Peter Keith Mercer

Rest in peace dear Peter.Thank you for your friendship and your generosity of spirit. My thoughts are with you dear Bev. ... Deb

I first met Peter in about 1980 - give or take a year, when I was in my second stint at the old CBC Bank (now Nabbed by a bigger bank) in Parramatta and Peter started in his first job out of school. We soon discovered a mutual love of music - music in general that is, which soon expanded to cover things such as sport, politics, and in Peter's case...more

Peter was such a wonderful person – down-to-earth, genuine, warm – a really decent guy. I immediately thought of all the fun times we had sharing lodgings in Canberra – including all the bands we saw and the stupidity that entailed (nearly always because of me!). So many fond memories – including Peter jogging in a garbage bag. I'll never forget ...more

🕯 Greg Gittins lit a candle Pete, I got to know you in Jakarta from 2005-2008. You were a genuinely good guy that was well loved by the whole embassy community. You went out of your way to make everyone feel welcome and were always up for a good chat about anything and everything. Sadly you didn't get to stay longer in this life but I'm sure you'...more

Dear Beverly, We have just found out the sad news about Peter. This has come as quite a shock. Peter was a great bloke and we have many fond memories from our times together in Jakarta and Canberra. I have particular fond memories of the trivia nights we shared, wondering at Pete’s unbelievable memory for music amongst other trivia. Our th...more

🕯 B lit a candle Well said Alison. Can't say it better than that. Except maybe the bit about the hugging. Ben Clanchy

The good old days, school days. I met Peter as a playground mate at Toongabbie Public in 1967 and then followed, to Pendle Hill High till our HSC years in 1979. He was always the happy , smiley boy. We shared that we were bright,attending alot of the "A" classes together.He would always remember our birthdays as we were two days apart. Eels, ...more

Crackers was a great friend of ours during our Berlin days in the 90s - hashing, drinking, eating and always great laughs and stories. It was so good to meet up with Crackers and Bev last summer in London, but so very sad that it would be the last time we saw him. Crackers - you have touched the heart of many people and you will be very, very misse...more

🕯 Nicki Hutley lit a candle I don't have the right words, but Peter was a truly gentle man who loved life and embraced it to the full, enjoying the company of others with a good vino, great meal and music (plus a cat or two). I'm so glad he ran into me that day in Sydney - literally - after a long time apart, and that I had a chance to rekindle ...more

🕯 Joseph lit a candle We first worked with Peter when we joined the benefits team in 2008. When you are restricted to the confines of the then fish bowl you can’t help but overhear everything that goes on. Luckily for us Peter enjoyed and encouraged many of the interests we had, especially anything 80s and especially especially music from the 80s...more

🕯 Robyn Cook lit a candle My deep condolences to Beverly and to other members of Peter's family. I was so shocked and sad to hear that we had lost Peter. He was a lovely friend, and a gentleman in every sense. We got to know each other in Jakarta and kept in touch over the years that followed. On the first morning I was due at work in Canberra...more

Like so many, shocked and saddened to learn of Peter's sudden passing. We met Peter in Canberra 1994 as a Hasher and continued our friendship on holidays in Berlin and Brussels. Remembered for his smiling face, love of good food, wine and music. We still have "Crackers Mix" CD which is a fantastic mix of music shared by us all. Condolences to yo...more

I met Peter at the Capital Hash Harriers, at a time when his wife was very unwell. We had several conversations, both at Hash and over coffee about how he was coping, which showed so clearly how much he adored his wife Bev. I moved down to the coast and lost contact and did not know he was ill. I am so sad to learn he has left us. What a vibrant a...more

🕯 Gill Kladnig lit a candle I have struggled for weeks to write a message for Peter as nothing I can think of seems to adequately sum him up. I met Pete in 2006 while working at ComSuper and we became good friends. He told me something once and I replied with "you're shitting me??" to which he said " Whaaat". He laughed and laughed as he had neve...more

Peter. You have been my most loyal and best mate I've ever had. We had so many memorable times and we looked after each other in so many ways. My life at work would have been unbearable at times without your friendship and support. I supported you in your recovery from your double hip replacement and you returned the favour in your support of me wh...more

🕯 Michelle Royce lit a candle Like so many, Peters passing has come as a shock and saddened me. I've known Peter since school, but only in recent years through the power of social media have we reconnected, exchanging occasional letters, sharing our Christmas letter about our family, and learning of he and Beverley's wonderful travels around the...more

Peter, my friend and ally In 1991 I arrived in Canberra and didn't know anyone. I was lucky enough to land in the same team at Comcare as Peter, who quickly took me under his wing. He was my friend and ally. We were the same age and shared some of the same interests including literature, music and food, although as any one of Peter's friends could ...more

🕯 Alison McCleland lit a candle We will miss you Crackers. Your enthusiasm for life and music was inspirational. RIP Slippery and Hotpants.

🕯 Sean Turner lit a candle Peter was one of those people that you liked immediately, could rely on for sensible advice and a good laugh, and never had a bad word to say about anyone. He was easy to talk to, knew more music trivia than anyone else I've ever met, and clearly doted on Bev. His passing is a great shock and loss. Sean Turner and Cecil...more

🕯 Tim Guest lit a candle Until Forever Be brave new arrival at Heaven’s Gates Your new life’s just begun; We will miss you here at home As will the setting sun. As will the wind, that blows the evening in And carries leaves, long since golden brown; As will the birds, that sing each daytime’s close, For they will sing a sadder song from...more

Memory of Peter from Brett I’d like to share with you one of my favourite Pete memories from the past. Pete was always great value at the cricket, which was where I met him, during the 1978-1979 season and also at the football watching Parramatta go around. On Sundays during the cricket season, half a dozen of us from the cricket club would go...more

Celebration of the Life of Peter Mercer: 19 September 2015 - National Portrait Gallery Canberra

Tribute from Tutu Dutta Peter Mercer was a cherished friend and popular member of the Zagreb Bridge Group, whose members were the spouses of Ambassadors posted to Croatia. I remember being impressed at how comfortable he was in a group consisting mainly of women! He was a great Bridge host too and the group always looked forward to the Bridge sessi...more

Tribute from Ante and Vlasta Loncar in Zagreb, Croatia Just to say a few words about the late great Peter Mercer, My wife and I meet Peter and Beverly in Zagreb at Australian Embassy function at the start of Beverly’s term there. They became good friends and instant clients at our Hair Salon, Infinity Peter would always bring the music Mag’s a...more