Our friendship started at nursery school and we have the most incredible memories of our wonderful childhood together and these will remain with us forever. Our families used to spend every Christmas together, Christmas Eve and Christmas Night gorging on our mum’s delicious cooking. Our homes were filled with love and laughter. Of course Christmas would not be Christmas unless we dressed up and put on our annual Christmas show for our poor parents. The four of us Melanie, Tracy, Natalie and I performed for our parents (our younger sisters always trying to outdo their big sisters) and at the end of the show we went around with a hat to collect money for our performances giggling and being silly. I can still hear Mel laughing hysterically.

When we had sleep overs it was always the four of us. We would spend hours in our pools playing Marco Polo, obviously the competitive younger sisters cheating to make sure that they always won.

Being the younger sisters of Tracy and Pam, it was of course a priority on our agenda to try and out smart the two of them.

Our favourite was playing hide and go seek, leaving them in hiding while we entertained ourselves with something that was more interesting. Of course getting into trouble after they were left sitting on the wall behind a tree for at least an hour.

Our best was when Brenda dropped the 4 of us off at Emmarentia Dam. We hired 2 rowing boats. Tracy and Pam rowed off to the middle of the dam where it was a more tranquil so they could catch up on private boyfriend issues. It didn’t last for long though because the terrible two arrived there only to leave them stranded without their oars. Laughing, hysterically we rowed away while they begged and pleaded.There must have been a bribe or two before the oars were returned.

When we were old enough, Brenda dropped Mel and I off at the Rosebank Mall to do our own Christmas Shopping. We spent the entire day there only to come home and decided that we had spent way too much money so then returned all the gifts the following day.

These are a few of many happy childhood memories that we wanted to share that we will cherish forever. Dear Mel you are a precious soul that was taken too soon. Keep shining and laughing from above us.Till we meet again.

All our love

Pam and Nats

I have shared some of our photos of our treasured memories.

I met Melanie on a tennis court of course, when we were putting together a mixed doubles team in 2010 or so. I was a tennis coach for many years, and could see special things in players. The best thing about Melanie and her tennis, was she hated to loose. I said I wanted to play with her in our next match. I stated that she would have to play the add side, and Melanie said that was okay, but don't blame her if she cannot hit a backhand down the line. Mind you, I had not played with her before, and seeing this odd forehand in warm up, I was a bit concerned. 
We were winning and playing well, but then I made the fatal mistake of telling melanie to stop lobbing so much... She gave me the look, I know all that know her, know what that looks like, and I said never mind, "I will look for the lob." 
I have also had the pleasure of drilling Melanie with many of her friends. And by god, if I was not on point, or her drilling partners were not on point, she reminded us that, they we are paying for this drill, and the best is what we better give. I am sure her drive in the tennis world,  transcended into her work, and her relationship with Greg.  I am glad that she fulfilled and excelled in that part of her life.
I can honestly say that I stop and reflect on Melanie, and I am sadden that she is gone. I don't really understand why some people have to leave this earth way too early. I am pretty sure Melanie is up in the heavens, looking at peeps,bouncing her pony tail around, and saying "Let's go folks, time to be the best we can be."