Susanna Freymark
Casino farewelled its Queen today as hundreds filled the Casino Civic Centre to say goodbye to Brenda Armfield who died on December 21, age 80.
Brenda’s husband Warren gave the eulogy.
”I’m going to miss you,” he said in a quiet voice.
The whole town is going to miss its unofficial town crier — no one loved Casino like Brenda did.
She was born in Casino.
”And she was born to be an entertainer,” Warren said.
”We’ve got wardrobes of costumes at home.”
Brenda’s first gig was at the civic hall where her funeral service was held today, Thursday, January 15.
She was four years old when she first performed here, Warren said.
Brenda went on to perform with Graham Kennedy and Bert Newton during her entertainment career.
Warren met Brenda at a youth group and they married in 1970.
They lived in Sydney for a while but Brenda always wanted to go home to Casino.
Warren spoke about Brenda’s involvement in the Casino View Club, Casino Orchid Society, COW FM and Beef Week.
Brenda was a Life Member of the Casino Show Society and Casino Beef Week.
”She loved Beef Week,” Warren said.
”She always had time to chat to someone no matter how busy she was.
Warren spoke about the years between 1992—2000 where Brenda had hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain).
It took Brenda a long time to recover and in 2000 she no longer needed the walking stick or walking frame to get around, Warren said.
Brenda was diagnosed with asthma and had emphysema — “That took her life,” Warren said.
Richmond Valley Mayor Robert Mustow knew Brenda when he was a kid.
”As a young boy on my way to school, I walked past the Wylie house on Centre Street and if Brenda was in the yard, she’d shout G’day,” Robert said.
On the house where Brenda lived was a sign — ONISAC — Casino spelt backwards, Robert said.
Robert was one of many drivers for Brenda over the years as she shouted from her megaphone sitting in the moke, decorated with balloons entertaining everyone in the CBD.
Robert drove the moke a week before Brenda died as she promoted the Casino Christmas Street Party.
”Brenda is the heart and soul of our town,” Robert said.
”Wherever she was, Warren was there supporting her and contributing to the community.”
Brenda is irreplaceable, he said.
”An icon of our community has left us — Rest in peace, my friend, you will live on in Casino forever.”
Beef Week president Brody Lish said Brenda is forever our Queen.
”Her name is woven into the very fabric of Casino,” Brody said.
”She was more than a familiar face, she was a force of nature.
”She was heart, soul and voice.”
Brody said Brenda was the lifeblood of Beef Week and “her enthusiasm was infectious.”
The Beef Week Street Parade was named in honour of Brenda.
“Future generations will ask — ‘Who’s Brenda Armfield?’”
”She had a gift for making people feel seen,” Brody said.
”Beef Week will never be the same without you,” Brody said.
Beef Week vice president Grant Sheddon said Brenda’s “absolute love of Casino was undeniable.”
Sandra Humphrys spoke about Brenda’s show Anything Goes every Friday on COW FM.
Brenda started at COW in 1998.
She opened her show with Slim Dusty’s G’day.
She would have played that more than 1200 times, Sandra said.
”We’re going to miss you like crazy.”
People gathered outside the civic centre to shout Oi, oi, oi as the moke drove by with Brenda’s coffin in the hearse behind.
Brenda would have liked that — for all the joy she gave others — the pleasure she got from making Casino smile meant more to her than anything.
We are definitely going to miss you like crazy, Brenda Armfield.
Below is a video of the procession after the service filmed by Adam Hourigan for Richmond Valley Council.