis La Varenne

#9 Post by Ian Turner » Thu Dec 22, 2016 9:08 pm

RIP Dennis and enjoy all the archery you could wish for in that great archery field in the sky.

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Re: Bereavement Notice: Dennis La Varenne

#10 Post by Bill » Thu Dec 22, 2016 9:36 pm

I'm so very, very sad to hear the news of Dennis.
It was a few months back that I last talked to him.
He said he was fine a bit on the light weight side of 45kgs.
I had planned to visit him again in the new year.
But now.
Thanks for letting us know Jeff.

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Re: Bereavement Notice: Dennis La Varenne

#11 Post by Outbackdad » Thu Dec 22, 2016 10:20 pm

Very sorry to here Dennis is no longer with us.
I know Jeff will miss his mate as well as all on Ozbow.


Rest in Peace Dennis.

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Re: Bereavement Notice: Dennis La Varenne

#12 Post by mikaluger » Thu Dec 22, 2016 11:09 pm

Thanks for the knowledge, the inspiration and your perspective.......my ELBs work as well as they do because of you........ my next bow is for you Dennis........ until we meet. RIP.
Mick.

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Re: Bereavement Notice: Dennis La Varenne

#13 Post by jindydiver » Fri Dec 23, 2016 7:07 am

A sad time for sure. My condolences to Dennis's family.
Mick


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Re: Bereavement Notice: Dennis La Varenne

#14 Post by bstan86 » Fri Dec 23, 2016 7:26 am

R.I.P. Dennis.

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Re: Bereavement Notice: Dennis La Varenne

#15 Post by greybeard » Fri Dec 23, 2016 7:29 am

Sad news to hear of your passing away, R.I.P Dennis.
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Re: Bereavement Notice: Dennis La Varenne

#16 Post by The Ranger » Fri Dec 23, 2016 11:44 am

Sorry to hear, my condolences to Dennis' family and friends.
Don't practise until you get it right. Practise until you don't get it wrong. Ranger Bows.

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Re: Bereavement Notice: Dennis La Varenne

#17 Post by Roadie » Fri Dec 23, 2016 12:21 pm

Sad to read ,will be missed by his family and friends. RIP Dennis. Roadie.

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Re: Bereavement Notice: Dennis La Varenne

#18 Post by clinglish » Fri Dec 23, 2016 12:21 pm

My Condolences to the family, Dennis will be sorely missed by the whole archery community.
Bowhunting (Hunting for Bows)
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Re: Bereavement Notice: Dennis La Varenne

#19 Post by Scrub Bull » Fri Dec 23, 2016 7:17 pm

My sincere condolences to Family and Friends.
Archery is a simple game, it's the mind that over complicates it.
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Re: Bereavement Notice: Dennis La Varenne

#20 Post by Gringa Bows » Fri Dec 23, 2016 8:14 pm

One of the nicest blokes i've ever met,always ready to help anyone out with their bow making problems,i called him a friend even though i only met him a couple of times but spoke a bit in PM's,Jeff Jude and family were very close to Dennis,so i say Sorry for your loss guys and to his family and friends

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Re: Bereavement Notice: Dennis La Varenne

#21 Post by hunterguy1991 » Sat Dec 24, 2016 7:12 am

My most heartfelt wishes go out to Dennis's family and friends. Although i never had the pleasure of meeting him in person, He was one of the nicest, most genuine blokes i have ever spoken to and never shied away from giving advice.

i cannot thank him enough for all the knowledge and help he gave me on my English longbows and warbows. We both shared a great enthusiasm for them, a passion i will never lose.

i will always keep the 'slightly whipped' just the way we like them mate!!

Rest in piece now my friend, we will meet again one day and loose a few together im sure.

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Re: Bereavement Notice: Dennis La Varenne

#22 Post by Obe-Wan » Sun Dec 25, 2016 7:58 pm

Rest in peace Dennis. I bought 2 bows off Dennis late last year. Although it was essentially 2 strangers doing business he was happy to pass on a wealth of information and help, was very professional and above all a gentleman to deal with.

Safe travels Dennis.

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Re: Bereavement Notice: Dennis La Varenne

#23 Post by Axe » Mon Dec 26, 2016 5:26 pm

My sincere condolences to his family and friends for their loss
R.I.P. Dennis, at all times a gentleman who will certainly be missed by the archery community as well
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Re: Bereavement Notice: Dennis La Varenne

#24 Post by UPTHETOP » Tue Dec 27, 2016 11:16 am

R.I.P Dennis, may you still cast an arrow every day forth unto the sky in which you now live. A true gentleman who will be sadly missed.

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Re: Bereavement Notice: Dennis La Varenne

#25 Post by hardgainer » Wed Dec 28, 2016 8:42 am

Only met Dennis once never really knew him but did know many who spoke of the work he had done in preserving hunters rights and furthering trad archery. Sad loss and our chosen scene obviously owes him much.

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Re: Bereavement Notice: Dennis La Varenne

#26 Post by Antonio » Sat Feb 11, 2017 9:57 pm

sorry to hear this

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Re: Bereavement Notice: Dennis La Varenne

#27 Post by yeoman » Thu Feb 16, 2017 7:35 pm

There's no adequate way to express the loss.

In my early days he taught me a lot, and while our opinions differed on some matters, we had a healthy academic discussions on each point and respected each others' right to our respective opinions. He gave me my store of split Ironbark staves, with no expectation or want of anything in return.

He wasn't just a hero for archers, he fought hard for rifle hunters too.

I regret not reaching out to contact him more than I did.

The Australian archery and bowyer scene has lost a great figure, whether the community realises it or not.

Those two photos Jeff shared are exactly how I remember him: happy, social, shooting.
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Re: Bereavement Notice: Dennis La Varenne

#28 Post by Chase N. Nocks » Mon Mar 27, 2017 1:15 pm

I was extremely sorry to have just read of Dennis' passing.

It is a genuine loss to the Tradbow community and his depth of knowledge is hard to overstate.

RIP Dennis.

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Re: Bereavement Notice: Dennis La Varenne

#29 Post by Bill » Sat Dec 22, 2018 4:19 pm

It has been two years now since your passing, I knew you as a friend and an acquaintance.
I remember the talks we had, the discussions we had, they along with the lessons I learnt, will never be forgotten.
The gift you gave me I will always hold dear.

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Re: Bereavement Notice: Dennis La Varenne

#30 Post by Guy Layton » Sun Dec 23, 2018 7:30 pm

Sad news indeed... My condolences to all his family and friends...
Guy
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