Connie's funeral in Melbourne on the 12^th of June 2002, was a beautiful service attended by friends and relatives as well as a who’s who of local and interstate potters including Peter Ruthforth and his wife, (very long standing friends of Connie). Connie had picked the hymns, and I am sure she would have greatly enjoyed the grand gathering of friends and potters in the hall next door. It really felt as though she was there with us.

Chris Sanders (potter and friend), and Elisabeth Lowson (Connie’s sister) gave a Eulogy.

Connie held a special place in the hearts of many people, and with her passing we have lost a unique and special person. Chris Sanders in his Eulogy at her funeral spoke about,

'The heart felt sorrow and shock felt in the ceramics community at her untimely loss. Connie was, quite simply, a person who had a lot more to give and a lot more to enjoy.

'I first came into contact with Connie soon after my return from Japan in 1982. I got a message through my brother (who knew her sister), that Connie wanted me to get in touch. At the time I was perplexed as I hadn't heard of Connie Dridan, however it all became much clearer when I did make contact. She wanted me to talk to the Ceramic Group on my experiences in Japan and then got me involved in the Melbourne National Ceramics Conference. Connie was the first of the pottery community in Victoria to follow up on me after my return from Japan. I soon discovered that Connie had a passion which included networking with potters and keeping in touch. Over the years she has been a good friend, encouraging me in my work, asking for help in translating a letter from Japan or just keeping in contact by phone.

'When she first came up with the idea of Asian ceramic tours, she rang me to ask advice on where to go and visit. I gave her what contacts I had at the time, but was amazed in the ensuing years, at how Connie cultivated and further extended her networks, using them to take tour members right into the studios of top ceramic artists. I hope those tour members who accompanied Connie and enjoyed such unique experiences, realise just how hard it can be to visit some of the famous potters in Japan and Korea. Connie had a real gift for meeting, befriending and putting people at their ease.

'Connie was part of a generation which gave a great deal to Australian ceramics, and which promoted studio ceramics as an all encompassing way of life, and in so doing set out on a path to convert others to their ways. Much of the philosophical direction and impetus came from the original Potters' Society of New South Wales of the 50's, and Connie often spoke fondly of one of its founding members Peter. It's worth remembering that the extensive network, which we still enjoy today, had its origins in these early events and organizations, and these came about through the efforts of people such as Connie. Here I include various government support agencies and the educational institutions, which have continued to promote the highest standards of making in their field.

'In terms of promoting professional standards of practice, Connie was a founding member of the Victorian Ceramic Group in 1969, an organization which went on to become the major focus for ceramic practice in Victoria during following decades. She also served as its President for three years from the late 70's to the early 80's, and at various times, on the Council of Craft Victoria, and as a Board Member for the Meat Market. She was for a time Victorian correspondent for the magazine Pottery in Australia.   In fact, Connie was a member of almost all the key craft related organizations of the time and the simple truth is that she was involved, active and busy as indeed she has been almost all the time that I have ever known her over these nearly 3 past decades. (Chris Sanders Eulogy)

My more recent memories of Connie were last September when she organised an exhibition of Japanese and Australian potters in the Melbourne Daimaru Department Store Gallery. I was also having an exhibition right outside the gallery at the same time as part of Daimaru’s 10-year celebrations. Connie had organised for a Japanese Calligrapher from Kyoto Muneyuki Sawada, to come and give demonstrations on the Melbourne Central Stage. (This calligraphy was usually up to 5 metres in length and most impressive to watch). This was just yet another example of Connie using her extensive network to put on a memorable exhibition with related activities. During the two weeks of the exhibitions I had a great deal of time to sit and talk with Connie and hear about her impending trip to Korea. At this time there were few signs of her illness, though looking back on it, she was sometimes rather tired.

Upon her return from Korea I went to the talk she gave at the Craft Council of Victoria rooms in the City, where her slides and description of her travels and the conference she attended in Korea were full of her enthusiasm. However, it was not long after this that she rang and told me she was having trouble with the use of one arm.

