19 February 2016,

Dearest Michael and Harumi

My wife Kate and I are very sorry not to be there with you on this most special day for you and your families. However, you can be assured that we will be with you today in spirit and for the rest of your lives, which we hope are long, prosperous and full of love and laughter together.

Mike, our friendship is so precious to me. For literally decades, you have been an incredible source of advice, comfort, encouragement, humility and comedic relief. I am so proud of the man you have become, my friend. The adventures we have had together range from the ridiculous to the inspirational and life-changing. I miss you a lot but I know you have found a home, in particular with Harumi.

Harumi, although I only spent a couple of hours with you and Mike when we met in Jakarta last year, I knew instantly that you and your relationship with Mike were something very, very special. I’ve never seen Mike so happy and adoring. You are clearly a beautiful person and Mike is so very lucky to have found you.

Kate and I attended a wedding recently and heard an inspiring poem, which we’d like to share with you as you embark on the journey ahead.

Love One Another - Poem by Khalil Gibran

You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days.
Ay, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.

Love one another, but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.

Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.

Sending all our love and best wishes, from our family to your family, old and new.

Tim McGregor Kate McGregor Tom McGregor Ed McGregor

And from brothers Rohan McGregor Andy McGregor Matt McGregor

11 August 2012, Stokehouse restaurant, St Kilda, Melbourne, Australia

My wife and I … wow there you have it! Isn’t she the most gorgeous lady and I’m a very, very lucky man as you all keep reminding me.

So … my wife and I would like to extend our very warmest greetings to all of you, the friends and relatives of both families; especially those who have travelled long distances, to be here with us today. Henry from Denver, Libby from LA, Rochelle from London, the Bullens from Brisbane, Kate’s Sydney posse and, of course, Macca from St Kilda East – we are thrilled you could all make it.

Beautiful Kate, you are simply the most spectacular person I have ever met. And the most ridiculous. It’s those two qualities that have made you so appealing to me and I love you very much. You are always up for challenges, you are super smart, very funny in a completely absurd way – we laugh so much together my cheeks are always hurting - you are charming, warm and engaging to anyone you meet and incredibly loyal and generous to your friends and family. Yes ladies and gentlemen…Kate…KMAC…is the complete package.

From the truly bizarre way we met next to a skip bin at the Crusty Demons show in Bundaberg, to the enormous dedication and courage you showed to make our long distance relationship work, to the way you now light up our home - and soon we’ll have another ray of light come into our lives – I am just so thankful for our relationship. I’ve never been happier and I am so excited about our future.

I would like to give a very warm thank you to Kate’s Mum and Dad,

Angie and Garth, for allowing me to marry their daughter - and I think it really could have gone pear-shaped when I arrived in Wagga by helicopter to ask permission. Thank you for welcoming me into your family, for the cleansing attributes of your infamous Tumbarumbah home brew and for the near-death 4-wheel driving experiences down steep, rocky, ravines. I would also like to thank you very sincerely, for your generous contribution to our wedding and reception.

I would like to thank my Mum and Dad, Margaret and Robert, for all the happy years we have had together and for your continued love and support. And I want to thank my brothers Rohan, Andy and Matt – we’re all getting closer as a family as time passes.

Now we don’t have bridesmaids as such but, if we did, then they would be Sally, Libby, Nelly and Rochelle – Kate’s closest pals. Can I ask that everyone rise while I propose a toast to these ladies, who look so beautiful today and because they have been so supportive to Kate. To the ladies! Thank you very much.

Right who’s next;--my blokes.

There is so much to say about these guys; truly some of the best friends one could have and all have provided me with great support over the years.

Matt “Disco” Sheehan – thanks for your wonderful reading today and for your always infectious humour and encyclopaedic knowledge of some of the most interesting yet frivolous information.

Henry “Moose” Jones – thanks for your kind words today. Our time in Vail together with your family at Christmas brought Kate and I so close together and we miss you and Nessy every day. Sorry about the ski accident with your 5 year old…err…she started it.

James “Jamo” Eadie – my oldest pal and the guy who knows me best; thanks for being the ring custodian and witness to our marriage today.

Jono Caughey – thanks so much for organising the bux turn, which I emerged out of surprisingly unscathed, and for concocting the fantastic music playlist for today. Really appreciated mate.

Mikey Miller & Dan Last – thanks for your great friendship over the years and attending the final breakfast meeting of the elders this morning.

Thank you very much lads, for your assistance and support today and over the journey. Cheers!

Special thanks to Rachel Nossack for all her fine organisational efforts as our wedding ninja, with some usual and unusual challenges taken in her stride. And to our celebrant – the inimitable Jon Von Goes – and our fabulous MC, Shane Jacobson, for graciously filling in after Michael Buble and Hugh Jackman mysteriously fell through. In all seriousness, thanks mate.

Well that’s about it now, apart from once again thanking you all very sincerely on behalf of Kate and myself, for being here today, and for all your kind thoughts, cards and wonderful presents.---

Thank you very much and we hope you are having a great day.