Her illness progressed frighteningly quickly, and for a while it was thought that a series of small strokes was responsible, but the doctors were still puzzled. It was only late in the course of her illness that the diagnosis of Motor Neurone Disease was made. Around this time I visited Connie as I had been asked to write an obituary for a prominent Japanese potter, “Fujiwara Yu”, who had been a particular friend of Connie’s. I didn’t feel it was right to attempt this with out talking to Connie. Despite struggling to talk, Connie spoke into my tape recorder of her memories and best wishes to the bereaved wife. She also asked of my Japanese master and the Calligraphy master with whom I had been corresponding. I would like to include what Connie said to me that day as it gives great insight into her as a person.

Connie's message

I first met Yu Fujiwara when he came to Australia to do a workshop tour. I was asked by the Department of Foreign Affairs to organise his tour here in Victoria, which was very successful. At the finish of the tour I was requested to do a write up of his tour of Australia for Pottery in Australia, which boosted the interest in Fujiwara Yu, and also for Bizen style pottery being made in Australia, which was a good comparison. I think the Bizen style in Australia isn’t really a patch on Bizen as such in Japan but the influence is quite noted. I would also like to mention that his beautiful wife Kimiko came to stay with him and she was a joyous person who responded to Australia. We gave a party for him at Potters Cottage and I can remember Fujiwara asked me to have a dance with him. His wife Kimiko was a little shy about dancing but she eventually got up and danced with my husband Don. That was really quite wonderful to see. Then following on from that tour, it allowed me to make contact with Fujiwara Yu and other potters in Japan, and the first visit was in 1988, and of course I took a group of Australian potters, and we visited Fujiwara in his home, saw his studio and his collection and the famous collection of Fujiwara Kei his father who was a (Ningen Kokuho) Living National Treasure. That visit to the Fujiwara complex made it possible for me to visit him every time I took a group to Japan. Of course they were all potters groups, and out of those trips to Japan I made many friends, potters and artists and of course the cultural exchange was one of the most important parts for me. There was an understanding and it built bridges between our countries and I was hoping that this would continue, which I think it has. I ask God to bless Fujiwara and his family. I know that his death was a shock, not just to his family, but also to the pottery fraternity in Japan. I am sure he left his mark in the beautiful pots he produced, and now his son Kazu is going to take over from him and will continue the famous tradition of Bizen. I would have loved to have been in Japan at the time of his death to be of some comfort to Kimiko and the family, but when I last visited Japan in the year 2001 I did visit the Fujiwara complex and at that time Fujiwara Yu was in hospital in Okayama, and I was able to send a personal message to him which Kazu gave. I must say that Kimiko was so brave, so veracious and controlled during our whole visit. I admired her tremendously, and I told her this in a letter I wrote to her after Fujiwara Yu’s death. When I visited Japan on occasions on my own I have many happy memories of every time I stayed with them. I felt very much a member of the family and on one occasion, a weekend I was staying with them, and Yu san was firing his kiln. It was most unusual for a woman to be present at a firing but he insisted that I go and sit with the fire and watch the firing. I felt very honoured and especially because Yu san came down with his grandson and we all sat together watching the fire box being opened and closed. It was quite an experience and I thank Fujiwara for allowing me to do that.

The influence of Japanese ceramics on Australia has been very marked and I don’t think that Australian potters generally recognise this fact, but when they travel to Japan they are pleasantly surprised to find that there is quite a marked influence. I remember one particular artist potter, Seto Hiroshi who came to Australia as a guest of the Australian Government for a term. He stayed and worked at Bendigo College and his technique has influenced many Australian potters. He was a most entertaining and humorous man with a sense of fun for which I respected him tremendously. We became good friends and corresponded for 13 years. I valued his friendship very much. I think this is about all I am able to say but I thank you for the opportunity to express my feelings, thankyou.

Connie Dridan

I am sure that all those who knew Connie will have their own special memories of her and will keenly feel the loss. I know that I will miss her phone calls. Towards the end, she knew that her time was short, but there was still so much that she wanted to do, however she was very accepting saying that she was in God’s hands and that he would do what was best.

Her love of Japan is to continue on after her death, as her wish was to have half of her ashes sent to Japan and half to remain in Australia. Good-bye Connie and God speed.